"Mark what unvaried laws preserve each state, POPE. "There is a higher law than the constitution." WILLIAM H. SEWARD. "All are but parts of one stupendous whole, POPE. "When we pass from the phenomena of Matter to the phenomena of Mind, we do not pass from under the Reign of Law.” THE DUKE OF ARGYLL. THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF NATURAL LAW. I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. BEFORE entering upon any systematic study of the inherent economic laws which permeate and shape the business world as it is at present constituted, it is well to suggest that many existing limitations at some future period may be outgrown. Natural Law is never suspended or repealed by any force which can be exerted upon the same plane; but it is axiomatic that a higher law may overcome a lower one. When we lift a weight, gravitation is not suspended, but its force is overcome by the superior law of the human will. Tree-life causes the sap to ascend, not by repealing gravity, but by surmounting it. The predominant motive of social economy, on the present plane of human development, is self-interest; but this does not always amount to selfishness, nor does it imply that individual interests are necessarily antagonistic to each other. Normal self-interest is not only honest, but entirely compatible with philanthropy. But when, in the hoped-for golden period of the future, humanity comes into a general recognition of the higher law of unselfishness, this superior force will reach down and overcome many laws that are inherent and unrepealable on their own plane. Such an advanced condition of society is to be earnestly labored for; but any present study of business tendencies must be made in the light of existing conditions |