PROVIDING THE FUNDS 157 



RaifEeisen type has chosen its borrowers chiefly among small holders, 

 and smaller men still. However, it is the RaifEeisen system and 

 its offshoots and congeners which have become mainly connected 

 with agriculture — just for the reason that its institutions are 

 specially adapted to rural conditions. It has been largely be- 

 friended by Governments — most particularly in its debased forms. 

 And Governments have a habit of blowing their own trumpet with 

 a large expenditure of lung power. Thus it comes about that it is 

 echoes chiefly of the RaifEeisen action of the co-operative host 

 which have reached our rural and agricultural quarters, and those 

 who compose them have naturally looked upon them with mixed 

 feelings, desiring on the one hand to have the credit, but shrinking, 

 on the other, from incurring the liability involved, the nature and 

 object of which they have misunderstood. 



There is another feature in the RaifEeisen system which has 

 caused its fame to ring loudly in our ears. The system has a glorious 

 record, truly astonishing in its story of success, as a morally and 

 socially elevating agency, and a socially uniting force. Indians 

 rejoice loudly in detecting in it a modern substitute for their cherished 

 but practically defunct " village community." It has made people 

 honest, well conducted, sober, good fathers and mothers, good livers 

 and careful cultivators. It has raised poor people practically from 

 the proverbial " dunghill." Its moral effects are by philanthropists 

 rated higher than its economic — great as the latter are. And not 

 least valued is, by the same people, Raiffeisen's truly masterful 

 device enabling wealthier people to assist their poorer neighbours 

 without demoralising them by giving. This is a special merit of 

 Raifieisen's. Wealthy people are to come in, to assist with their 

 knowledge of business, their intelligence, their credit, their money, 

 if that should be needed. But their help must not take the shape of 

 a gift. Everything that is got is to be honestly earned by the 

 beneficiaries. There is here an improved version of M. Dollfus' 

 Aidez-a-faire. As my friend Carlo Contini, himself an expert in 

 the matter, declared at one of our French Co-operative Congresses, 

 " the RaifEeisen system makes people enthusiasts." I must confess 

 that I look to that system for very valuable services indeed in our 

 reconstruction of rural life, as bringing people together, uniting 

 them by powerful bonds, and preparing the way among them for 

 all other forms of co-operation. 



But do not let us look upon it as a necessity ! I am here dealing 

 with the " credit " aspect alone of co-operation. And for credit, 

 where there are the means forthcoming — very slender they may be — ■ 



