There is reason to fear that little actual improvement is likely in the near future, for the whole system is on an unsound basis--the view that political power is not an honourable privilege but a perquisite. The general national attitude towards this subject is worse in many countries than in Argentina, but an eminent French economist[66] points out the capital vice of South American politics: "Leurs hommes les plus énergiques, au lieu de chercher la richesse dans l'exploitation des agents naturels, l'ont cherché dans l'exploitation du pouvoir. Ils n'ont pas pour force motrice la concurrence économique, mais la concurrence politique. Ils considérent que le moyen le plus prompt et le plus facile de s'enricher est d'être les maîtres du gouvernment." There is some analogy between the position of Argentina and the United States. In both countries business careers have offered such attractions that the best and strongest men have devoted themselves to the amassing of wealth, and politics have fallen into inferior hands. This is better than the case in many States where those who desire wealth look first of all to a political career, but the United States has of late realised that politics is a pursuit which demands high intelligence and character, and thus the national welfare has been appreciably advanced. In Argentina the race for wealth has been too absorbing to allow devotion of the best energies to politics, but as time goes on professions will become more sharply distinguished and a leisured and, it may be hoped, public-spirited class will grow up, and Argentina may gain a reputation not only for stability but also for good administration. FOOTNOTES: [60] He will be succeeded almost immediately by Dr. Roque Saenz Peña. [61] But in practice the period does not usually exceed one year, and many are released after three months. [62] The President, in his last Message, speaks of thirty thousand, but he is referring to a special occasion--the celebration of the Centenary. [63] "Owing to the conditions of his country life, the Argentine is transformed readily into a good cavalry soldier, and in general he soon learns to shoot, because he has been accustomed to train his eye to the calculation of distances" (F. Seeber, "Argentina," &c., p. 88). [64] "The Countries of the King's Award," p. 104. [65] "L'Argentine au XX^e Siècle," p. 300. [66] Yves Guyot, "L'Éspagne," pp. 188-9. CHAPTER XI CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE--WAGES AND COST OF LIVING--IMMIGRATION