PERSONALITY AND NATURAL LAW IN

THE BUSINESS WORLD

By KATE MCKEAN

Author of "The Manual of Social Science," Condensed from Carey

PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS DEFINED BY SOCIAL SCIENCE

HE simple laws which govern matter in all its forms and which are common to physical and social science may now briefly thus be stated:

All particles of matter gravitate towards each other, the attraction being in the direct ratio of the mass and the inverse one of the distance.

All matter is subjected to the action of the centripetal and the centrifugal forces, the one tending to the production of local centers of action, the other to the destruction of such centers and the production of a great central mass, obedient to but a single law.

The more perfect the balance of these opposing forces the more uniform and steady is the movement of the various bodies, and the more harmonious the action of the system in which they are embraced.

The more intense the action of those forces the more rapid is the motion, and the greater the power.

Such are the laws which govern masses and atoms, but there are other laws in virtue of which masses are reduced to atoms, ready to enter into chemical combination with each other, the tendency towards combination existing in the direct ratio of the perfect individualization of the particles thereby obtained. These laws are:

That heat is a cause of motion and force, motion being, in its turn, a cause of heat and force.

That the more heat and motion produced the greater is the tendency toward acceleration in the motion and the force.

That the more the heat the greater is the tendency towards decomposition of masses, and individualization of

the particles of which they are composed, thus fitting them for entering into chemical combination with each other.

That the greater the tendency towards individualization the more instant are the combinations, and the greater the force obtained.

That the more rapid the motion the greater the tendency of matter to rise in the scale of form, passing from the rude forms which characterize the inorganic world, through those of the vegetable and animal world, and ending in man.

That at every stage of progress there is an extension of the range of law to which matter is subjected, accompanied by an increase of the power of self-direction, subordination and freedom keeping steady pace with organization.

That last in the progress of development comes man, the being to whom has been given the power to guide and direct himself, and nature, too, his subjection to all the laws above referred to being the most complete.

Studying him, we find:

That association with his fellow-man is a necessity of his existence, that being the condition upon which, alone, those faculties by whose possession he is distinguished from the beast of the field, can be developed.

That his powers are very serious, and that the combinations of which they are susceptible are infinite in number, there being, throughout the world, no two persons who are entirely alike.

That the development of those infinitely various faculties is wholly dependent upon the power of association and combination.

That association, in its turn, is dependent upon the development of individuality.

That individuality is developed in the ratio of the diversity of the modes of employment, and consequent diversity in the demand that is made for the production of human powers.

That the greater the diversity the greater is man's power to control and direct the great forces of nature, the larger is the number of persons who can draw support

from any given space, and the more perfect the development of the latent powers of both earth and man.

That the more perfect that development the more intense becomes the heat, the more rapid is the societary motion, and the greater the force exerted.

That the greater that motion and force the more does man become subjected to the great law of molecular gravitation-local centers attracting him in one direction, while great cities, centers of the world, attract him in the other.

That the more perfect the balance of these opposing forces the greater is the tendency towards the development of local individualities, and towards the extension of the power of association throughout the interior of communities, with constant increase in the power of production, in the value and freedom of man, in the growth of capital, in the equity of distribution, and in the tendency towards harmony and peace.

That the law thus established in reference to the members of a community is equally operative among the communities themselves, the tendency towards peace and harmony among States being in the direct ratio of the development of their respective individualities, and their power of self-protection.

That there is, therefore, a perfect harmony of individual and international interests, and that, leaving out of view all higher considerations, nations and individuals would find it to their advantage to yield obedience to the great command, which requires that men should do unto others as they would that others should do unto them, that being the road in which they must travel if they would secure to themselves the most perfect individuality and freedom, the highest power of association, the largest command of nature's services, and the greatest amount of wealth and happinesss.

BUSINESS AS MUTUAL HELPFULNESS

F ALL the pursuits of man, the last developed is a scientific agriculture. Of all equities, the last established is that between land and man-the latter then recognizing the fact that the former is but a lender

and not a donor, and that punctuality of repayment is the condition upon which, alone, the credits will be continued and extended. Of all people, the last emancipated are the laborers in the field. Of all knowledge, the last obtained is that of the minute machinery with which nature works when she seeks to produce her greatest effects. In full accordance with this it is, therefore, that a full appreciation of the advantage of harmony, peace and respect for our neighbor's rights and of the necessity for a proper exercise of the power of co-ordination on one side, accompanied by subordination on the other, comes to man only with the growth of that real civilization which is, or should be, attendant upon increase in the number of persons occupying a given space, that increase of numbers being required for facilitating combination, and thus developing the various human powers.

Science, as we are told, is the interpreter of nature. It reverently inquires, what there is, and why it is that such things are. It listens that it may know. It seeks for light. It knocks that it may obtain communication, its duty being performed when it has recorded the processes of nature and accepted them as true. That department which is denominated Social Science treats of the laws which govern man in the effort for developing his own powers, and thereby obtaining entire control over the great forces of nature, at each step gained turning her batteries against herself with a view to making her subjugation more complete. The object of its teachers is that of indicating what have been the obstacles which, thus far, have prevented progress, and the means by which they may be diminished, if not removed. Careful study of those laws would satisfy:

Nations, that every invasion of the rights of others must be attended with diminished power to protect their

own.

Legislators, that their duty was limited to the removal of obstacles to association among the people with whose destinies they were charged, among the most prominent of which would be found those resulting from the failure to recognize the existence of a perfect harmony of international interests.

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Capitalists, that between themselves and those they employ there was a perfect harmony of real and permanent interests.

Farmers, that the road to prosperity for themselves and their children was to be found in the adoption of measures looking to their emancipation from the oppressive tax of transportation, and to the development of the powers of their land.

Workingmen, that the more perfect their own respect for the rights of property, and the greater the tendency towards harmony and peace, the more rapid must be the growth of the productive power, with correspondent increase in their own proportion of the larger quantity of commodities produced.

Freemen, that true liberty is inconsistent with interferences with the rights of others, and that in the most perfect subordination is to be found the road to harmony, peace and freedom.

Free-trade advocates, that the more varied the production of a community the greater must be the commerce in the bosom of nations, and the greater their power to maintain commerce with the world.

Advocates of women's rights, that the road towards elevation of the sex lies in the direction of that varied industry which makes demand for all the distinctive qualities of woman.

Disciples of Malthus, that the Creator had provided self-adjusting laws, regulating the movement of population; that the treasury of nature was unlimited in extent; that demand produced supply; and that the power to make demand increased with increase in the numbers of mankind.

Philosophers, that war, pestilence and famine were the result of man's errors, and not errors of the Creator-the Great Being to whom we are indebted for existence having instituted no laws tending to thwart the objects of man's creation.

Reformers, that nature always works slowly and gently when she desires that man shall profit by her action, and that man would do well to follow in the same direc