第43章
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  Nothingcanserveasacorrectiveoftheculturaltrendgivenbythemachinedisciplineexceptwhatcanbeputintheformofabusinessproposition。Thequestionofneutralizingtheuntowardeffectsofthemachinedisciplineresolvesitselfintoaquestionastotheculturalworkandconsequencesofbusinessenterprise,andoftheculturalvalueofbusinessprinciplesinsofarastheyguidesuchhumanendeavorasliesoutsidetherangeofbusinessenterpriseproper。Itisnotaquestionofwhatoughttobedone,butofwhatisthecourselaidoutbybusinessprinciples;thediscretionrestswiththebusinessmen,notwiththemoralists,andthebusinessmen’sdiscretionisboundedbytheexigenciesofbusinessenterprise。Eventhebusinessmencannotallowthemselvestoplayfastandloosewithbusinessprinciplesinresponsetoacallfromhumanitarianmotives。Thequestion,therefore,remains,onthewhole,aquestionofwhatthebusinessmenmaybeexpectedtodoforculturalgrowthonthemotiveofprofits。

  Somethingtheyaredoing,asothersare,frommotivesofbenevolence,withawell-advisedendeavortomaintaintheculturalgainsofthepastandtomakethewayoflifesmootherformankindinthefuture。Butthemoresecureandsubstantialresultstobelookedforinthisdirectionarethosethatfollowincidentally,asbyproductsofbusinessenterprise,becausethesearenotdependentonthevagariesofpersonalpreference,tastes,andprejudices,butrestonabroadinstitutionalbasis。

  Theeffectsofbusinessenterpriseuponthehabitsandtemperofthepeople,andsouponinstitutionalgrowth,arechieflyofthenatureofsequelae,Ithasalreadybeennotedthatthedisciplineofbusinessemploymentsisofaconservativenature,tendingtosustaintheconventionsthatrestonnatural-rightsdogma,becausetheseemploymentstrainthemenengagedinthemtothinkintermsofnaturalrights。Itisunnecessarytoreturntothistopichere,excepttonoticethat,initsseverer,moreunmitigatedform,thisdisciplineinpecuniaryhabitsofthoughtfallsonagraduallylesseningproportionofthepopulation。Theabsolutenumberofbusinessmen,countingprincipalsandsubordinates,is,ofcourse,notdecreasing,Thenumberofmeninbusinesspursuits,inproportiontothepopulation,isalsoapparentlynotdecreasing;butwithinthebusinessemploymentsalargerproportionareoccupiedwithofficeroutine,andsoarewithdrawnfromthemoreeffectualtraininggivenbybusinessmanagementproper。Ifsuchadecreaseoccursinanycountry,itisalmostcertainlynottobefoundinanyothercountrythanAmerica。

  Thisbusinessdisciplineissomewhatcloselylimitedbothinscopeandrange。1Itactstoconserve,ortorehabilitate,acertainrestrictedlineofinstitutionalhabitsofthought,viz。

  thosepreconceptionsofnaturalrightswhichhavetodowithproperty。Whatitconserves,therefore,isthebourgeoisvirtuesofsolvency,thrift,anddissimulation。Thenoblerandmorespectaculararistocraticvirtues,withtheircorrelativeinstitutionalfurniture,arenotinanysensibledegreefortifiedbythehabitsofbusinesslife。Businesslifedoesnotfurtherthegrowthofmannerandbreeding,prideofCaste,punctiliosof“honor,“orevenreligiousfervor。2Thesalutarydisciplineofbusinesslifetouchesthebulkofthepopulation,theworkingclasses,inaprogressivelylessintimateandlessexactingmanner。Itcan,therefore,notservetocorrectorevengreatlytomitigatethematter-of-factbiasgiventheseclassesbythedisciplineofthemachineprocess。

