FALLACIES OF MODERN ECONOMISTS. 239 



own master. This, however, does not necessarily follow, for it 

 assumes that each man would have both the ability and willing- 

 ness to construct a machine. But suppose they did, would this be 

 just ? Is it any the less robbery for a man to steal another's 

 brain produce — ideas — than to steal the products of his hands, 

 commodities ? Would the infringer not be obtaining something 

 which he did not produce ? If justice consists in giving to each 

 man the product of his labor, and robbery consists in a man tak- 

 ing that which another produces, would those who copied the in- 

 ventor's machine be any the less robbers ? 



If we are to accept the basis laid down by economists by 

 which " rights " are determined, I do not see how you can escape 

 from the system known as profits. You say this system is de- 

 grading and unjust. Granted. But, on the grounds that Mr. 

 George and others have selected for determining what is right 

 and what wrong, I can not see any escape from the " right " of 

 profits. You may say it is inexpedient for society to continue it. 

 That is a different matter entirely, and it may be for the welfare 

 of society to abolish profit, rent, and interest. But, in the light 

 of the " science of selfishness," there is nothing which shows it to 

 be unjust, or those accepting such return as being robbers. 



I have endeavored to select at random a few of the fallacies 

 underlying many, if not all, of the modern schools of reform, that 

 teach that the road to social bliss is by the science of economics. 

 My contention is that much of the present evils which afflict 

 society is due to too great a prevalence of Nature's laws, and to 

 too little practice of the moral law. So long as reformers en- 

 deavor to work out their respective systems by an appeal to the 

 so-called science of political economy, and persistently ignore the 

 moral phase of the question, so long must society wait in vain for 

 the realization of its dreams. The final teaching of economics 

 would show that it is far more conducive to national wealth 

 and prosperity to stimulate the production of machinery than of 

 men! 



This grand science of economy has surely had a wonderful 

 effect. It has cheapened commodities and cheapened men, and 

 men are now cheaper than the commodities ! Since it has deter- 

 mined to work the problem of society out on this basis of the 

 laws of supply and demand, and has taught man to buy in the 

 cheapest and sell in the dearest markets, it has brought humanity 

 itself to the same basis, and men find themselves immeshed in a 

 web of their own weaving. The law of supply and demand now 

 governs them, and men are bought and sold like the commodities 

 themselves. 



Is there, then, no solution to the great social problem of pover- 

 ty ? Can nothing be done to save humanity from itself ? " It is 



