502 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
em of Germany. The religious and general social system in France, despite the teachings of her social philosophers, are adapted to the continuance of such patronal relations between various social classes. Voluntary associations, if not indige- nous to the Anglo-Saxon soil, at least find their chosen habitat there. But the American not only scorns to await govern- mental initiative but he distrusts governmental activities, for very good reasons it is to be feared. With him individual ini- tiative and enterprise is not only a fundamental principle, it has become a fetish. Despite the developing socialistic sentiment, due largely to the governmental pension, public land, protective tariff and subsidy policies, such a system in an overt form will not be tolerated for many decades to come. Much less would the American people tolerate the patronal attitude. Nor have we the homogeneity of the English people that will permit that perfecting of voluntary associations which is attained with them. The volume and character of population and the extent of ter- ritory alike prevents it.
But little less evident is the need for some such institutions. Of the three general types mentioned the one most successful in France is least adapted to an American environment. All arrangements that are maintained out of generosity or betray the attitude of condescension upon the part of the employer are doomed to failure. All such endeavors savor of charity, and the American workman, if he is to receive charity, would rather be pauperized than patronized.
This suggests another consideration which must be borne in mind in all efforts for industrial amelioration in this country. We have inherited the traditional English attitude toward all col- lective assistance of the less fortunate members of society. For all such abnormal conditions the individual is to be held respon- sible, all collective assistance is regarded as some form of char- ity, and the fundamental principle of charity is that its accept- ance must carry with it the mark of degradation. We have only escaped this attitude toward our vast national insurance or pension system by attaching to it a patriotic significance. Even
