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    rally stated in the cant language of trade , ' A thing is worth what it will bring / Between these two principles , so similar that the difference in the statement would hardly attract a moment ' s attention , unless it were specially insisted upon , lies the essential difference between the whole system of civilised cannibalism by which the masses of human beings are mercilessly ground to powder for the accumulation of the wealth of the'few > on the one hand , and on the other , the reign of equity , the just remuneration of labour , and the independence and elevation of all mankind .

    " There is nothing apparently more innocent , harmless , and equitable in the world , than the statement that a ' thing should bring what it is worth ;' arid yet even that statement covers the most subtle fallacy which it has ever been given to human genius to detect and expose—a fallacy more fruitful of evil than any other which the human intellect has ever been becloudedby . * * * " The term ' Equitable Commerce does not signify merely a new adjustment of the method of buying and selling . The term is employed by Mr . Warren to siffnifv the whole of what I have preferred to

    denominate the Science of Society , including Ethics , Political Economy , and all else that concerns the outer relations of mankind . At the same time , the mutual interchange of products is , as it were , the continent or basis upon which all other intercourse rests . Society-reclines upon Industry . Without it man cannot exist * Other things may be of . higher import , but it is ofprimary necessity . Solitary industry does not supply the wants of the individual . Hence trade , or the exchange of products . With trade , intercourse hegins . It is the first in order of the long train of benefits which mankind mutually

    minister to each other . The term ' commerce is sometimes synonymous with trade or * traffic ; and at other times it is used in a more comprehensive sense . For that reason it has a double appropriateness to the subjects under consideration . It is employed , therefore , in the phrase ¦ ' Equitable Commerce / to signify ^ first , Commerce in the minor sense , as synonymous with ' trade ; ' and , secondly , Commerce in the major sense , as ^ synonymous with the o& ? English signification of the word , ' conversation / i . e ., human intercourse of all sorts—the concrete , or tout ensemble , of human relations . # * '" # ,

    " According to Mr . Warren , the following is The Pkobj / em to be soiiTED in all its several branches : " 1 . ' The proper , legitimate , and just reward of labour / " 2 . ' Security of person and property / " 3 . ' The greatest practicable amount of freedom to each individual . " 4 . ' Economy in the production and uses of wealth / " 5 . ' To open the way to each individual for the possession of land , and all other natural wealth / " 6 . ' To make the interests of all to co-operate with and assist each other , instead of clashing with and counteracting each other /

    " 7 . To withdraw the elements of discord , of war , of distrust , and repulsion , and to establish a prevailing spirit of peace , order , and social sympathy / " And according to him , also , the following ntiNciplks are the means of the solution : "I . ' Individuality / "II . 'The Sovereignty op eaoii Individuai . ' "III . < Co 3 T , the Limit of Pjiice / " IV . ' A CmouiiATiNG Medium , founded on the Cost op Labour / "V . ' Adaptation ov the Supply to the Demand / " Mr . Andrews observes

    that" The more reading of this programme will suggest the immensity of tho scope to which tho subject extends . In the present volume I have selected a single principle—tho third among those above named—and shall adhere to a pretty thorough exposition of it , rather than overload tho mind of tho reader by bringing into view tho whole of a systom , covering all possible human relations . A fow minds may , from tho mero statement of theao principles , begin to perceive the roumlod outlines of what ih , as I do not hesitate to affirm , tho most complete scientific statement of tho pi'oblom of human socioty , and of tho fundamental

    principles of social science , which has ever boon prennntod to tlio world . Most , however , will hardly begin to understand tho universal and all-porvnding potency <> f those few Himplo pr ' inciples , until they find them elaborutol y difiplaycd and elucidated . At prcnont I take tho broud liconco of assorting that they are universal 1 'ttlNOU'LKB . " Ah an example of tho vivacity with which Mr * Andrews illustrates those principles , two instances will interest tho English reader . Speaking of tho principle— " Adaptation of tho Supply to tho iJoniand " -r-Mr . Andrews adds : " Thin Keems to bo a formula relating merely , as , in

