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LITERATURE, SCIENCE, ART, &c.
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PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ECONOMY . Principles of Social and Political Economy . By William Atkinson . Vol . I . Longman and Co . The work before us is the first of a series of three volumes upon a most difficult and important subject . We arc informed in the preface that the author has besto-wed upon it a vast amount of thought aud study ; that " by arduous menf al labour" he lias attained " the summit ; " and that , if the reader wishes to share his reward , lie must be content to imitate his labours- There is , indeed , no royal road to such a summit . Let us examine our author ' s claims to have reached it .
The chapter of contents seems to promise a very complete discussion of the question which the author undertakes . The leading authorities on the subject pass under review , the measures of statesmen and the theories of economists are discussed at length ; such glaring faults are pointed at and such broad remedies suggested that nothing would seem left to perplex the student or reward the future discoverer . We will inquire how far such hopes are to be satisfied or disappointed in the main body of the work .
We find , upon examination , that the volume consists in great part of an attack upon the science of Political Economy , as laid down in theory by its discoverers , and as carried out by statesmen in practice . The grounds of attack are many and various . The author enlarges upon the different views of his predecessors , and upon their alleged inconsistencies . Ue complains of the exclusion of religion from political economy , and prophesies the most terrible results from the general adoption of a system of unrestricted commerce . It might be observed that to teach , or to deny the principles' religion is alike no business of the Political Econoo _ _ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦
mist , whose duty is to point out the necessary or probable results of the various laws by which the distribution of property may be regulated , the conditions under which production is possible , and the operation of the various mental laws which may be relied upon as certain to influence an average number of men in the course of production and of exchange . He has passed beyond his province when he asserts that oue end is in itself more desirable than another , or more conducive to a nation ' s happiness . He may show , to select an extreme instance , that one course of policy is likely to impoverish a pcoplq , another to enrich them . But here his task should end . It is not for him to
disbe unable to distinguish true from false , aud trace the growth of science from the midst of noxious , . choking weeds , is only one among many proofs of his incompetence for the task he has undertaken . ¦ The little force there may be in the invectives lie flings out so unsparingly against the science of Political Economy is mainly due to the errors of such professors as himself , who , wise in the dark and blind in the light , unable to discern the truth themselves or to appreciate the labours of their predecessors , bring disfavour upon the subject with which they presume to meddle .
But it is the doctrine of free trade which Mr . Atkinson attacks with the greatest fury . Its adoption is the certain antecedent , he tells us , of national disaster and ruin ; the spread of its principles throughout the world would involve consequences little less serious than the destruction of the human race . Equally well acquainted with the course of future events and the secret designs of Providence , he prophesies evils which the history of
the past shows are improbable , and utters denunciations which might be terrible if supported by other . authority than'his own . More , he has discovered , as he asserts , the intentions of the Author of Mature in permitting the separation of mankind by the differences of race and language . This has been done , he tells us , in mercy , in order to prevent the growth of that free . trade from which lie anticipates such fearful evils .
After this , we need hardly say . that'Mr . ' Atkinson ignores such paltry considerations as the real economical advantages of free trade , and the greater blessing that may possibly accrue from it in the softening of national animosities and the diminished frequency of war . He considers that all expenditure in articles of foreign growth or manufacture is so much drawn from the support of native industry ; being apparently unaware that , as imports are usually paid for by exports , the growth of foreign commerce leads directly to the production of some neyr branch of native manufacture or to the extension of those already subsisting . Had he recognised this law , the greater part of his first volume would never have been written , and his threats and imaginary terrors would have lost all their force and venom : caderent omnes a crinibus
hydri . In other parts of the- volume we find ample justification of the general exclusion of religion from works on Political Economy . To dispose of matters of science oif-hand by the misapplication of texts of Scripture may save an author some thought and trouble in constructing more solid arguments ; but much as the practice may swell the bulk , it certainly adds nothing in the instance before us to the conclusiveness ot his volume . Mr , Atkinson informs us that the Crystal Palace was typified by the Tower of J 3 abel , and is likely to be followed by a similar curse . JiYee trade is compared to the golden image set up ' on the plains of Dura , and is
but it is equally true that nothing will long contmp to be produced at a price below its natural value that the market will not be permanently ovei supplied with one article to the exclusion of others and that the course of trade tends upon the whol to the establishment of a substantial equilibrium or , to use the words above given , that on the whol and in the long run equal amounts of labour ex change for one another . We have no means o determining whether Mr . Atkinson has intentionally denied this axiom , or whether he was simply unac quainted witli its existence . The subject is one 01 the first . whicb . it is the duty of the Political Econo mist to study , and our only excuse for employing sc much space in the statement of an admitted truth must be , that a professed teacher of the science in question has shown himself uninformed about its first and most necessary laws .
The dread of a general over-production is another of Mr . Atkinson ' s hobbies . He is afraid , from observation of the tendency of events , that the markets of the world will at length be over supplied with every thing-, and the human race be reduced to want by the superabundance of every article of necessity and convenience . The same theory has been drawn out by M . Sismondi , and , when he wrote , he was perhaps excusable ; but it has been long since exploded , and cannot indeed be stated clearly without carrying its own . refutation with it . The topic has been most ably discussed by Mr . Mill , and the absurdity of the fear completely demonstrated ; but mit der DuminheU kdmpfen Goiter selbst vergebens—Air . Atkinson is still unconvinced and apprehensive .
