loria] social anthropology— a review 287
capitalists, and this fact was confirmed to me by a great German hat manufacturer." After this there is no longer room for doubt ; superiority in wealth, it must be evident to every one, indicates superiority of intellect and is its most certain exponent ; social in- equalities are merely the reflex of natural inequalities ; wealth is the earthly garland of genius. If there be some man of genius who is unable to amass a fortune, that very fact proves that his genius is unilateral, asymmetric, unbalanced, " as is the case," the author adds, " with several socialist writers."
Unfortunately, however, these higher classes, to whom is exclusively confided the material and social progress of humanity, are exposed to rapid extinction precisely on account of the excessive mental labor to which they are condemned by their lofty mission. Now, society, whose well-being depends so greatly on these classes, should endeavor, so far as possible, to prevent so deplorable a result, striving by every means to improve the lot of the choicest classes. Hence, far from lending its ear to the insolent pretensions of extremists and burdening accumulated wealth with new imposts, its load ought to be lightened : direct taxes ought to be reduced and finally abolished, and as nearly as possible the whole burden of taxation should be shifted, by means of indirect taxes, on the unintelligent, brutal herd. At the same time, let the issuance of public or state bonds be increased, since this will augment the numbers of those elect, exempt from the vulgar care of administration and management, who will divide their serene existence between the clipping of coupons and the sublime contemplation of the truth. Inasmuch, however, as these and similar devices will not suffice to guard against the extinction of the superior classes, it will furthermore be necessary that they be constantly reinforced, in the best way possible, from the lower orders. But whence comes that inflow of men called on to fill the gaps made in the upper classes of the city? The answer to this is given, in the author's opinion, by a well* known doctrine, which he attributes to Hanssen, though in
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