Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/570

 55 6 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

a revolution, a violent rupture of historic continuity with the social bonds thereby created. It is for a good economic regime to assure men the sufficiency of material comforts which is a just and natural aim. In old times corporations, true fraternities, assured to the workman labor suited to his skill, fair compensation, an assured future, peace in workshops, and justice in trade tribunals. These old corporations brought master and workman into one family, and in national crises showed a patriotic valor that should have protected them against the revolution's mania for destruction. In the Middle Ages land was not held by virtue of an individual right, but rather for one's function, one's service to society. Without noting further the lines along which historic progress has been made, the principle may be laid down that " a nation can neither prosper nor live outside the traditions and laws which have presided at its formation." G. DE PASCAL, L Association Catholique, Septembre 1897.

'Animated Moderation" in Social Reform. Questions of method are of supreme importance in human affairs. Good intentions and bad methods have done more harm in the world than bad intentions and good methods.

The method of sentimentalism and the method of dogmatism are especially bad. "Feminine, very feminine, minds among the clergy or the laity would solve the liquor problem, for instance, by trenchant action dictated almost immediately by pure feel- ing. Masculine, very masculine, minds among trade-unionists, for example, would put an end to labor questions at once by introducing all the vigors and rigors of social- ism. The sentamentalist is, indeed, one of the worst of dogmatists, and he would be practically a revolutionist if he allowed his feelings free play ; and the dogmatist gets his inspiration more from a portion of the facts, misunderstood under the strain of a kind of hysteria, than from manly thoughtfulness. The sentimentalist and the dog- matist agree in practicing a wrong method of getting at truth. Both disregard many and essential facts, and both would use a wrong method in applying remedies."

" The right method, which is not a hindrance, but an aid, to social betterment, is that which deserves the epithets rational, scientific, evolutionary, just to all, patient, and steadfast. We are first to study calmly and from all sides each particular evil intemperance, poverty, crime, labor difficulties, for instance."

" Our ingenuous friends, who leave the economists and the statesmen'unread while constructing these fond imaginations of a world remote from economic law and politi- cal necessity, must finally recognize that it is neither true nor attractive beings that they present, but mere puppets of an overheated fancy. One imperfect being of this living day, a workman no more virtuous than most of us, or even an honest banker, outweighs them all ; for he has the one excellence which they lack and can never reach he has human blood in his veins." A wild passion for instant action is the cause of much evil.

The man of animated moderation will endeavor to understand the world in which he lives. No drastic remedy will he advocate to further social evolution. Institu- tions in the process of evolution he will encourage to perfect themselves.

" We have to place our faith, then, in those persistent servants of progress education, science, art, invention ; in human kindness and finer moral character. Practicing the philosophy and the statesmanship of animated moderation, we may well have good hope. The Great Soul that o'er us plans ' is forever reason.' In patient conspiracy with that heavenly power, and working on the true Christian line, we, too, after our own brief, but not unprofitable, day, may leave this human world a little stronger, a little fairer, than we found it." NICHOLAS P. GILMAN, The New World, December, 1897.

A Study of a Law on Accidents to Labor in France. At various times the French parliament has discussed the elements of a law for the insurance of laborers against the consequences of accidents occuring to them in the accomplishment of their work. The adoption of the German system of insurance is proposed by some. But the arbitrariness of such a proceeding and the difference in the character of the indus- tries of the two countries are important objections to this plan. The observation, however, of ten years' operation of the German system, affecting more than five million