  Asadirectdisciplinaryfactorthemachineprocessholdsoverthebusinessemployments,inthatittoucheslargerclassesofthecommunityandinculcatesitscharacteristichabitsofthoughtmoreunremittingly,Andanyreturntomorearchaicmethodsofindustry,suchasissometimesadvocatedonartisticgrounds,seemshopeless,sincebusinessinterestsdonotcountenanceadiscontinuanceofmachinemethods,Themachinemethodsthatarecorruptingtheheartsandmannersoftheworkmenareprofitabletothebusinessmen,andthatfactseemstobedecisiveonthepoint。Adirect,advisedreturntohandicraft,oranysimilardiscontinuanceofthemachineindustry,isoutofthequestion;althoughsomethinginthewayofapartialreturntomoreprimitivemethodsofindustryneednotbeimpracticableasaremoteandindirectconsequenceoftheworkingofbusinessenterprise。

  Theindirectorincidentalculturalbearingofbusinessprinciplesandbusinesspracticeiswide-reachingandforceful。

  Businessprincipleshaveapeculiarholdupontheaffectionsofthepeopleassomethingintrinsicallyrightandgood。Theyarethereforedrawnonforguidanceandconvictioneveninconcernsthatarenotconceivedtobeprimarilybusinessconcerns。So,e。g。,theyhavepermeatedtheeducationalsystem,thoroughlyandintimately。Theirpresence,asanelementofcommonsense,inthecounselsofthe“educators“showsitselfinanaiveinsistenceonthe“practical“whenevertheschemeofinstructionisunderadvisement。“Practical“meansusefulforprivategain。Anynewdepartureinpublicinstruction,whetherinthepublicschoolsorinprivateendowedestablishments,isscrutinizedwiththistestinmind;whichresultsinaprogressive,thoughnotwhollyconsistent,narrowingofinstructiontosuchlearningasisdesignedtogiveareadyapplicationofresultsratherthanasystematicorganizationofknowledge。Theprimarytestisusefulnessforgettinganincome。Thesecondarytest,practicallyappliedwherelatitudeisallowedinthewayof“culture“

  studies,istheaptnessoftheinstructioninquestiontofitthelearnersforspendingincomeinadecorousmanner。Hencequasi-scholarlyaccomplishments。Muchofthecurrentcontroversyastotheinclusionorexclusionofonethingandanotherfromthecurrentcurriculumofsecondaryandhigherschoolsmightbereducedtotermsofoneortheotherofthesetwopurposeswithoutdoingviolencetotheargumentsputforthandwithagreatgaininconcisenessandlucidity。

  Thereisalsoalargeresorttobusinessmethodsintheconductoftheschools;withtheresultthatasystemofscholasticaccountancyisenforcedbothasregardstheworkoftheteachersandtheprogressofthepupils;whencefollowsamechanicalroutine,withmechanicaltestsofcompetencyinalldirections。Thislowersthevalueoftheinstructionforpurposesofintellectualinitiativeandareasonedgraspofthesubject-matter。Thisclassoferuditionisratherahindrancethanahelptohabitsofthinking。Itconducestoconvictionratherthantoinquiry,andisthereforeaconservativefactor。

  Intheendowedschoolsthereis,moreover,anincreasingintroductionofbusinessmenandbusinessmethodsintothepersonnelandtheadministrativework。Thisisnecessarilysosincetheseschoolsarecompetitorsforstudentsandendowments。

  Thepolicyoftheseschoolsnecessarilytakesonsomethingofthecomplexionofcompetitivebusiness;whichthrowstheemphasisonthosefeaturesofschoollifethatwillbestattractstudentsanddonors。Thefeatureswhichcountmostdirectlyinthesedirectionsarenotthesameaswouldcountmosteffectivelytowardtheavowedendsoftheseschools。ThestandardswhichitisfoundOperativetoliveuptoarenotthehigheststandardsofscholarlywork。Courtesyaswellasexpediencyinclinestheseschoolstocultivatesuchappearancesandsuchopinionsasmaybeexpectedtofindfavorwithmenofwealth。Thesemenofwealtharebusinessmen,forthemostpartelderlymen,whoare,asiswellknown,prevailinglyofaconservativetemperinallculturalmatters,andmoreespeciallyastouchesthoseinstitutionsthatbearonbusinessaffairs。

