Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/456

 440 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

This commission notes first of all the very general phenomenon the exodus to the cities. In 1850, 50 per cent, of the people lived in the country; now only 23 per cent. The movement is still going on, for these strong tillers of the soil find ready employment in places where great strength is required.

But it is startling to learn that 30 per cent, of the entire population of Lon- don live in extreme poverty ; and not only in London, for of at least 25 per cent, of the population of Manchester and ork, and the other large cities, can the same be said. This means that one-fourth of the people are unable to find means of recuperation, and must deteriorate.

What are some of the causes ? The commission mentions, first, insufficient salaries. These laborers move about, and almost all of them are married. Add to this, sickness in the family, enforced idleness, etc., and it is easy to see that, to keep within the slender support, the size of the family must be reduced, or suffering results. We must remember, however, that about 10 per cent, of the population are morally unable to rise above poverty. A second cause is a false aristocracy, which leads people, even of the lower classes, to imitate higher classes, and thus to live far beyond their slender means. Especially are the women wasteful, when compared with those of other nations. Third, a seeming democracy, which has kept the lower classes from revolting and claiming their rights. Fourth, inferior food. Instead of ale and beef, they use poor pork and tea. This point is strongly emphasized by the commission. People try to satisfy their present hunger without any thought of recuperating their physical forces. Parents are very neglectful of the welfare of their children.

The outcome of this investigation is not all pessimism. The death-rate is decreasing, and England's population is still doubling every sixty .years. The human body has a wonderful recuperative power, and uncalculated resistance and endurance.

The tendency noted is not necessarily a permanent one. The investigation has brought to light facts that will arouse ; the evils are not incurable, now that they are known. Robert Savary, " La deterioration physique du peuple anglais (a propos d'une enquete recente)," Annales des sciences politiques, September, 1905.

D. E. T.

The Gist of Marxism. Karl Marx established the science of political life. It is the science of collective action, of social life considered as a " process." There is no such thing as individualism ; present society is not individualistic. The rights of the individual are sacrificed ; there is something higher in present society than the individual. Society is collective ; it is managed for a collectivity, i. e., a property class called the capitalistic class. Today fealty to this collectivity is the essence of religion, ethics, and patriotism.

This is the discovery made by Marx. Its importance is seen from the outcry against it. Marx took another step, explaining how classes are formed out of industrial conditions. The issue is not socialism versus individualism. Bothj are forms of collective life. Marx's discovery has called into existence a number of new words, e. g. : " classism," " classal," " class-interests," " class-consciousness."

In civil life classes have no formal existence in law ; i. e., none on paper. In political life classes exist in fact. They are parties. Some say they are a necessary evil ; Marx says they are a necessary good ; the sacrifice of individual interests for party welfare is the noblest sacrifice. So long as classes exist, no other ethics is possible save partisanship or class fealty.

There is a form of ethics higher than partisanship ; that is, under socialism, where all classes and parties merge into the totality. Sacrifice of individual interests will then be, not for a class or for a party, but for the totality. Then individual sacrifice will lose its altruistic character and become self-interest. Then collectivism and individualism will be merged into each other ; but never can they be under classism. This is the gist of Marxism. Marcus Hitch, in International Socialist Review, October i, 1905.

S. E. W. B.