Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/769

 A NEGLECTED PRINCIPLE IN CIVIC REFORM 753

trading settlements situated along the harbors of the Atlantic and along the banks of navigable streams. The virgin continent most needed for its development a people actuated by the exploit- ing principle. Our immigration called for the most virile indi- vidualism of Europe. The organic principle would necessarily be of very slow growth among a people whose absorbing passion is private gain. When we add to the natural individualism of the people the large injection of theoretical individualism about the time of the American revolution, we find the difficulties in the way of the growth of the communistic spirit greatly increased. We find another impediment m the isolation of the dwellings and the measure of opulence enjoyed by the people. The great mass of the people live in separate houses, many working people own their own homes. The dwelling and its surrounding grounds serve to make the family more of a social sphere. The social activities find a very large measure of satisfaction in the home and in a small circle of homes. These conditions make exclusiveness a normal state. It leaves little room for the development of wide com- munity interests. How in contrast with this is the German city, where communism found its inception in association for offensive and defensive measures, where communism was intensified by the intensive growth of the city, the extent of which was limited by the fortified wall ! The smallness of the dwellings and the absence of private gardens were conditions which bore fruit in the public inn, the public gardens, and the municipal provisions for public amusement. The conditions of their growth thus insured a vigorous circulation and keen and alert municipal intel- ligence. Our municipal circulation has been sluggish, and conse- quently our municipal wit has been heavy, because the lives of the people have touched in so few places. There has been a scarcity of vitalizing conditions.

The first task of the reformer must be to find a tonic for this low vitality, a quickening influence to arouse this sluggishness. The problem of problems is how to build up a strong and healthy community spirit. The growth of a fuller community life must depend upon a closer interrelation of the lives of the members of the community, a larger stock of common utilities and common enjoyments.