PRINCIPLES OF POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 144, 21 June 1930, Page 21

PRINCIPLES OF POLITICS

THE -MECHANICAL:' ASPECT

'.'Principles of Polities.'' .By • Profes ! sor George; E.: G. - Catlin. Ldn' •';■' don: George Allen;andUnwin.:

r This is a very learned book in some 460 pages.; Its full title is "A Study of the Principles of Politics? Being an Essay . Towards Political Bationalisation," and the. full style and title of its author, as set out on the title-page, as, George E. G. Catlin, M.A., Ph.D., Professor of Politics in Cornell University, Sometime Exhibitioner 'of New/ College,/ Oxford.?' But it is not a -study of political principles in the sense .of the principles , that ought, to govern "politics;; it is rather a study of >the,mere;mechanicsT —of the-merely mechanical " principles," if they are worthy of being tcrmed^principles—-that govern ''practical politics,". as apart from all considerations /of right ,or wrong."/ In the .pursuit of ,this study tho, author, quotes, in the original, numerous Greek, Latin, French, ! and German ; writers. His aim is., to establish politics, as: many university economists have endeavoured»to establish \ economics, .as ',' an exact science, clearly, distinct' fronv'.etliics.''■'.-'■'With.'.■w]iat-..suc' cess,-.those^ who care to.read his.book —- justas those who. care -to read ,'thb' v.-orks of -the economists ,: referred :• to—may judge: for themsolves.'.j To the .plain many however,, it. seems i-tp be. a; waste of. time-to study the mere .mechanics of stitescraft, ,th<? . merely .' mechanical .''principles '-.' of sociology-Tor of e'eonor mics, for .;the.-; master.; of tliat-r-as divorced from- the ■ ethical\ principles which; surely, constitute the' only sound foundation upon -which; any political, social, or economic system' can... be securely based. It is .much as :if an architect .were, to,, meticulously. : study stresses.and.strains and theimeehaiueal principles .. of a constructing;- a> building aridv yet: absolutely neglect the neces-sity.-for erecting iis^ building,; not: on shifting-sands,. .1. button ■ a .gopd - solid f bundatipn. ■ As : a guide to statesmen, and.:«v.en,tq "/practical,politicians,V the Ten : Commandnients,,.,the .Golden, Eiile, ajid ithe-'Seraon -on -the.' Mount are, assur^edlyj. worth j incalculably:;more ;than wfiole- ~-qi> 'such'V. infiniteV learned-, tpmea -would-, be.. ,;,."■,.;..,. . ; ■!

/ In-the .'wJiQle ...pages pi 'Professor Catlin's book there, is little .or.po.'grip, ;.' 'get-there,'"'. 'or, visionJ.. It' is.'of:. such books and '..ot;S\ie.li] writers that:the, late yLo.uis,'. r,;rpost,:.' .''of Labour in Presidentr^Yoodrpw 's-Cabinet, aiid,Cf6r..maiiyt years :■ edi.tor.. r .of :,.the C.-icago.:','Public,'''...vrrote in -the lin'trodueiibn't'o.'his '~'Ethics of-..Democracy-.?':■ (..'.Nothing;-Is'■ so'ibadly. need.qd? in; our da f,. for-■ thV'solution. of • social,'.indus-trial,-and' political .pro:blcms,.:as. aeadcnuc diseussipij./'. There,. has' been altogether- too,much:; unquestioned devoti^ of late years' td,'inductive.nebulosity. Undigested and indigestible 'statistics, iniscellaneo'us",facts ■;./ without' unifying '.scientific,'. ■ fancies'1 •';■_ without logical; substance, • have' ,beeii' allowed too miieh '.. liberty ■in 'crowding^ but: deductive processes,:: So -customary _ has it.'.become to^.ignore -principles and':distoi;i logical .'"analysis/.-that. ability ,to; 'reason, : .w.ith -precision: about, ab-stract-subjects' of, common interest and facts"'p£;.eommbn kuowle'dge,.is an^iinus.ual -aecoiiiplishment. ."The /syllogistic method^'w^ich..demands.\ exactness': of thought,; has. been .largely -displaced, by loose analogical habits anil [ speculative i iriferen-eesV.from' .'facts "and. figures;';: \.•

'.'Nor is ,ih.at. intellectual aegeueraey wmfined; ~,to' .-.'.'the' ■', 'iyiilgar', hjenL' Even sbßiolbgieal.speoialists are. iii. the'habit, which Emerson .condemned,' of fying '.'things :.l>y .their appearances instead "of by. their relations of ■; cause -' and , effect. " ; ''These, 'experts have "abandoned:' ...themselves, .so .eonlpletely*,.tp'• .the. minute- study. of multitudes of" minor .'and segregated facts relating'to social'life,' that they '.lose sight' altogether., of 'the. few great facts and. their' natural: relations', and; super-ciliously-.ignore ' tho.'. dominating ''.pidnciples',tha,t;fairlythrust;th«h)3elves ; into 'tho:' mind'yhen' these''relatibii's.vavo:c'o'nsidered.;;;'.:. lawyers alluded ; .to Avhcji, ; thej'; .used' .to; speak ep'ntemp'tiousiy*!''of.7'case'. 'lawyersf J'ls What many 'modern1; students'.' of social philosophy /have'':'come ;.to- be.:;-;. The 'case■:.lawyer.'''ignored'' general,;:principles''a'nd:^ flourished' upon ■-.heterogene-ous-precedents^ the'modern social studeh'tj also: • ignoring ■.•'general';, principles, thrives upon' 'rheterogerieous instances. There Is 'necessity, there'fo"rc,if.or emphasising-' the .elementary^natural principles- of ■■ social^ life,''those• laws. ■ .of human intercourse'-that; need only to be understood" to ;be 'aco-opted • "