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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
Confucianism. The new learning is now eagerly received by the people. But "the new learning teaches them to fear our power; it does not teach them to love or to respect us. Consequently the first contact with our literature and our customs is profoundly repulsive." This is the basis of reaction against the West. — Roland Allen, Cornhill Magazine, November, 1908. A. E. R.
The Revolt of Woman. — There are 5,500,000 women-workers in Eng- land. Man cannot claim her vassalage since he no longer supports her. The condition of revolt will not change because of the increasing economic need of women and the lessening importance of the home. The revolt is world-wide, even the women of the east asking release from the thraldom of the harem. Some trades unions have seen the necessity of insisting on equal wages for women. By woman's suffrage Australia finds "the power of the best men reinforced and the hands of the conscientious legislator strengthened." Equality in politics and industry is the only possible law for the democracies of the future. — Harold Spender, The Albany Review, August, 1908. J. T. H.
La science sociale a-t-elle une m^thode qui lui soit propre. —A science is not constituted until the search after knowledge of its object is organized in a methodical fashion. Social science has up to this time been prevented from being really classed among the sciences, not only because of the uncertainty of its object but especially by reason of the absence of any distinctive method of its own. Every science must determine its special method according to the nature of its subject-matter. Since social science has a subject-matter of its own, it ought to have, and has, a method of its own. The perception of its true subject-matter and its true method are developed simultaneously. Le Play's method of rigorous observation and conscientious analysis of the facts must be the basis of all method in social science. — Robert Pinot, La science sociale, June, 1908, p. 15. E. F. C.
Quel est I'objet de la science sociale? — A science is the knowledge of an order of objects or of determined phenomena. A science is constituted by the progressive application of analysis and classification to the orders of objects or the phenomena, of which knowledge is desired. Social science is a science, then, if knowledge of its subject-matter may be reached through analysis and classification. Its subject-matter is society. But what is "society" ? Society is the "ensemble" of the groupings, by the aid of which men have provided for the existence and perpetuity of the race. There is no society without groupings ; there are no groupings without society. The grouping is the essential social phenomenon, and to obtain a knowledge of society it is necessary and sufficient to acquire a knowledge of these groupings. The object of "la science sociale" is thus the analysis and classification of the different groupings which men form to insure the existence and perpetuity of the race, and the determination of their laws. — Robert Pinot, La science sociale, June, 1908, p. i. E. F. C.
Races in the United States. — For ethnic diversity on a large scale the United States is certainly unique. Our people have been diverse in origin from the very start. Today the foreign-born and their children constitute one-third of our total population. What is to be the outcome — a uniform American type, or a mixture of distinct racial elements? Factors tending to favor intermixture are : the mobility of our population ; the inequality in the numbers of the sexes among the foreigners ; and the effects upon them of the change of environment — physical and social. Differences in language and- religion, and race segregation tend to prevent ethnic intermixture. Intermarriage of the races is taking place to a limited degree. As to a possible final type, little can be predicted. The Anglo-Saxon stock in America may be physically inundated by the engulf- ing flood of European peoples. — W. Z. Ripley, Atlantic Monthly, December, 1908, p. 745. E. F. C.
Le travail f6minin k domicile et son influence sur TafTaiblissement-de la race. — The continued development of the sweating system, with its exploita- tion of women and children, is a menace to the race, and to the French people.