  Amorefar-reachingdepartmentoftheeducationalsystem,thoughnottechnicallyratedassuch,istheperiodicalpress,bothnewspapersandmagazines。Thisisafieldofbusinessenterprise,andbusinessprinciplesmaybeexpectedtoworkmoreconsistentlyandtoamoreunqualifiedresultinthisfieldthanintheschoolsystem,wheretheseprinciplescomeinincidentally。

  Thecurrentperiodicalpress,whetherephemeralorother,isavehicleforadvertisements。Thisisitsraisond’etre,asabusinessproposition,andthisdecidesthelinesofitsmanagementwithoutmaterialqualification。Exceptionstotheruleareofficialandminorpropagandistperiodicals,and,inanuncertainmeasure,scientificjournals。Theprofitsofpublicationcomefromthesaleofadvertisingspace。Thedirectreturnsfromsalesandsubscriptionsarenowamatterofwhollysecondaryconsequence。Publishersofperiodicals,ofallgradesoftransiency,aimtomaketheirproductassalableasmayhe,inordertopasstheiradvertisingpagesundertheeyesofasmanyreadersasmaybe。Thelargerthecirculationthegreater,otherthingsequal,themarketvalueoftheadvertisingspace。ThehighestproductofthisdevelopmentistheclassofAmericannewspaperscalled“independent。“Theseinparticular-andtheyarefollowedatnogreatintervalbytheresteditallitemsofnews,comment,orgossipwithaviewtowhatthenewsoughttobeandwhatopinionsoughttobeexpressedonpassingevents。

  Thefirstdutyofaneditoristogaugethesentimentsofhisreaders,andthentellthemwhattheyliketobelieve。Bythismeanshemaintainsorincreasesthecirculation。Hisseconddutyistoseethatnothingissaidinthenewsitemsoreditorialswhichmaydiscountenanceanyclaimsorannouncementsmadebyhisadvertisers,discredittheirstandingorgoodfaith,orexposeanyweaknessordeceptioninanybusinessventurethatisormaybecomeavaluableadvertiser。Bythismeansheincreasestheadvertisingvalueofhiscirculation。Thenetresultisthatboththenewscolumnsandtheeditorialcolumnsarecommonlymeretriciousinahighdegree。

  Systematicinsincerityonthepartoftheostensiblepurveyorsofinformationandleadersofopinionmaybedeploredbypersonswhosticklefortruthandpintheirhopesofsocialsalvationonthespreadofaccurateinformation。Buttheulteriorculturaleffectoftheinsinceritywhichisinthiswayrequiredbythebusinesssituationmay,ofcourse,aswellbesalutaryasthereverse。Indeed,theeffectisquiteaslikelytobesalutary,if“salutary“betakentomeanfavorabletothemaintenanceoftheestablishedorder,sincetheinsincerityisguidedbyawishtoavoidanylesionofthereceivedpreconceptionsandprejudices。Theinsincerityofthenewspapersandmagazinesseems,onthewhole,tobeofaconservativetrend。

  Theperiodicalpressisnotonlyapurveyorofnews,opinions,andadmonitions;italsosuppliesthegreaterpartoftheliteraturecurrentlyread。Andinthispartofitsworkthesameunderlyingbusinessprinciplesareinforce。Theendeavoristoincreasethecirculationatanycostthatwillresultinanincreasednetreturnfromthesaleoftheadvertisingspace。Theliteraryoutputofthemagazinesisofuseforcarryingtheadvertisingpages,andasamatterofbusiness,asseenfromthestandpointofthebusinessman’sinterest,thatisitsonlyuse。

  Thestandardsofexcellencethatgovernthisperiodicalliteratureseemfairlytobeformulatedasfollows:Ineachgivencaseitmustconformtothetastesandthemostreadycomprehensionofthesocialstratawhichtheparticularperiodicalisdesignedtoreach;itshouldconducetoaquickenedinterestinthevariouslinesofservicesandcommoditiesofferedintheadvertisingpages,andshoulddirecttheattentionofreadersalongsuchlinesofinvestmentandexpenditureasmaybenefitthelargeadvertisersparticularly。Atleastitmustinnowayhamperthepurposesoftheadvertisers。

