"All roads lead to Rome." "Westward the course of empire takes its way; A fifth shall close the drama with the day: BISHOP BERKELEY. "For he that hath, to him shall be given." MARK iv. 25. "Even there, where merchants most do congregate.' MERCHANT OF VENICE. "There is America, which at this day serves for little more than to amuse you with stories of savage men and uncouth manners, yet shall, before you taste of death, show itself equal to the whole of that commerce which now attracts the envy of the world." BURKE. XVI. THE LAW OF CENTRALIZATION. EVERYTHING has its centre. In every department of human activity there is some localized fountain where forces are gathered, and from which they are radiated. All organic growth, whether vegetal, animal, political, or moral, starts from within and progresses outwards. As the centre of the solar system radiates his light and heat in all directions, so other centres send forth their influences, whether social, economic, political, or ethical. But while constantly giving out, they also powerfully draw, assimilate, and concentrate. Paris, as a centre of fashion, not only sends forth its authoritative modes, but at the same time concentrates more and more of her own special characteristics. Growth once under way, tends to gain in relative momentum. Ten talents are added to ten more easily than one to one. Centralization and specialization are rapidly augmenting forces. Population is heaping itself up in great cities, and wealth, science, art, and industrial production are responding to the same law. These are the results of "natural selection," and amount to a normal socialism. The great focal points where human interests have converged during the historic period have shifted about. Rome, Florence, Venice, Nuremburg, Vienna, Paris, and London, at different times have been the great fountains of human activity. But the present movement is quite unlike anything of the past. Invention, rapid transportation, and communication have revolutionized former methods, and the modern metropolis has unique powers and possibilities. Any careful observer, who has watched the currents of trade in the great commercial centres for some time past, could not have failed to notice a constant tendency towards centralization. It has prevailed not only in American cities and towns, but throughout the commercial world. This proves that it is not in consequence of local or special causes, but the result of influences which operate uniformly in obedience to Natural Law. This conclusion is further confirmed by the fact that it has not been caused by, nor in any way connected with, legislation. We therefore conclude that it is a necessary feature of the present great development of invention and civilization. The growth of cities has been very marked, and also the expansion of the facilities for production. There is so much apprehension at present in regard to the possible power of gigantic monopolies, that it is worth while to trace out the working of the natural economic laws which have produced these phenomena, and also their legitimate tendency. The present is an era of monopolies. The fact that a few great firms or corporations in each city, and in each department of business, are able to attract a large and increasing share of the aggregate patronage of the public, is patent to every observer. The Scriptural declaration, that "whosoever hath, to him shall be given," is being literally carried out. For illustration, notice the retail drygoods trade in any of our great cities. Years ago this business was transacted by a large number of small or moderate-sized establishments, scattered in different neighborhoods. At the present time the greater part is transacted by a few colossal establishments. These great institutions have, in many cases, added building after building, and department after department, until their proportions are of astonishing magnitude. All other branches of trade are more or less under the control of the same natural tendencies. There is also a process of centralization in locality, |