It may even be conceded that in some cases the glorification of a class is in the best interests of the state as a whole. Feudal aristocracy was certainly functional and efficient, whatever one may think of its modern descendants. Considering Germany’s powerful neighbours and her extended frontier there is much to be said even for the privileges at present granted to her military class, however odious they may appear to the citizen of a non-militant country. One need not go far afield in search of illustrations of this sort. Under our tariff system advantages accrue particularly to manufacturers that are not entirely dissimilar to the special privileges referred to above. Protection was established, however, on the ground that while manufacturers might benefit primarily by duties on imports, the resulting advantages would be widely diffused, and the interests of the country as a whole advanced by this policy. It is possible that the majority was mistaken in so thinking, just as the English may be mistaken in thinking that the maintenance of an aristocracy is to their national advantage. Deeply as our protective system is entrenched, however, it has no such support as aristocracy in England, as militancy in Germany. It has continuously been criticised by very large minorities, and the only real basis of defence it possesses is the conviction of the majority that it is conducive to the welfare of the country as a whole. If it once loses this support its ultimate fall is assured. Other forms of privilege existing among us,—railroad interests, franchise interests, interests seeking land, timber, and mineral grants, or subsidies, and corporations generally,—are on the defensive to an even greater degree than the protective system.