744 THE RURAL COMMUNITY 



parvenu is one of the characteristic products of capitalism in an 

 old country with aristocratic traditions and a military monarchy. 

 In the German east the same thing takes place now which has 

 been going on in England for centuries until the present conditions 

 were established there and which America will also experience in 

 future days, though only after all free land has been exhausted 

 and after the economic pulsation of the country has slowed 

 down. 



For while it is correct to say that the burden of historical tra- 

 dition does not overwhelm the United States and that the problems 

 originating from the power of tradition do not exist here, yet the 

 effects of the power of capitalism are the stronger and will, sooner 

 or later, further the development of land monopolies. When the 

 land has become sufficiently dear so as to secure a certain rent, when 

 the accumulation of large fortunes has reached a still higher point 

 than to-day, when, at the same time, the possibility of gaining pro- 

 portionate profits by constant new investments in trade and industry 

 has been diminished so far that the " captains of industry," as has 

 occurred everywhere in the world, begin to strive for hereditary pre- 

 servation of their possessions instead of new investments that bring 

 both gain and danger, then, indeed, the desire of the capitalistic 

 families to form a " nobility " will arise, probably not in form though 

 in fact. The representatives of capitalism will not content them- 

 selves any longer with such harmless play as pedigree studies and 

 the numerous pranks of social exclusiveness which startle so much 

 the foreigner. Only when capital has arrived at this course and 

 begins to monopolize the land to a great extent, will a great rural 

 social question arise in the United States, a question which cannot be 

 cut with the sword, as was the slave question. Industrial monopo- 

 lies and trusts are institutions of limited duration; the conditions of 

 production undergo changes, and the market does not know any 

 everlasting valuation. Their power lacks also the authoritative 

 character and the political aristocratic mark. Monopolies of the 

 soil create infallibly a political aristocracy. 



As far as Germany is concerned, in the east a certain approach to 

 English conditions has begun in consequence of the tendencies of 

 development, while the German southwest shows similarity with 

 France in the social formation of the country. But, in general, the 

 intensive English stock-breeding is not possible in the German east 

 on account of the climate. Therefore capital absorbs only the soil 

 which is most favorable for agriculture. But while the inferior 

 districts in England remain uncultivated as pastures for sheep, in 

 the German east they are settled by small farmers. This process 

 has a peculiar feature, inasmuch as two nations, Germans and 

 Slavonians, struggle with each other economically. The Polish 



