NOTES AND ABSTRACTS 481
work, technological education must be had. The state's great duty now is to broaden her system of education so as to include technological instruction. S. N. D. NORTH, in Bulletin of the National Association of Wool Manufacturers, September 1896.
The Future of the American Republic. \Ve have a blind optimism in regard to the future of this country. Everyone has a chance to rise, and the material condition is better than that found in any other country. " In America, as in no other country, it is possible for the average man to maintain a hopeful existence." But we find upon examination that everything is not so promising. Our government rests upon public opinion ; " upon it also rests full responsibility for all the evils which exist among us." And in an examination of public opinion we find five dangers. The first one is connected with the blind optimism already referred to, which leads to an attitude of non-interference in public affairs. We think somebody coming from some- where will somehow set things right, and in the meantime we let abuses remain. Then we have a false idea of liberty, too. We act as though liberty meant rights without corresponding duties. But in real liberty there is no right without a corresponding duty. Then, thirdly, we find a lack of respect for authority. An excellent example of this is found in lynching. Then we have a materialistic spirit. Our wealth getting has been carried so far that our patriotism, education, and culture are sacrificed. Lastly, there is a feebleness of the civic conscience. We do not realize our individual respon- sibility. We do not feel the solidarity of society. These are real dangers and the future of America depends upon how we meet them. PROFESSOR GARRET W. THOMPSON, in Arena, September 1896.
Compulsory Arbitration a Practicable Remedy. There are two objections to compulsory arbitration, (i) that it is impracticable, and (2) that it would work injustice. The author of this article believes "the plan can be modified so that these objections will be overcome, and so that the proposed remedy will at the same time be made applicable to all classes of employers to individuals and associations as well as to corporations." It is said a court cannot settle such intricate problems as are involved in labor disputes. It is true that there would be many intricate problems, but there is still greater probability of a fair decision than if the matter is settled by the strike or the lockout. Then it is objected that whether the decision is just or unjust it cannot be enforced. It can. If not flagrantly unjust public opinion will enforce it. And then the self-interest of the parties concerned will compel its enforcement, too. The employer must carry out the decision or else stop his business, in which case he loses the interest upon his invested capital. So must the laborer, or else find other employment! And how about decisions working injustice ? At most they can do nothing but stop the employer's business and thereby only costing him the loss of interest on his capital, or force the laborer to look elsewhere for employment. In any case it would not be so bad as a strike or a lockout. So the conclusion is that compulsory arbitration is prac- ticable and far more just than the strike or the lockout. NORMAN T. MASON in Arena, September 1896.
Five American Contributions to Civilization. Every great nation has made its contributions to civilization. America has made five such. She has given the world arbitration, religious toleration, universal suffrage, recognition of the foreigner, and a lesson in " the diffusion of well-being among the population." We have relied on arbitration to settle our difficulties. This is shown bv tin (act that we have been a party to forty-seven arbitrations, more than half of those that have taken place in the modern world. As a result of this we have had little war, we have not developed those objec- tionable qualities growing out of a military career, we have not piled up a great war debt, we have not been compelled to have great armies and coast defenses. So have we given the world the most perfect form of religious freedom. No church, no faith, has been recognized by the government. As citizens, too, we are tolerant, and no denomination has tried to gain power. We were the first to develop a well-balanced and safe " universal " suffrage. We have demonstrated to the world that a democracy is possible, and that it can use government wisely. America has treated all equally.