  Nothingshouldgoinapopularmagazinewhichwouldcastasinistershadowoveranyformofbusinessventurethatadvertisesormightbeinducedtoadvertise。

  Takenintheaggregate,theliteraryoutputisdesiredtomeetthetastesofthatlargebodyofpeoplewhoareinthehabitofbuyingfreely。Thesuccessfulmagazinewritersarethosewhofollowthetasteoftheclasstowhomtheyspeak,inanyaberrationfad,mannerism,ormisapprehensionandinanyshortcomingofinsightorforcewhichmaybesetthatclass。Theymustalsoconformtothefanciesandprejudicesofthisclassasregardstheideals-artistic,moral,religious,orsocial-forwhichtheyspeak。Theclasstowhichthesuccessfulperiodicalsturn,andwhichgivestonetoperiodicalliterature,isthatgreatbodyofpeoplewhoareinmoderatelyeasycircumstances。

  Culturallythismeanstherespectablemiddleclasslargelythedependentbusinessclassofvariousshadesofconservatism,affectation,andsnobbery。###第44章

  Onthewhole,theliteratureprovidedinthiswayandtothisendseemstorunonalineofslightlymorepronouncedconservatismandaffectationthantheaveragesentimentofthereadersappealedto。Thisistrueforthefollowingreason。

  Readerswhoarelessconservativeandlesspatientofaffectations,snobbery,andilliberalitythantheaverageareinthepositionofdoubtersanddissentients。Theyarelessconfidentintheirconvictionsofwhatisrightandgoodinallmatters,andarealsonotunwillingtomakecondescendingallowancesforthosewhoareless“advanced,“andwhomustbehumoredsincetheyknownobetter;whereasthosewhorestundoubtinginthemoreconservativeviewsandamoreintolerantaffectationofgentilityarereadier,becausemorenaive,intheirrejectionofwhateverdoesnotfullyconformtotheirhabitsofthought。

  Soitcomesaboutthattheperiodicalliteratureis,onthewhole,somewhatmorescrupulouslydevoutintone,somewhatmoregiventolaudanddilateuponthetrafficoftheupperleisureclassandtocarryonthediscussioninthetermsandtoneimputedtothatclass,somewhatmorepronetospeakdeprecatinglyofthevulgarinnovationsofmodernculture,thantheaverageofthereaderstowhomitisaddressed。Thetrendofitsteaching,therefore,is,onthewhole,conservativeandconciliatory。Itisalsounderthenecessityofadaptingitselftoamoderatelylowaverageofintelligenceandinformation;sinceonthishead,again,itisthosewhopossessintelligenceandinformationthatarereadiesttomakeallowances;theyare,indeed,mildlyflatteredtodoso,besidesbeingtheonlyoneswhocan。Itisaprimerequisitetoconciliatealargebodyofreaders。

  Thislattercharacteristicisparticularlyevidentinthedidacticportionoftheperiodicalliterature。Thisdidacticliterature,runningondiscussionsofaquasi-artisticandquasi-scientificcharacter,is,byforceofthebusinessexigenciesofthecase,designedtofavorthesensibilitiesoftheweakeramongitsreadersbyadroitlysuggestingthatthereadersarealreadypossessedofthesubstanceofwhatpurportstobetaughtandneedonlybefortifiedwithcertaingeneralresults。Therefollowsagreatspreadofquasi-technicaltermsandfancifulconceits。Thesophisticatedanimalstoriesandthehalf-mythicalnarrativesofindustrialprocesseswhichnowhavethevogueillustratetheresultsachievedinthisdirection。

  Theliteraryoutputissuedunderthesurveillanceoftheadvertisingofficeisexcellentinworkmanshipanddeficientinintelligenceandsubstantialoriginality。Whatisencouragedandcultivatedisadroitnessofstyleandapiquantpresentationofcommonplaces。Harmlessness,nottosaypointlessness,andanedifying,gossipyoptimismarethesubstantialcharacteristics,whichpersistthroughallephemeralmutationsofstyle,manner,andsubject-matter。

