essential nourishment into a more and more prominent place in all political and economic thought and action. But, unfortunately, they could not make up their minds to go straight to the one correct solution, for they imagined they could attain their object by cheaper methods. Renunciation of the idea of acquiring fresh territory and substitution for it, of the craze for economic conquest, was bound to lead in the end to limitless and injurious industrialization.
The first and most fatal result was the enfeeblement of the agricultural class, which it brought about. In proportion as this class sank, the proletariat crowded in the large towns, grew in numbers, until finally equi¬ librium was utterly lost.
The violent cleavage between rich and poor now became prominent. Superfluity and poverty lived so close side by side that the consequences were bound to be deplorable. Poverty and great unemployment began to play havoc with the people and left discontent and embitterment behind them.