第43章

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。(1)Itactstoconserve，ortorehabilitate，acertainrestrictedlineofinstitutionalhabitsofthought，viz。 thosepreconceptionsofnaturalrightswhichhavetodowithproperty。Whatitconserves，therefore，isthebourgeoisvirtuesofsolvency，thrift，anddissimulation。Thenoblerandmorespectaculararistocraticvirtues，withtheircorrelativeinstitutionalfurniture，arenotinanysensibledegreefortifiedbythehabitsofbusinesslife。Businesslifedoesnotfurtherthegrowthofmannerandbreeding，prideofCaste，punctiliosof“honor，“orevenreligiousfervor。(2)Thesalutarydisciplineofbusinesslifetouchesthebulkofthepopulation，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，inanyaberration(fad，mannerism，ormisapprehension)andinanyshortcomingofinsightorforcewhichmaybesetthatclass。Theymustalsoconformtothefanciesandprejudicesofthisclassasregardstheideals-artistic，moral，religious，orsocial-forwhichtheyspeak。Theclasstowhichthesuccessfulperiodicalsturn，andwhichgivestonetoperiodicalliterature，isthatgreatbodyofpeoplewhoareinmoderatelyeasycircumstances。 Culturallythismeanstherespectablemiddleclass(largelythedependentbusinessclass)ofvariousshadesofconservatism，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。Ifnational(thatistosaydynastic)ambitionsandwarlikeaims，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。