Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/320

 308 HISTORY OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE is normal. They work together and are dependent on each other, so that agriculture and manufactures help each other, and commerce perfects the object of both. The politico-economic condition of a nation depends on the co-operation and equilibrium of these various branches. Let a general social disturbance arise, let the mer- cantile spirit depress manufacturing interests or foster idleness, the politico-economic standing of the nation suffers, and, as a consequence, the moral and intellectual character. These evils increase in proportion as capital, which means unearned income, succeeds in influencing the relations between man and man for its own benefit.