  Businessenterprise,therefore,itisbelieved,givesasalutarybenttoperiodicalliterature。Itconducesmildlytothemaintenanceofarchaicidealsandphilistineaffectations,andinculcatesthecrasserformsofpatriotic,sportsmanlike,andspendthriftaspirations。

  Thelargestandmostpromisingfactorofculturaldiscipline-mostpromisingasacorrectiveoficonoclasticvagaries-overwhichbusinessprinciplesruleisnationalpolitics。Thepurposesandthematerialeffectsofbusinesspoliticshavealreadybeenspokenofabove,butinthepresentconnectiontheirincidental,disciplinaryeffectsarenolessimportant。Businessinterestsurgeanaggressivenationalpolicyandbusinessmendirectit。

  Suchapolicyiswarlikeaswellaspatriotic。Thedirectculturalvalueofawarlikebusinesspolicyisunequivocal。Itmakesforaconservativeanimusonthepartofthepopulace。

  Duringwartime,andwithinthemilitaryorganizationatalltimes,undermartiallaw,civilrightsareinabeyance;andthemorewarfareandarmamentthemoreabeyance。Militarytrainingisatraininginceremonialprecedence,arbitrarycommand,andunquestioningobedience。Amilitaryorganizationisessentiallyaservileorganization。Insubordinationisthedeadlysin。Themoreconsistentandthemorecomprehensivethismilitarytraining,themoreeffectuallywillthemembersofthecommunitybetrainedintohabitsofsubordinationandawayfromthatgrowingpropensitytomakelightofpersonalauthoritythatisthechiefinfirmityofdemocracy。Thisappliesfirstandmostdecidedly,ofcourse,tothesoldiery,butitappliesonlyinalessdegreetotherestofthepopulation。Theylearntothinkinwarliketermsofrank,authority,andsubordination,andsogrowprogressivelymorepatientofencroachmentsupontheircivilrights。WitnessthechangethathaslatterlybeengoingoninthetemperoftheGermanpeople。

  Themodernwarlikepoliciesareentereduponforthesakeofpeace,withaviewtotheorderlypursuitofbusiness。Intheirinitialmotivetheydifferfromthewarlikedynasticpoliticsofthesixteenth,seventeenth,andeighteenthcenturies。Butthedisciplinaryeffectsofwarlikepursuitsandofwarlikepreoccupationsaremuchthesamewhatevermaybetheirinitialmotiveorulterioraim。Theendsoughtintheonecasewaswarlikemasteryandhighreputeinthematterofceremonialprecedence;intheother,themoderncase,itispecuniarymasteryandhighreputeinthematterofcommercialsolvency。Butinbothcasesalikethepompandcircumstanceofwarandarmaments,andthesensationalappealstopatrioticprideandanimositymadebyvictories,defeats,orcomparisonsofmilitaryandnavalstrength,acttorehabilitatelostidealsandweakenedconvictionsofthechauvinisticordynasticorder。Atthesamestroketheydirectthepopularinteresttoother,nobler,institutionallylesshazardousmattersthantheunequaldistributionofwealthorofcreaturecomforts。Warlikeandpatrioticpreoccupationsfortifythebarbarianvirtuesofsubordinationandprescriptiveauthority。Habituationtoawarlike,predatoryschemeoflifeisthestrongestdisciplinaryfactorthatcanbebroughttocounteractthevulgarizationofmodernlifewroughtbypeacefulindustryandthemachineprocess,andtorehabilitatethedecayingsenseofstatusanddifferentialdignity。Warfare,withthestressonsubordinationandmasteryandtheinsistenceongradationsofdignityandhonorincidenttoamilitantorganization,hasalwaysprovedaneffectiveschoolinbarbarianmethodsofthought。

  Inthisdirection,evidently,liesthehopeofacorrectivefor“socialunrest“andsimilardisordersofcivilizedlife。

  Therecan,indeed,benoseriousquestionbutthataconsistentreturntotheancientvirtuesofallegiance,piety,servility,gradeddignity,classprerogative,andprescriptiveauthoritywouldgreatlyconducetopopularcontentandtothefaciemanagementofaffairs。Suchisthepromiseheldoutbyastrenuousnationalpolicy。

