Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/72

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THE GERMAN INNER MISSION.

LITERATURE. See previous articles, and especially Wursterand Schafer. H. Herkner; Die Arbeiter frage. 1894 (with full bibliography). John Graham Brooks, Compulsory Insurance in Germany ; Fourth Special Report of the (U. S.) Commissioner of Labor. E. R. L. Gould, Ph.D., The Hous- ing of the Working People; Eighth Special Report of the (U. S.) Commis- sioner of Labor, pp. 52, 283, 371. Fr. Naumann, Das Soziale Programm der Evangelischen Kirche, 1891. Rae, Contemporary Socialism. Kirkup: His- tory of Socialism. Nitti, Catholic Socialism. Nathusius : Die Mitarbeit der Kirche an der Losung der Sozialen Frage. Lie. Weber, Geschichte der Sittlich-religiosen und Sozialen Entwickelung Deutschlands in den letzten 35 Jahren, 1895.

III.

A SURVEY OF ITS PRESENT WORK AND TENDENCIES.

Political Otanges since I848. 1 For a half century Prussia was gathering up her resources for the supreme effort to create a united Germany. Schools and universities, military discipline, gymnastic drill, subjection to central authority, submission to absolutism together with remarkable liberty of scholarship were among the elements of power. The Franco-Prussian war welded the nation into one. The consolidation of states extended the freedom of callings and of travel, and the right to poor relief to all German citizens, with certain exceptions in Southern Ger- many. Methods of private and public charity had to be read- justed to the new conditions.

Economic development. In spite of the burden of taxation and military service industries and commerce steadily developed. Wealth smiled upon the patient industry and self-denying thrift of the people. Cities grew as rapidly as those of the United States, and the genius of municipal administration has been equal to the novel situation. German science has become prac- tical and led the world in devices for health and convenience. 2

1 Compare the table printed with Article II, May 1896. a A. SHAW, Municipal Government in Europe, p. 289 ff.

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