tions of the people, their numbers, their habits, their business interests, their moral, economic, and social relations—everything, in fact, which grows out of the relations of men to each other and to society—are welcomed with enthusiasm.
Nor does the social scientist question the motives of the government in ascertaining and presenting facts. Government, for the purposes of revenue legislation, may ascertain the facts relative to the manufacture and sale of intoxicants, having no reference whatever to the bearing of the results of the inquiry upon the moral and social welfare of the members of a community. If the truth is ascertained social science is satisfied, and can use the facts presented by the government in every relation in which they are capable of legitimate use.
The student of social science cannot be a partisan; he must accept conclusions which are proved. He may advocate reforms, he may insist upon changes in legislation, upon the adoption of new systems of finance or commerce, but he does all this because to his mind the ascertained facts lead to his conclusions, and until they are completely overturned he will adhere and must adhere to his position ; yet he knows well that statistical statements are open to much criticism, and that the results of any governmental inquiry are open to the charge of inadequacy, even when the integrity of the inquiry cannot be questioned in the least. He uses the results of statistical inquiry because the method of obtaining and presenting them is scientific, and because he recognizes with the German Schlosser, that "statistics is history ever advancing," and that if he wishes to grow with advancing history and keep himself fully and thoroughly informed of progress in every direction, he must use the statistical or historical method; and if he is well advanced in his studies the student of social science will use statistical results most critically and with a power of analysis which will enable him at once to see the harmonies involved by which he will accept the true and reject the false. This makes the social scientist an interested observer of what government does in the way of making contributions in his favorite field. So a somewhat detailed statement of what our
