Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/427

 LUDWIG GUMPLOWICZ 413

The new Rassenkampf with all his early papers appended, in which he first set forth his great theory in 1875, reached me on May 27. This work, as he told me at the beginning of our cor- respondence, contains his "system." His other numerous works are only amplifications of it. No one understands Gumplowicz who has not read his Rassenkampf. The Schwafiengesang I have not yet seen. I acknowledged the former with hearty con- gratulations, but I was then just leaving for Europe, and I re- ceived no further word from him. Mrs. Unger, however, received a short pathetic note from him dated August 8 (twelve days before the fatal act) which she has kindly allowed me to see. He tells her that it will be his last letter to her and that he writes it with great effort. He makes a suggestion regarding the English translation of the Rassenkampf (undertaken by Mrs. Unger some time ago from the original edition, but not com- pleted), sends his greetings to her, and in a postscript, to me.

At the banquet of the Bern Congress of the International Institute of Sociology on August 21, a postal card to him was circulated and packed with signatures of admiring friends. I made mine so plain that he could not overlook it.

Thus has passed from our midst a striking figure, which, whatever may be the fate of his theories and original ideas, will ever stand as a prominent landmark in the history of sociology. The heaviest obligation under which sociologists now rest, and the one which is most neglected, is that of recognizing, appre- ciating, and utilizing the work of their fellow-sociologists, and that of Ludwig Gumplowicz deserves this honor as fully as any other work done in this field.