188 REPORT—1874. 
act in independent isolation, but all overruled and subdued by an overmastering, 
although an unacknowledged influence, to the working out of a common system 
by which, whilst they prosecute, for their respective interests, their separate objects 
and pursuits, they supply one another with all things useful for their exist- 
ence and enjoyment. ; : 
This is surely the greatest of marvels; and it is achieved, as no human power 
could achieve it by any governmental force or police strategy, because there is a 
Law which dominates the movements of society and moulds the earthly destinies 
of men. And, surely, the inquiries which are bent to the comprehension of that 
Law, and strive to ascertain the principles on which it acts, from earnest observa- 
tion, laborious record, and just appreciation of the facts which, more or less clearly, 
disclose its systematic operation in the various i hes of human effort, are 
vital to our well-being and progress in the world. They are fruitful in precise and 
enduring results. They have already, in many points, revolutionized the opinions 
of communities and shaped the policy of cabinets, and they have furnished canons 
of public conduct which have had an ever-widening acceptance wherever civiliza- 
tion has made its way. 
' Statistical inquiry is, therefore, scientific inquiry, and scientific inquiry of the 
highest value ; and its successful prosecution is important to every class of men, 
from the statesman and the legislator to the humblest operative. It has relations 
with all matters of real human interest. It touches the reciprocal rights of classes, 
the claims of capital and labour, the advancement of education, the repression of 
crime, the relief of distress, the prevention of disease, the improvement of 
agriculture, the extension of commerce, and all the various cognate questions 
which affect our social and industrial state. 
All men may profit by an acquaintance with a department of knowledge which 
concerns all alike—the high and the low, the wealthy and the poor. If there be 
ascertainable laws by which the relative rights and responsibilities of human beings 
are regulated, and by the evasion or defiance of which they must suffer inevitable 
injury, it is plainly important that some knowledge of such laws by all men should 
promote the equitable and reasonable enforcement of those rights and responsibilities, 
There is, at present, a sad encounter of classes in this great town, which has 
paralyzed its most important industry. As to the origin of the dispute or the 
conflicting views of the parties to it, [do not presume to offer an opinion. But 
I may say for myself, and I am sure for those whose pleasant meeting here has 
been clouded by that grievous calamity, that we lament its occurrence, and trust it 
will find a speedy ending, for the avoidance not merely of privation on the one 
side and embarrassment on the other, but of evil consequences which may bring 
permanent mischief to every order of the community, and damage vitally the great 
commercial position of Belfast. I refer to the sad subject only to indicate how 
important it might have been if the educational effort on which I have already 
spoken had so far advanced as to spread abroad a knowledge of the issue of like 
encounters in other places and at other times, and of the teaching to be derived 
in this, as in most things else, from that old experience which 
© Doth attain 
To something of prophetic strain! ” 
But the statesman and the legislator need the knowledge which is accumulated 
by statistics even more than the mass of men. To legislate aright, to guard a 
nation safely through calm and stormy times, to take advantage of opportunities 
_ of safe and wise reform, and avoid alike the evils of obstinate adherence to abuse 
and reckless innovation, a member of Parliament or a minister holding’ political 
power should qualify himself by familiarity with that science of which a most 
eminent professor of it (Dr. Farr) has said:—“ Statistics underlies politics, It is in 
fact, in its essence, the Science of Politics without party colouring.” And yet there 
are many members and some ministers who, from time to time, undertake the dis- 
charge of their high functions without any such preparation as is deemed essential 
in the aspirants to any ordinary profession—of which, in their case, some little — 
statistical and economic knowledge might well form a necessary part. Political 
action should not be altogether empirical : and scientific instruction, specially aimed 
to qualify for the undertaking of it, might be usefully supplied by our higher 
