BY K. M. JOHNSTON, F.L.S. 159 



less plausible generalisations of mere literary men; and 

 their deserved fame and undoubted ability and skill as such 

 have given them a prestige in political matters to which 

 they are not entitled from a practical or scientific point of 

 view. That they have done good service in arousing and 

 sustaining attention on such important matters is readily 

 admitted ; but further progress is impossible so long as the 

 inexact methods of the mere literary polemist are employed. 

 In future the progress of Political Economy as a science 

 depends upon demonstrations basedupon quantitative analysis, 

 and not as heretofore upon authoritative dogmas based upon 

 the qualitative analysis of any one factor of the problem 

 arbitrarily chosen from a compound or complex equation. 



It is obvious that we may concur with most of the writers 

 on Political Economy as to the general tendency of any one 

 influence ; but while this is so it may not be a safe proceeding 

 to trust the effect of this one tendency — even admitting its 

 importance — as determining the ultimate conclusion; for 

 other tendencies, minus or plus, must be reckoned with before 

 any reliable conclusion can be arrived at. Pathos and 

 literary merit are powerful adjuncts, no doubt, but in the 

 solution of political problems they are worse than useless 

 where complete and exact methods are eschewed. 



The Best Mode tor Epeecting the Highest Quota op 

 Satispactions with a Minimum of Trouble Depends 

 Upon the Local Value and Extent of Natural 

 Sources op Supply. 



The principal material satisfactions essential to the hap- 

 piness and cultured content of human life primarily depend 

 upon natural sources of supply, and that country whose 

 natural sources afford the greatest potential of elements 

 which may be made to contribute to the material satisfactions 

 of cultured men, is also the country wherein the greatest 

 number of people may best fulfil all those mutual services to 

 each other which cover the whole round of wants of an 

 ideally happy community. The essential natural conditions 

 for the sustenance of a highly-cultured community, and 

 permitting a natural, healthy expansion, are : — 



(1.) Large area covering all zones of climate favourable 

 for the production of all reasonable wants, and 

 possessing richly all the elements essential to 

 production, such as water, fertile soil, the varied 

 mineral and vegetable products, and such flocks 

 and herds as most contribute to the welfare of 

 man. 



