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SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND BUSINESS SUCCESS
BY R. B. VAN CORTLANDT.
THE eyes of the civilized world are fixed at present on Amer-
ican industry, and we, ourselves, in America are almost pain-
fully conscious of the importance of the position we are
now occupying on the world-stage. Lately, the various nations
of Europe have appeared to vie with each other in proving their
friendship to the United States. Friendship among nations,
however, is not founded to any great extent upon sentimental
considerations; it is rather dictated by self-interest, and we must
not, and as a matter of fact we do not, attach very much weight
to the protestations of which we are just now the recipients.
Europe, or at least the greater part of it, unquestionably views
the continued development of our commerce and wealth, and the
attendant increase of our power, with feelings in which jealousy,
not to use any harsher term, is the chief element, and the minds
of many of its political leaders are occupied with devising some
means of arresting our progress. It would seem, therefore, that
policy would suggest our forbearing to proclaim too loudly the
strength of our position, in order not to excite still further un-
necessary antagonism. We have a right, nevertheless, to analyze
the various factors which have produced the America of to-day,
and the existing political, social and industrial order of things;
and to consider whether or not they are such as are making for
our continued advance in general civilization, and for the
strengthening of our position in the family of nations.
My boyhood was spent on the continent of Europe, and I have
since been abroad frequently, mingling while there, through
relatives and friends, in the social life of the various countries,
and, through business connections, meeting many European
representatives of different branches of commercial activity. As
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518 THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW.
a natural result, I have been led to compare the attitude assumed
toward commercial pursuits by the corresponding social circles
of America and of the countries which are now our chief com-
petitors for the trade of the world. The irresistible deduction
from such a comparison is that the United States has a signal ad-
vantage over European rivals in this, that conditions in the
United States tend to encourage men of the highest intelligence
and character not only to choose a business calling at the outset
of their career, but also to continue to put forth the best efforts
of their mind and vitality long after what is supposed to be the
object of business, namely, the acquisition of a fortune, has been
attained.
In Europe, on the other hand, the surroundings of a successful
man of affairs, who has accumulated large wealth, tend to dampen
or destroy the ardor with which in his earlier years fortune was
pursued and overtaken. *
The two nations with which we are at present in the strongest
industrial competition, and against which, therefore, we must
measure ourselves with the greatest care, comparing ourselves
with them at all points—namely, England and Germany—are
both monarchical in the form of their government. The fore-
most social class in both, therefore, is an aristocracy, which re-
tains its position to some extent irrespective of wealth, and the
members of which are brought up to consider their birth as giv-
ing them an inherent right to social position. It is admitted, I
presume, that in Germany the aristocratic structure of society
still flourishes. It would, however, be contended by some, doubt-
less, that Great Britain, while a monarchy in name, in reality
enjoys as much freedom as the United States. Politically, this
may be true. Socially, however, England is divided into classes
in a way which is unknown in America. The prestige of mon-
archy could not very well be upheld otherwise, and naturally the
peerage holds the first rank. We will put aside entirely the
question of the loss of dignity which the choice of a commercial
career might entail. That is a consideration which is gradually
Iosing force the world over. It does not, therefore, come within
the scope of this article, which purposes only to touch on cer-
tain conditions fundamental to the social structure of our own
country and that of our principal industrial competitors.
The atmosphere in which the members of the European aris-
SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND BUSINESS SUCCESS. 519
tocracy, the leading social class of the Old World, live is one
which fosters in the highest degree the pursuit of the various
means through which men’s lives are made pleasant and interest-
ing, such as sport in all its branches, play, entertainments, travel,
etc. Work, consequently—by which is here meant the manage-
ment of large undertakings—demanding as it does constant and
almost undivided attention, is looked upon among them as irk-
Some and disagreeable, and to some extent as incompatible with
the highest social position, because the aristocracy is connected
with business only to a small extent, the possession of landed
property, rather, conferring social distinction.
Let us grant now that success has come to the European man of
business, and that his fortune has been achieved. These grati-
fying results will, alas, be accompanied by the inevitable arrival
of middle age, and children will probably have reached a period
when the friendships they make will have an important bearing
on their future in life. The head of the family, ambitious for
his children, is almost irresistibly led to adopt the ways of living
and thinking of the aristocracy, thereby consigning the interests
of his business to the background, so that his mind is no longer
concentrated on its development. In fact, as the lives of the
members of the aristocracy are passed largely on country estates,
in shooting and hunting, it would be practically impossible for
him to devote the requisite time to close attention to business.
Let us suppose that our friend has reached the age of fifty. It
should be just at this time that his experience, now wide, and his
large means should be more than ever prolific in bearing fruit;
yet it is, perhaps, just at this time that his energy slackens, and
he turns to the cultivation of other interests.
I am not now discussing the pursuit of happiness, nor the
wisest method of regulating one’s life. Our friend may be quite
justified in acting as he does. I wish to speak only of the eco-
nomic results which necessarily ensue from such a course, as com-
pared with the life of the American business man of equal
importance.
