At the same time opportunities for industrial aggression, and for the accumulation of property, increase in scope and availability.
And it is even more to the point that property now becomes the most easily recognised evidence of a reputable degree of success as distinguished from heroic or signal achievement.

It therefore becomes the conventional basis of esteem.

Its possession in some amount becomes necessary in order to any reputable standing in the community.

It becomes indispensable to accumulate, to acquire property, in order to retain one's good name.

When accumulated goods have in this way once become the accepted badge of efficiency, the possession of wealth presently assumes the character of an independent and definitive basis of esteem.