In the eighth chapter of the fourth book , which is perhaps the weakest and worst of the entire series , the author , taking a bolder flight , has ventured an attack upon the very basis of all science , and pronounced judgment against the only method which has been found available for the discovery jof truth . We will not— -though we might do socharacterise this attack as more than audacious , but will proceed to examine the nature of his weapons , and the skill with which he has made use of them . The chapter contains a discussion on " synthesis 3 ' and " analysis , " terms , as the reader will be aware , although Mr . Atkinson is not , which are used in several very different senses . We find them first
used in the chemical sense , and rightly explained to be—the former , the composition of one body out of many ; the latter , the resolution of a complex substance into its constituting elements . Both methods are of course essential in the discovery and application of ohcmical truths ; hut Mr . Atkinson tells us that the former alone is useful , and that the latter is not only usoless > but absolutely prejudicial . As no reasons are adduced in support of this extraordinary statement , it is needless to attempt its refutation . The author can have taken counsel only of his great courage and his great ignorance ia making it . He would bo convinced of its absurdity had he the slightest acquaintance with the science of which he writes .
asserted to be the thing intended by our Lord when he spoke of the abomination of desolation standing whore- it ought not . Several pages are devoted to elaborating this notion ; they principally assent that , as free trade is such a very abominable tiling , no words could have described it more fittingly . This application of the prophecy is new to us , and , wo doubt not , to our render ' s . It enables us , however , to understand Mi * . Atkinson ' s meaning when he talks of " the duty of presenting religion in her simple , practical beauty . We may thus determine the oxact sense of words which might otherwise have seemed vague and indefinite . It will bo readily admit tod that a correct analysis of the untui'Q and onuses of " valuo in exchange , " forms iv very i ' uudumoutnl part of a system of
We next find the two words used in relation to architecture , and are told that the synthetical way of building is to commence , at the foundation , and so go on adding to the struoture until the whole is comploto ; and that the analytical p lan of doing tho same thing would be to begin with the roof , arid build downwards , the foundation being the last part added . A pretty mothod this , says Mr . Atkinson , of building a house ; and he proceeds to triumph in his supposed reductio ad ubsurdum as though it were
a complete refutation of the whole method of analysis . Wo are next informed that the synthetical method of logical , inquiry is tho right one , and that tho analytical oan load to nothing but confusion and error . Now on this point we havo two observations to offer . First , that tho use of tho torm synthesis as equivalent to deduction , and analysis to induction —and it is hi this sense that tho terms are Jioro
political economy . It may bo regarded as settled , with all tho certainty of a mathematical axiom , that value is determined by tho amount of labour necessarily bestowed in production , aud that equal quantities of labour exchange lor one another . It is unnecessary hero to enuinomto the different modifications with whioh the abovo axiom lnutjt be received . It ' s substantial truth is admitted by all who aro conversant with the subject . J 3 ul ; Mr . Atkinson has ignoml it , and avers that tho relation between supply nnd dcmuml is tho real cause ot valuo . It is t mo t luit , this relation produces from time to timo lluctuatious in tho valuo , of articles ;
usod—although norl'octlv admissible , yot required usod—although perfectly admissible , yot required explanation after what ; wns said in tho Iprmor part of tho chapter . Logical and chemical synthesis mid analysis havo notliing to do with ono another . The same words mv iwocl , but thoir moaning is totally altered . Tlio error hero pointed out is of tho wuno nature as that of a schoolboy who might bo led by a more similarUy of name to conclude
suade or to recommend the adoption of either . Again Mr . Atkinson bestows unmeasured censure upon statesmen , whom he accuses of believing one thing and professing and recommending another . The charge is so much exaggerated that , when the truth is fairly stated , the wholo force of the objection is dcsti'oyed . for the political leaders of a country may bo , and often nro , so far ahead of the mass of their contemporaries , that all they are able to carry out may be a very small part ot what they desire and see clearly to bo for tho best . As the condition of attaining anything they must bo willing to relinquish much , and to lower themselves
pretty nearly to tho level of tlioso about them . Such is , in truth , the bitter complaint of every man of _ genius who is called to tho post of constitutional minister . Compelled by tho necessities of thoir position to keep thoir own aims and wishes iu the background , such men oau only wait in patient hone that haply iu their lifetime the progress of public opinion may warrant their adoption of more comprohonsivo policy . That Mr . Atkinson should attribute tins to tho vilest of motives—to political cowardice , dishonesty , and tho desire of blinding
their countrymen to tho truth— -discredits oither his candour ' or his powers of discernment . As to tho orrors and inconsistencies of writers on Political Economy it would bo difficult to point out any subject of inquiry frco from a similar reproach . So falliblo an instrument is human reason that one groat business of oaoh generation is to clear away the rubbish of its predecessors . Unfortunatoly , too , ou this , as on other subjects , thoro are would-bo authorities who only furtiior onoumbor the ground , unaware of tho naturo and difficulty of the task they undertake , and too concoitod to bo conscious of thoir own deficiencies . That Mr . Atkinson should
Literature, Science, Art, &C.
LITERATURE , SCIENCE , ART , &c .
Untitled Article
JSTo . 452 , November 20 , 1858 . ] THE LEA PER . 1251
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 20, 1858, page 1251, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2269/page/11/
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