Society, to wit: "The Theory of the State, treated historically and upon principle, with a discussion of the various schools of classical, mediæval, and modern thought upon the subject." Understanding the words "real merit," as used in the third regulation (b) of the Society, to be taken in the sense of high excellence, as a work of scholarship, considered chiefly with reference to its logical character and literary execution, while not wholly ignoring its soundness of theory, we are unanimously of opinion that, having regard to the evidence which it presents of historical research, to its accuracy of thought, and to its originality of treatment, the essay entitled "The Theory of the State," by "Amicus Plato, Amicus Socrates, Sed Magis Amica Veritas," is entitled to the highest consideration, and is worthy of the great honor of being crowned by the Society. We are also unanimously of opinion that the essay entitled "The Nature of the State," by " Cegra," is worthy of high commendation, and that honorable mention may justly be made of it. While we heartily concur in awarding the prize and in making honorable mention of the essays, to which we have referred, we are not to be understood as expressing, either on behalf of the Society or upon our own behalf, any assent to the historical deductions, or conclusions, or any approval of the theories of government or of politics, stated in either of the commended essays. We deem our duty to be fully performed when we report to the Society the essays deemed to be worthy of crowning or of honorable mention, with the designation of those essays by that motto or name which the respective authors have affixed thereto, and we do not regard it to be within the scope of the authority committed to us to open the sealed envelopes containing the names of those whose essays we deem to be worthy of honor. Signed this 17th day of May, 1895. JAMES C. CARTER, GEORGE F. EDMUNDS, E. J. PHELPS, C. STUART PATTERSON. The report of the judges having been presented to President Fraley, the envelopes containing the names of the successful competitors were opened by Mr. Fraley and J. Sergeant Price, Esq., and it was found that the winner of the prize is GEORGE H. SMITH, Esq., of Los Angeles, California, and that the essay of which Honorable Mention is made was written by WESTEL W. WILLOUGHBY, of Leland Stanford University, Palo Alto, California. Approved by the Society, FREDERICK FRALEY, President. J. SERGEANT PRICE, Treasurer. THE THEORY OF THE STATE. BY GEORGE H. SMITH, Esq., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. THE CROWNED ESSAY FOR WHICH THE PRIZE OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS WAS AWARDED ON MAY 17, 1895, FROM THE HENRY M. PHILLIPS PRIZE ESSAY FUND, BY THE COMMITTEE OF JUDGES APPOINTED BY THE "AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY HELD AT PHILADELPHIA FOR THE PROMOTION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE." COMMITTEE OF JUDGES: J. RANDOLPH TUCKER, VIRGINIA, C. STUART PATTERSON, PHILADELPHIA, PA. |