  Thereversionaltrendgivenbywarlikeexperienceandwarlikepreoccupations,itisplain,doesnotsetbackwardtotheregimeofnaturalliberty。Modernbusinessprinciplesandthemodernschemeofcivilrightsandconstitutionalgovernmentrestonnatural-rightsground。Butthesystemofnaturalrightsisahalfwayhouse。Thewarlikeculturetakesbacktoamorearchaicsituationthatprecededtheschemeofnaturalrights,viz。thesystemofabsolutegovernment,dynasticpolitics,devolutionofrightsandhonors,ecclesiasticalauthority,andpopularsubmissionandsqualor。ItmakesnotforareinstatementoftheNaturalRightsofManbutforareversiontotheGraceofGod。

  Thebarbarianvirtuesoffealtyandpatriotismrunonnationalordynasticexploitandaggrandizement,andthesearchaicvirtuesarenotdead。Inthosemoderncommunitieswhoseheartsbeatwiththepulsationsoftheworld-markettheyfindexpressioninanenthusiasmforthecommercialaggrandizementofthenation’sbusinessmen,Butwhenoncethepolicyofwarlikeenterprisehasbeenentereduponforbusinessends,theseloyalaffectionsgraduallyshiftfromthebusinessintereststothewarlikeanddynasticinterests,aswitnessthehistoryofimperialisminGermanyandEngland。Theeventualoutcomeshouldbearehabilitationoftheancientpatrioticanimosityanddynasticloyalty,totherelativeneglectofbusinessinterests。

  Thismayeasilybecarriedsofarastosacrificetheprofitsofthebusinessmentotheexigenciesofthehigherpolitics。

  Thedisciplinaryeffectofwarandarmamentsandimperialistpoliticsiscomplicatedwithaselectiveeffect。Warnotonlyaffordsasalutarytraining,butitalsoactstoeliminatecertainelementsofthepopulation。Theworkofcampaigningandmilitarytenure,suchasiscarriedonbyEngland,America,ortheothercivilizingpowers,lies,inlargepart,inthelowlatitudes,wheretheEuropeanracesdonotfindafavorablehabitat。Thelowlatitudesareparticularlyunwholesomeforthatdolicho-blondracialstockthatseemstobethechiefbearerofthemachineindustry。Itresultsthattheviabilityandthenaturalincreaseofthesoldieryisperceptiblylowered。Theserviceinthelowlatitudes,ascontrastedwithEurope,forinstance,isanextrahazardousoccupation。Thedeathrate,indeed,exceedsthebirthrate。Butinthemoreadvancedindustrialcommunities,ofwhichtheEnglishandAmericanaretypical,theserviceisavolunteerservice;whichmeansthatthosewhogotothewarsseekthisemploymentbytheirownchoice。Thatistosay,thehumanmaterialsodrawnoffisautomaticallyselectedonthebasisofapeculiarspiritualfitnessforthispredatoryemployment;theyare,onthewhole,ofamoremalevolentandvagabondtemper,havemoreoftheancientbarbariananimus,thanthosewhoareleftathometocarryontheworkofthehomecommunityandpropagatethehomepopulation。Andsincethetroopsandshipsareofficeredbytheyoungersonsoftheconservativeleisureclassandbythebuccaneeringscionsoftheclassofprofessionalpoliticians,anaturalelectionofthesamecharactertakeseffectalsoasregardstheofficers。Thereresultsagradualselectiveeliminationofthatold-fashionedelementofthepopulationthatisbytemperamentbestsuitedfortheold-fashionedinstitutionalsystemofstatusandservileorganization。

  Thisselectiveeliminationofconservativeelementswouldinthelongrunleaveeachsucceedinggenerationofthecommunitylesspredatoryandlessemulativeintemper,lesswellendowedforcarryingonitslifeundertheservileinstitutionspropertoamilitantregime。But,forthepresentandthenearerfuture,therecanbelittledoubtbutthatthisselectiveshapingofthecommunity’sanimusisgreatlyoutweighedbythecontrarytrendgivenbythedisciplineofwarlikepreoccupations。Whathelpstokeepthebalanceinfavorofthereversionaltrendistheculturalleavencarriedbackintothehomecommunitybytheveterans。Thesepresumptivepastmastersinthearchaicvirtueskeepthemselveswellinthepubliceyeandserveasexemplarstotheimpressionablemembersofthecommunity,particularlytothelessmature。8*

