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Sumner by the 1870s was publishing powerful, widely read essays denouncing economic fallacies and political evils and promoting what he deemed sound governmental principles. His essays proved so keen in analysis, flawless in logic, and full of fire that they attracted national attention and are read by conservatives in the 21st century. Their titles grabbed the reader's attention: "The Absurd Attempt to Make the World Over," "That It Is Not Wicked to Be Rich; Nay, Even, That It Is Not Wicked to Be Richer Than One's Neighbor," "Protectionism, the --Ism Which Teaches that Waste Makes Wealth," "Prosperity Strangled by Gold," "The Delusion of the Debtors," "The Conquest of the United States by Spain."  

Sumner by the 1870s was publishing powerful, widely read essays denouncing economic fallacies and political evils and promoting what he deemed sound governmental principles. His essays proved so keen in analysis, flawless in logic, and full of fire that they attracted national attention and are read by conservatives in the 21st century. Their titles grabbed the reader's attention: "The Absurd Attempt to Make the World Over," "That It Is Not Wicked to Be Rich; Nay, Even, That It Is Not Wicked to Be Richer Than One's Neighbor," "Protectionism, the --Ism Which Teaches that Waste Makes Wealth," "Prosperity Strangled by Gold," "The Delusion of the Debtors," "The Conquest of the United States by Spain."  

He treated most of the great issues of the [[Gilded Age]]. His method was to go to the basic issues of equality, rights, duty, and liberty, stripping away traditional and sentimental trappings. Sumner was a leading advocate of a sound monetary system, opposed free silver, [[Bimetallism]], and all inflationary expedients. Like most economists he favored free trade and denounced high tariffs--as a prosperity measure tariffs were fallacious, and from a moral point of view, pernicious. He did not campaign for politicians, but his views most closely resembled the [[Bourbon Democrats]] like President [[Grover Cleveland]].

He treated most of the great issues of the [[Gilded Age]]. His method was to go to the basic issues of equality, rights, duty, and liberty, stripping away traditional and sentimental trappings. Sumner was a leading advocate of a sound monetary system, opposed free silver, [[Bimetallism]], and all inflationary expedients. Like most economists he favored free trade and denounced high tariffs—as a prosperity measure tariffs were fallacious, and from a moral point of view, pernicious. He did not campaign for politicians, but his views most closely resembled the [[Bourbon Democrats]] like President [[Grover Cleveland]].

Sumner deplored populist attacks on "big business," and said the evolution of monopolistic trusts was a natural and useful advance.  He vigorously opposed any intrusion by the government upon the industrial field, maintaining that state interference could not be scientific, or even intelligent. Again and again he stressed that the remedies would be worse than the disease. His theoretical arguments against socialism were powerful.  

Sumner deplored populist attacks on "big business," and said the evolution of monopolistic trusts was a natural and useful advance.  He vigorously opposed any intrusion by the government upon the industrial field, maintaining that state interference could not be scientific, or even intelligent. Again and again he stressed that the remedies would be worse than the disease. His theoretical arguments against socialism were powerful.  

===Social Darwinist?===

===Social Darwinist?===

Sumner played with a Social Darwinist themes borrowed from [[Herbert Spencer]] during the 1880s, but unpublished manuscripts by Sumner discovered in the 1970s show that he came to reject the basic premises of Social Darwinism by 1900.<ref> Bannister (1973); Norman Erik Smith, "William Graham Sumner as an Anti-Social Darwinist." ''Pacific Sociological Review'' 1979 22(3): 332-347. 0030-8919.  Sumner’s apparent support for Social Darwinism as stated in ''The Science of Society'' (1927, printed 17 years after Sumner's death) was actually the thought of Albert Galloway Keller, with whom he collaborated. Norman E. Smith and Roscoe C. Hinkle, "Sumner Versus Keller and the Social Evolutionism of Early American Sociology." ''Sociological Inquiry'' 1979 49(1): 41-48. 0038-0245. </ref> Sumner's thought was a synthesis of Scottish Common Sense Realism, classical [[republicanism]], and [[laissez-faire]] economics. His synthesis continues to inform much of modern conservative social thought. Sumner's opposition to the Spanish-American War in 1898 emerged from his fear that imperialism would undermine republican government by strengthening the hand of the plutocracy, "the political power of capital."<ref> Pickens (1987)</ref>   

Sumner played with a Social Darwinist themes borrowed from [[Herbert Spencer]] during the 1880s, but unpublished manuscripts by Sumner discovered in the 1970s show that he came to reject the basic premises of Social Darwinism by 1900.<ref>Bannister (1973); Norman Erik Smith, "William Graham Sumner as an Anti-Social Darwinist." ''Pacific Sociological Review'' 1979 22(3): 332-347. 0030-8919.  Sumner’s apparent support for Social Darwinism as stated in ''The Science of Society'' (1927, printed 17 years after Sumner's death) was actually the thought of Albert Galloway Keller, with whom he collaborated. Norman E. Smith and Roscoe C. Hinkle, "Sumner Versus Keller and the Social Evolutionism of Early American Sociology." ''Sociological Inquiry'' 1979 49(1): 41-48. 0038-0245.</ref> Sumner's thought was a synthesis of Scottish Common Sense Realism, classical [[republicanism]], and [[laissez-faire]] economics. His synthesis continues to inform much of modern conservative social thought. Sumner's opposition to the Spanish-American War in 1898 emerged from his fear that imperialism would undermine republican government by strengthening the hand of the plutocracy, "the political power of capital."<ref>Pickens (1987)</ref>   

Sumner has often been called a dogmatic defender of laissez-faire and of conservative social Darwinism. But an examination of his unpublished essay of 1909, "On the Concentration of Wealth", reveals that he changed his mind. In his 1909 essay he shows his concern for pervasive corporate monopoly as a threat to social equality and democratic government. His analysis was akin to that of a [[Woodrow Wilson|Wilsonian]] Progressive, although his remedies were vague and incomplete. This stand against plutocracy was consistent with his life and consisted of a long defense of a middle-class society against the pressures of greedy self-interest groups and demos, the mob. Earlier he was most concerned with threats from corrupt politicians. Later plutocracy threatened the middle classes through abuses which might have led to [[class warfare]].<ref> Curtis 1969)</ref>

Sumner has often been called a dogmatic defender of laissez-faire and of conservative social Darwinism. But an examination of his unpublished essay of 1909, "On the Concentration of Wealth", reveals that he changed his mind. In his 1909 essay he shows his concern for pervasive corporate monopoly as a threat to social equality and democratic government. His analysis was akin to that of a [[Woodrow Wilson|Wilsonian]] Progressive, although his remedies were vague and incomplete. This stand against plutocracy was consistent with his life and consisted of a long defense of a middle-class society against the pressures of greedy self-interest groups and demos, the mob. Earlier he was most concerned with threats from corrupt politicians. Later plutocracy threatened the middle classes through abuses which might have led to [[class warfare]].<ref>Curtis 1969)</ref>

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* [http://praxeology.net/WGS-CUS.htm "The Conquest of the United States by Spain,"] Molinari Institute.

* [http://praxeology.net/WGS-CUS.htm "The Conquest of the United States by Spain,"] Molinari Institute.

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====References====

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[[category:Sociologists]]

[[Category:Sociologists]]

[[category:Libertarians]]

[[Category:Libertarians]]

[[category:Political Scientists]]

[[Category:Political Scientists]]

[[category:Gilded Age]]

[[Category:Gilded Age]]

[[category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]