    fact , it does relate mainly , to . ordinary commerce—trade —commerce in the minor sense . In that sense , it expresses an immense want ^ of civilized society—nothing less , as Carlyle has it , than a knowledge of the way of getting the supernumerary shirts into contact with the backs of the men who have none . But this same principle introduced into the parlour , becomes likewise the regulator of politeness and good manners , and pertains , therefore , to commerce in the major sense as well . T am , for example , overflowing with immoderate zeal for the principles which I am now discussing . I broach

    them on every occasion . I seize every man by the button-hole , and inflict on him a lecture on the beauties of Equitable Commerce ; in fine , I make myself a universal bore , as every reformer is like to he , more or less . But at the moment some urbane and conservative old gentleman politely observes to me , ' Sir , I perceive one of your principles is , ' The Adaptation of the Supply to the Demand /¦ ' I take the hint immediately . My mouth is closed . I perceive that my lecture is not wanted—that he does not care to interest himself in the subject . There is no demand , and I stop the

    supply . " But you are ready to say , Would not ihe same hint given in some other form , stop the impertinence ' of over-zealous advocacy in any case ? Let those answer who have been bored . But suppose it did , could it be done so gracefully , in any way , as by referring the offender to one of the very principles he is advocating , or which he professes ? Again : grant that it have the effect to stop that annoyance , the hint itself is taken as an offence , and the offended man , instead of continuing the conversation upon some other subject that might be

    agreeable , goes off in a huff , and most probably you have made him an enemy for life / But , in my case , ifc will not even be necessary for the conservative old gentleman to remind me- —I shall at once recollect that another of my principles is , ' The Sovereignty of the IndividuaI // One of the highest exercises of that sovereignty is the choice of the subjeets about which one will converse , and upon which he will bestow his time—hence I recognise cordially his right to exclude my subject , and immediately , -and good-humouredly , I glide off upon some other topic . Then , by a law of the

    human mind , which it is ~ extremely important to understand , and practically to observe , if it be possible that there should ever arise a demand with him to hear anything about that subject , my uniform deference for even his prejudices will hasten the time . Indeed , all conservative old gentlemen , who hate reform of all sorts as they dp ratsbane , would do well to make themselves at once familiar with these principles , and to disseminate them as the means of defending themselves .

    Do you begin to perceive that such a * nere tradesmanlike formula , at first blush , as ' The Adaptation ob the Supply to the Demand , ' becomes one of the highest regulators of good manners—a part of the ethics of conversation—of tho 'E quitable Commerce' of gentlemanly intercourse—as well as what it seems to be , an important element of trade ; and do you catch a glimpse of what I mean , when I say that it is a universal principle ! of commerce in the major sense P "

    Those who read thus far , will he of opinion that Mr . Andrews is a superior theorist , whose expositions are worth attention . Ho seldom falls into the discoverer ' s sin of exaggeration , without a qualifying remark which announces his consciousness of it , and which becomes a guarantee that it has its limits . The disbeliever iu the new theory is not only endured by Mr . Andrews , but his prejudices are respected , and ho is reasoned with—a much more efficient modo of winning him , than tho most philanthropic abuso the

    impatient advocate of progress could heap -upon mm . Mr . Andrews' style is clear and substantialperspicuous without prolixity , and brief without trancendontalinuondocs . Of tho" Cost Principle , ' wo must know more before expressing any decided judgment about it . It has this advantage over many others — namely , that the world need not bo Bwopt clean before it is introduced . It can commence as wo are , and ronovnte as it proceeds . Yot , without oxperionco , no discovery

    can bo adequately judged . " Nothing tortures history , " said Guizot , wisoly , "like logic ; " and tho eamo may bo said of theories . Wo take an attractive theory and deduce from it all legitimate conclusions , arid then proudly exclaim : " I hero is a transcript of tho old world undor the now systom 1 " All this would bo vory well if socioty was a syllogism in which all tho legitimate conclusions implied in its major promiso could bo oyolvod . But wo know differently . Wo must take tho world as wo find it , with its passionetorms , its turbulent interests , and its immenso passive resistance to intellect , in tho shape of stolid ignorance . Logic is , no doubt , tho leuvon

    which will leaven all one day—but the difference between all being leavened in theory , and leavened in practice , must make us pause- ~ nioderate our expectations , and qualify our predictions . JLON / .