  Thenetoutcomeofthelatter-dayreturntowarlikeenterpriseis,nodoubt,securelytoberatedasfosteringareversiontonationalidealsofservilestatusandtoinstitutionsofadespoticcharacter。Onthewholeandforthepresent,itmakesforconservatism,ultimatelyforreversion。

  Thequestofprofitsleadstoapredatorynationalpolicy。

  Theresultinglargefortunescallforamassivegovernmentapparatustosecuretheaccumulations,ontheonehand,andforlargeandconspicuousopportunitiestospendtheresultingincome,ontheotherhand;whichmeansamilitant,coercivehomeadministrationandsomethinginthewayofanimperialcourtlifeadynasticfountainofhonorandacourtlybureauofceremonialamenities。Suchanidealisnotsimplyamoralist’sday-dream;itisasoundbusinessproposition,inthatitliesonthelineofpolicyalongwhichthebusinessinterestsaremovingintheirownbehalf。Ifnationalthatistosaydynasticambitionsandwarlikeaims,achievements,spectacles,anddisciplinebegivenalargeplaceinthecommunity’slife,togetherwiththeconcomitantcoercivepolicesurveillance,thenthereisafairhopethatthedisintegratingtrendofthemachinedisciplinemaybecorrected。Theregimeofstatus,fealty,prerogative,andarbitrarycommandwouldguidetheinstitutionalgrowthbackintothearchaicconventionalwaysandgivetheculturalstructuresomethingofthatsecuredignityandstabilitywhichithadbeforethetimes,notonlyofsocialisticvapors,butofnaturalrightsaswell。Then,too,therestofthespiritualfurnitureoftheancientregimeshallpresumablyhereinstated;materialisticscepticismmayyieldthegroundtoaromanticphilosophy,andthepopulaceandthescientistsalikemayregainsomethingofthatdevoutnessandfaithinpreternaturalagencieswhichtheyhaverecentlybeenlosing。Asthedisciplineofprowessagaincomestoitsown,convictionandcontentmentwithwhateverisauthenticmayreturntodistractedChristendom,andmayoncemoregivesomethingofasacramentalserenitytomen’soutlookonthepresentandthefuture。

  Butauthenticityandsacramentaldignitybelongneitherwiththemachinetechnology,norwithmodernscience,norwithbusinesstraffic。Insofarastheaggressivepoliticsandthearistocraticidealscurrentlyfurtheredbythebusinesscommunityareworkedoutfreely,theirlogicaloutcomeisanabatementofthoseculturalfeaturesthatdistinguishmodemtimesfromwhatwentbefore,includingadeclineofbusinessenterpriseitself。9*

  Howimminentsuchaconsummationistobeaccountedisaquestionofhowfartheunbusinesslikeandunscientificdisciplinebroughtinbyaggressivepoliticsmaybeexpectedtoprevailoverthedisciplineofthemachineindustry。Itisdifficulttobelievethatthemachinetechnologyandthepursuitofthematerialscienceswillbedefinitivelysuperseded,forthereason,amongothers,thatanycommunitywhichlosestheseelementsofitsculturetherebylosesthatbrutematerialforcethatgivesitstrengthagainstitsrivals。AnditisequallydifficulttoimaginehowanyoneofthecommunitiesofChristendomcanavoidenteringthefunnelofbusinessanddynasticpolitics,andsorunningthroughtheprocesswherebythematerialisticanimusiseliminated。Whichofthetwoantagonisticfactorsmayprovethestrongerinthelongrunissomethingofablindguess;butthecalculablefutureseemstobelongtotheoneortheother。Itseemspossibletosaythismuch,thatthefulldominionofbusinessenterpriseisnecessarilyatransitorydominion。Itstandstoloseintheendwhethertheoneortheotherofthetwodivergentculturaltendencieswins,becauseitisincompatiblewiththeascendancyofeither。

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