The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-05
AMERICA AND THE BARBARIANs.
Our Country Must Aid I'm Civilizine
the World, Perhaps Through War.
|. T. Mahan, in Harper

L.
The peoples Of European civilization.
after a period of comparative repose are
advancing all along the line, to occupy not
only the desert places of the EARTH but the
which hitherto have separated them from
those ancient nations, with whom they new
soon must stand face to face and border to
border. But who will say that this vast
general movement represents the thought
even the unconscious thought, of any one
man, as Caesar, or of any few men? To
whatever cause we may assign it. whether
to the simple conception of a personal di-
vince monarchy that shapes our ends, or
responsibility rests upon the shout
ders of no individual men. Neces-
sity is laid upon the peoples, and
they move. like the Jennings of Scan
dinavia; but to man, being not without I'M
Outstanding like the beasts that perish, it
Is permitted to ask, ''Whither?" and
'What shall be the end thereof" Does
this tend to universal peace, general dis
armament and treaties Of permanent arbi-
tration? Is 1t the harbinger of ready mu-
tual understanding, of quick acceptance of
and delight in opposing traditions and
habits of life and thought? Is such quick
acceptance found now where easterns and
westerns impinge? Does contact forebode
the speedy disappearance of great armies
and navies, and dictate the wisdom of dis
which at present is embodied in them?
What, then, will be the actual conditions
when these, civilizations of diverse origin
and radically distinct-becauSe the evolu-
ton of racial characteristics radically diff
ferent-confront each other without the
interposition of any neutral belt by the in
PREVENTION of which the contrasts being
more remote are less apparent, and within
which distinctions shade one into the
other?
Positions suitably chosen, frontiers suit
ably advanced, will do much to retard and
by gaining time. to modify the disaster to
the one party, and to convert the general
issue to the benefit of the world. Hence
the immense Importance of discerning be-
times what the real value of positions u.s.
hQfimaG
gin. Here, in part at least, is the signifi-
canoe of the great outward movement of
the European nations to-day. Consciously
or unconsciously they are advancing the
outpOStS of our civilization, and accumUiat-
ing the line Of defenses which will permit
it to survive, or at the least will insure
that 1t shall not go down till 1t has leav-
ened the character of the world for future
brighter even than it's past just as the
Roman civilization inspired and exalted it's
Teutonic conquerors, and continues to bless
them to this day
deniable disposition of the British people
and OF British statesmen to cultivate the
good will of the United States; and to draw
tries. For the disposition underlying such
a tendency Mr.. Balfour has used an express
sion race patriotism phrase which
the English-speaking family, but which
may well extend its embrace. in time yet
present civilization from the same remote
sources The phrase Is so pregnant of So
luton Tor the problems or the future, as
conceived by the writer, that he hopes to
see it obtain the currency due to the value
of the idea which it formulates. That this
disposition on the part of Great Britain.
towards her colonies and towards the
United States. shows sound policy as we'll
as sentiment may be readily granted;
seeking of ones own advantage,
IL by open and honest means,
be imputed as a crime? In democracies,
however, policy cannot long dispute the
scepter with sentiment. That there is
lukewarm response in the United States
is due TO that narrow conception which
grew up with the middle of the century,
whose analogue in Great Britain is the
Little England party, and which in our
own country would turn all eyes inward,
and see no duty save to ourselves. How
shall two walk together except they be
agreed? How shall there be true sympathy
between nation whose political activities
are worldwide, and one that eats out its
heart in merely internal political strife?
When we begin really TO look abroad and
to busy ourselves with our duties TO
the world at large in our gener-
ation-and not before-we shall strstcn out
our hands to Great Britain, realizing Il at
in unity of heart among the English
speaking races lies the best hope of hu-
mainly in the doubtful days ahead.