Let us look for a moment at the latter.
At the age of fifty, the successful American has developed his
business to large proportions, and has acquired the experience
and the capital necessary to enable him to fight his way on to
further success. He feels himself to be master of the calling
520 THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW.
to which his life work has been devoted. His position in the
community is constantly improving. His co-operation is sought
from many sides; in commerce, in politics, in charity, in Society
(perhaps the most gratifying tribute of all); his mind is inter-
ested as it never has been before; he realizes that his prestige has
been derived from his business success, and that the two go
hand in hand. No superior class hangs over him like a pall. No
supercilious comment instils poison into the brain whose energy
is concentrated on “business.” His best efforts can be put forth
in his commercial or industrial occupation, not only without fear
of endangering his position and that of his family, but rather
with the certainty that further rewards await him. His em-
ployees, too, feeling that their chief is bending all his faculties
to perfect the organization and increase the volume of his busi-
ness, are stimulated on their part to do their best, and the morale
of the force is quickened throughout all its parts, be it a banking
firm with a score or two of employees, or an extensive industrial
enterprise with its thousands.
England at present is complaining bitterly of the narrowness
of the policy now dominating its labor unions, whereby the
amount of work which the unions allow each man to perform is
in many cases not much more than half what he could accomplish
by reasonable application. In America, as yet, at least, there has
been little complaint on this point from employers. The efforts
of our labor unions have been directed toward securing higher
wages, shorter hours, or recognition of the union itself by the
employers; but the individual working man is generally willing
to apply himself with a fair amount of steadiness, and turn out
whatever work may result. It is needless to say that this policy
is by far the best for him to pursue, as thereby the industrial im-
portance, wealth and prosperity of the United States are in-
creased, and he himself, as a citizen, benefited in every way. If
English capitalists would realize that the source of the troubles
of which they complain lies not so much in the unions as at the
fountain head, through insufficient interest and energy on the part
of the chiefs, a real step would be taken in improving English
industry.
Considering, therefore, the foundations upon which labor,
whether of the head or of the hand, rests in America, as com-
pared with the nations now disputing with us the markets of the
... • *
SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND BUSINESS SUCCESS. 521
world, I think we may well look forward to the future with
confidence. It would seem that republican institutions wisely
administered, in a community educated to self-government and
to the restraints which its responsibilities impose, furnish the
ideal conditions for the best economic results.
The German Emperor, who, whatever we may think of him as
an individual, is undeniably master of the kingly craft, with its
accompanying necessity of constant watchfulness for the interests
and welfare of his Empire, seems thoroughly alive to the superi-
ority of our conditions for supremacy in trade. The attentions
which he has been showing to the leaders of German industry,
much to the disgust of the aristocracy, can only be aimed at in-
creasing their social consideration and thereby making an indus-
trial career more attractive.
When the framers of our Constitution planned the political
structure for the country which they hoped was to be the home
of a free and happy people, they could only dimly, at least, have
foreseen the economic results which the future held in store for
the generations to come. Does it not seem as if Providence were
even then at work, silently guiding their minds toward ends
greater and more far-reaching than they themselves could possibly
have conceived?
R. B. WAN CORTLANDT.
FRANCE AND THE ASSOCIATIONS LAW.
IBY WALTER LITTI,EFIELD.
FREEDOM of conscience, so-called, whether religious or non-re-
ligious, is probably the most important guarantee of modern civil-
ized society. It is a light which illuminates the past and beacons
the future. It protects superstition, but it guides intelligence.
It was natural, therefore, that the extraordinary religio-militant
demonstrations which France has witnessed this summer should
arouse keen interest throughout the world. It was natural, too,
that wide-spread sympathy should be felt for those servants of the
Roman Catholic Church, who were the victims of a law which
seemed to strike at the very root of individual liberty.
The record of events as transmitted by cable, offered encourage-
ment, if not absolute justification, for the sympathy aroused. Be-
tween June 27th and August 20th, nearly 2,500 schools and semi-
naries controlled by Religious Orders were closed by decrees sign-
ed by the President of the Republic. Often the execution of these
decrees was attended by acts of violence. In certain Departments,
so formidable was the resistance the people offered, that the police
at the command of the local prefects was found to be insufficient,
and the military was employed. Scenes of great dramatic and
human interest took place, particularly in west Brittany and in
the Vendée south of Brittany. At Lanouée, 600 nuns and peasant
women armed with scythes and pikes defended a school until dis-
persed by the soldiers. At Saint-Méen, a conflict between the en-
raged populace and the soldiers was narrowly avoided. A school
at Plondaniel was heavily barricaded and the Lady Superior said
to the gendarmes sent to expel her: “You see our defences. You
must shoot us before we yield. There will be bloodshed if any one
attempts to enter.” The Lady Superior at Landerneau Convent
said: “Iike true Bretons, we will yield only to force. The women
TY OF MICHIGAN
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