Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/570

 55 6 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

and social order implies a formidable enginery. Here the insti- tutions of control bear the stamp of harshness, illiberalism, and oligarchy.

But even here there is a see-saw between static and dynamic epochs. In the latter, inventions subvert old fortunes and create new wealth, enterprise thrives, and the high capillarity of the social strata permits the ascent of the ablest. In the static epoch, on the other hand, opportunity is chiefly for those who hold the strategic points and own the instruments of production. Accordingly, the inner tension is not relieved.

It is in obedience to this fundamental law that the decline of public spirit, the decay of social solidarity, and the rise of the class as a moral authority are, as has often been remarked.'.the peculiar malady of an old society. For the society that is old is likely to be economically developed. This implies that its natural resources are about all taken up, and that its industry is carried on with the aid of capital which, accordingly, claims all the product beyond bare wages.

A society, then, may escape this disease of age if it becomes once more dynamic. In this century England, providing a wide field for enterprise by means of her colonies and by means of the industrial revolution which cast the riches of the world's commerce into her lap, has staved off the strife of classes, and in a democratizing time has been able to strengthen the institu- tion of property without diminishing her heritage of freedom. But countries like Italy or Spain, lacking opportunities, have become seats of class strife, and hence of repressive institutions. To ease the upward pressure by founding colonies and by foster- ing industry and commerce, is the true policy for a government that feels the deck leaping beneath its feet. It is likely, then, that when capitalistic production has everywhere put its full rending strain on social tissue, the static portions of the earth will become coercive or socialistic, or both, while the dynamic lands alone will be able to remain at once individualistic, property-respecting, and free.

When class spirit has sapped social spirit and rent society in twain, the first effect is a weakening of social control and a