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    NOTES ON WAR . BY A SOLpIEB . ' No . VI . — Cavalby , and Conclusion-. The two most expensive branches of a regular army , cavalry and artillery , make a much grander and more imposing appearance , and commonly cause inuch greater consternation , than their real destructive value warrants . The rapidity of movement , the sweeping headlong charge , the clatter , and jingle , and thundering tread of cavalry , have always proved e-Xtremely efficacious in producing panic and disorder among inexperienced troops . But if infantry soldiers were properly armed , trained , and instructed on principles which would appeal to each man ' s intelligence , and by which the value of each hostile force to be overcome , and the mode to overcome it , were explained and made apparent , much of this unreasonable and unfounded want of confidence in their power of successfully resisting and destroying cavalry

    would disappear . In as few words as possible I will attempt to give an idea of wh at is to be feared from cavalry by a National army , ( consisting , as before stated , of one-fourth riflemen , and three-fourths armed with swords and shields and p ikes , ) and also how cavalry attacks are to be resisted and retaliated . And I must begin by laying down as an axiom , that the sole danger of cavalry consists in their charge ; and to this I would call particular attention . The charge of cavalry avoided , overcome , or anticipatedthe whole danger is past , and the

    , horses and their riders may be cut to pieces and taken prisoners with the most perfect certainty by determined swordsmen on foot . Of course , some part of a discomfited body of cavalry may gallop away , form again , and try a second attack , if they are inclined . But a squadron of cavalry at a walk , or stationary , or anything but galloping straight at its opponents , is the most imbecile of military bodies , and cannot withstand a close combat of well-armed foot soldiers . With muskets and bayonet 3 it is true , little could be donein

    , ^ that or any other species of close fighting but swordsmen of the right sort would never fail . # The charge at the gallop of good cavalry 10 certainly a most formidable species of attack . Horsemen are very dangerous as long as they are permitted to have it all their own way . But they must not be permitted to have it all their own way . Definite rules cannot be laid down for every case that may occur , but take ~ the following as an illustration of what is meant . Let us imagine a regiment of cavalry preparing

    to charge down a street to clear it oi a force ot foot-soldiers : now instead of remaining in the open road to be galloped over and sabred ^ or even attempting to form some stationary defensive position , such as a square—which , whether the men aro armed with muskets and bayonets , or with pikes , I believe ought to be swept away by good cavalry—tho infantry , undor the direction of their leaders , as rapidly as possible , but in regular order , form in two lines with their backs to the houses , and close to the walls . What will rush with

    the cavalry do thenP They cannot their horses' heads against tho bricks or tho area railings ; they therefore slacken their pace , and become rather embarrassed , the steadiness and composure of both men and horses being also by no means incrcasod by a sprinkling ot bullets . Probably not many seconds will elapse before they will think of resorting to their carbines or pistols , —if so , they will not do much damage ; but I should hope that no time would bo given them for that . Tho vory moment that the pace ia slackened and tho cavalry break into a walk , they

    must bo attacked sword in hand , and tho result would not long bo doubtful . iHorscs cannot boar woimds ,-r-tho horseman's left side is tho weakest , in a groat moasuro defenceless , —if tho horsdman ' a loft arm is wounded , or the reins cut , ho is hors de combat , —all those little facts must bo taught tho young recruit , and the strength and woakness of cavalry explainod to him . Various modes would bo adopted by the general of an army ( organized as is Koro proposed ] I tor keeping cavalry at a distance , and for avoiding and resisting their chargos during tho advance of

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    MaAch is ; I 85 i ] THE LEADER . 25 *

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 13, 1852, page 251, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1926/page/15/