1886.] 5oO 



more like human beings ought to live, like God intended that man should 

 live ; for the earth was given to man not only as a place where he is to 

 exist for a time, but as a home with all that is implied in the term, where 

 food and raiment and the comforts of life should be within the reach of 

 every human being who will labor to obtain them, and that in sufficient 

 quantity to enable him to live as a man ought to live, with the comforts of 

 this life about him. 



And whilst we admit that all human systems of governments and laws 

 are imperfect, we contend that the one which affords to the masses of the 

 people the best homes and more of this world's goods in the way of food, 

 clothing and those things which are necessary for their comfort, happiness 

 and welfare, is the nearest perfect, and therefore the best. 



We claim this for the American system of protection, and that it has 

 accomplished more for the masses of the people than any other system 

 that has ever been devised or practiced, and at the same time made us in 

 power, grandeur and civilization the first nation in the world. 



As an evidence of this and the benefit the masses are receiving from it, 

 we point with just pride to the fact which has just been stated, that the 

 people of this country to-day are consuming probably double per capita of 

 the manufactured commodities of the world, and more of the agricultural 

 products than the people of any other country or nation, with all the ben- 

 efits, comforts and advantages resulting from it ; and this of itself, we 

 think, if there was nothing else to commend it, ought to endear it to every 

 human being in our land, and as a system to perpetuate it forever. 



Slated Meeliny, Sejjtember 3, 1886. 



Present, 8 members. 



Vice-President, Dr. W. S. W. Euschenbergek, in the Chair. 



Letters of acceptance of membership were read from Prof. 

 Otto Donner, Helsingfors, Finland ; Dr. Aristides Brezina and 

 Prof. rMward Suess, Vienna, Austria ; Prof. Paul Albrecht, 

 Hamburg, Germany ; Victor Duruy, Prof. Abel Hovelacque, 

 Marquis de Nadaillac and Dr. Edward Pepper, Paris, France ; 

 Duke of Argyll, Prof. Wm. Crookes and Capt. Eichard C. Tem- 

 ple, London. England ; Lord Eayleigh, London, England ; Mr. 

 William S. Baker, Prof. John Marshall, Prof. John T. Napier, 

 Mr. Samuel W. Pennypacker, Mr. Henry Eeed and Prof. 



