JOHN BATES CLARK AS AN ECONOMIST
but failed signally to bridge it. It remained for Clark to press
relentlessly forward and to lay this veritable corner-stone of a
pure economics.
The history of doctrinal thought is largely a succession of
dogmatism, criticism and synthesis. Clark began his systematic
work at a time when Roscher and Jevons, from quite different
directions had given shattering blows to the classical theory.
Even after a quieting interval, the effect of the impact was to
revive in acute form the old opposition in economic approach,
extending as far back as the controversies of Malthus and
Ricardo—consumer or producer, demand or supply, utility or cost.
Marshall in England and Clark in the United States adjusted the
situation in fine spirit of scientific continuity. From their day
forth we have heard less of “shunting the car of economic science
on to a wrong line.” The shield was seen as a two-sided affair;
interpretation corrected textual rigor, and the economic student
was freed from a Calvinistic alternative. In all of this Clark’s
work was constructive unification, not pallid accord. Disciples
carried the process to completion, but the impetus had been
imparted.
d
Clark’s work as an economist has been both the creative
activity of a philosopher and the specific service of a scholar.
But it ranges wider. For more than a generation he has been a
teacher to students, a master to disciples, a critic to fellow crafts-
men. In all of these relations he has shown a serenity of mind,
a sweetness of manner, a gentleness of spirit that make up “eine
schone Seele.” No other among American economists has come
so near to founding a “school.” But over and above the impress
which sheer intellectuality and rare originality have imparted,
has been the contagion of mental tolerance and scientific gener-
osity. It is in this spirit that the whole fraternity of political
economists, far beyond the small company who here in homage
lay before him their offerings, find it a delight to do him honor.
