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 768 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

they do not close their eyes to the terrible results which its ascendency has brought with it. These evils, and not the advan- tages which have been gained, and the permanent good and approved sides of the principles, are to be removed by unwearied work of social reform, and are to be replaced by better arrange- ments. The fundamental law of gradual organic development must be set in the highest position. From this it follows that the National Socialists are opponents of the crass, extreme doc- trine of private capital, as well as of one-sided communism, according to which the proletarians will seize at one stroke the dictatorship, and introduce a communistic society and industrial order. The National Socialists see herein a vicious Utopia which even in case of successful realization would mean a certain advance for particular classes, but, through its partiality, would result in many great and une.xpected injuries. We have learned that the one-sided private capitalistic theory, when carried uncon- ditionally into practice, actually made mischief, although it was at one'time believed that it would bring all blessing and nothing but blessing. On the other side, however, the National Social- ists know that they stand near to Social Democracy when this, as is already often true, strives for a fundamental and gradual upward development of the working class by means of practical social efforts in particular measures, as occasion for them arises. In the main we can accept as the watchword of the National Socialists this cry: Higher development of the German working classes.

Now, in what particular ways do the National Socialists pro- pose to forward this upward development ?

First of all by efforts in and with the trade associations. It is well known that there are in Germany three kinds of trade associations: those of Social Democracy, which are by much the strongest; those of the Ultramontanes, the Catholic Centrum party; and the so-called Hirsch-Duncker trade unions, which subscribe to civic and liberal principles. All three kinds move in particular party courses, one being Social Democratic, the next Ultramontane, and the third German Liberal i^Frcisinnig) . The National Socialists see, however, in this partisan character the