Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/197

 NUMBER AS DETERMINING FORM OF GROUP 185

other two in order to produce at their cost a new order of things; but the facts here in question are frequently conservative tenden- cies, the third party tries to maintain his already existing pre- rogative through preventing a dreaded coalition of the two others, by means of jealousy between them, at the beginning or at least early in the course of the development of the combination beyond its first elements. There is especial likelihood of utiliz- ing this constellation in case the two personalities to be restrained from combination already possess certain competencies ; prop- erty, official station, social rank, etc. These furnish the appro- priate objects of jealousy. For that reason this technique of divide et impera is not easily applicable in the case of personali- ties low in the social scale or without property. Use was made of this form with a special finesse in a case which is recorded in ancient Peru. It was the universal practice of the Incas to divide a newly conquered race into two approximately equal halves, and to instal in each a magistrate, but with a slight dif- ference of rank between the two. This was in fact the means best calculated to produce between these two chieftains a rivalry which prevented all unified action of the subjugated territory against the conquerors. Not merely a quite equal position, but also a very different one, would have made such coherence more readily possible ; the former because, in the case of ultimate action, actual halving of the leadership would have been prac- ticable more than any other relationship, and because, in case subordination were necessary, actual peers can easiest adapt themselves to such a technical necessity ; the latter, because in that case the leadership of the one would have encountered no opposition. The trivial difference in rank offers the least encouragement to an organic and satisfying relationship in the here dreaded union, since the one, because of his plus, would undoubtedly have demanded the unlimited prerogative, while the minus of the other was not significant enough to make him resign the same ambition. Along with jealousy, suspicion is the chief psychological means which is applied to the like purpose, and which in contrast with the former suffices to restrain great multi- tudes from oath-bound combinations. The Venetian govern-