258 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



THE SOCIAL PEOBLEM 



BY Pbofessor JOHN J. STEVENSON 



KEW TOEK DNIVERSITT 



MACCHIAVELLI, discussing the choice of political ministers, 

 grouped intellects into three classes : " one which comprehends 

 by itself, another which appreciates what others comprehend, and a 

 third, which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of 

 others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, the third is 

 useless." The last class constitutes the mass in any nation. Draper 

 put Macchiavelli's statement into terse Saxon : " The first group thinks 

 for itself, the second thinks as others think, the third does not think at 

 all." Every man, familiar with " practical politics," knows well that 

 the grouping is as true for this day, and for America, as it was for 

 Italy four centuries ago. In preparing a list of candidates for office, 

 the third class is ignored — it will vote straight. The second class is 

 ignored ; it consists of " independents," following slavishly some men 

 in the first group, whose opinions they respect. Those leaders must be 

 considered, but their followers give managers no concern. 



The economist is compelled to recognize a similar grouping. His 

 first class consists of men gifted with foresight, able to plan and to 

 execute, able, as it were, to hold the future in the grasp of the present ; 

 men of his second class possess these powers in less degree, but lack 

 initiative or mental poise, are apt to be found wanting at critical 

 moments, yet are capable of much as subordinates; while those of the 

 third class are able or willing to work in very narrow paths with little 

 or no responsibility. 



In this, as in all classification, the boundaries are indefinite and 

 gradations exist in each group. There are many in the second who, 

 but for some defect, would have been in the first. " He might have been 

 a statesman, if — " or " He ought to have been at the head of great 

 enterprises, but — " are expressions only too familiar. The third class 

 has many who possess almost every qualification for the second, but 

 they are unwilling to undertake serious tasks, preferring to provide for 

 the present as well as for the future by moving along lines of least re- 

 sistance. Yet the grouping as a generalization is true ; it is merely the 

 assertion that differences in men are largely innate, are due only in 

 part to environment. If a man belonging to the first group be born 

 among the lowest of the third, he is certain, in this country, at least, to 

 find his place as leader in politics or in other directions long before 



