New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-16
IlIIN INTl.

1.-The London Spectator recently took up ana
tboroughly dIscredited the theory that the great
waves Of immigration had robbed the hted
States OF the right to be called an Anglo-Saxon
ration nv the tests Of language, law ana lead
crs il showed that English ancestry had nor
been swamped by unconscious OF other races
however vast III numbers. Another Interesting
contribution 10 the question OF National r'la-
tlonship has been made by Mr.. Charles q. Ie-
lnrd In a letter 10 The Tribune published yes
tcr,ay Mr. Leland takes up The term Lain
races" union OF which Is 80 much invoked
i,st now in Paris and Madrid. and marShnls
An array of facts 10 prove that the modern
Frenchmen. Spaniards and Italians have no
common Latin origin. aud That neither physical
rppcarance nor mental traits give either nntion
a claim 10 he the heir Of the old Romans.
The Italian is mostly descended from the
Invading barbarians, with, in the south. large
/ Oriental odmixtur, the Frcnchman Ia no Ro
man AT all. being the offspring Of celtic tribes
and the reutons who passed under the name OF
Franks: and as for the Spanish Visigoth and
Moor thoroughly overbore what Of Latin blood
had been infused into earlier Ibcrlan peoples
There can DO II, doubt thai Mr.. l'nnds point
of ethnoogy T. well taken and that The mn
rega rded ~ n single race 1T the same sense as
the English and Americans VINO parted poiiii'hl
COMPANY only about centu'y ago, with rights
In a common stock Of ancestors, literature. laws
and language. Chaucer Shakespeare and MI
ton are as much the inheritance OF America a.
OF England Frenchmen and Spanards are not
Dante's countrymcn. nor does Cervanes belong
To France and Italy. And a. for the old Roman
literature. 1t Is no more the exclusive heritage
OF Southern Europe than Homer il 81 the mixed
races Of the Balkans.
But as a political force 10 he taken account
OF there IL something In what Is called Latin
race feeling, Notwithstanding the lack OF com
II on origin and mlsclalmed descent. The Ru-
manlans In race and language have better title
10 Latin ancestry than most of the so-cailed
Latin countries, and yet no one thinks OF IN
Guiding them In any plans Of Latin solidarity.
for the simple reason that there are certain
common Interests and habits Characteristic Of
the nations OF Southwestern Europe which
transcend blood relationship. France Italy and
Spain have something in common In The Roman
law dffercntlating them from Anglo-Saxons.
Germans and Scandnavans. Centuries or rule
under closely related kings, such as the Bour-
bons. who even in this century have ruled all
France and Spain and large part OF Italy has
not been without effect. Paris Is the Intel
lcctual and social capital for all three nations.
Their languages are different. but they have the
same standards OF measures, great mass OF
60 mmon customs sprngng from old assocla-
lions and similar climatic conditions. Then,
above all. they have been bound together by
religious ties, us against England and Northern
Europe The Reformation did much to break
down all that tended to LatnZe Germany.
W lille It accentuatcd the relationship OF France
and Spain TO Italy. SO II IL most natural that
these three countries should look upon one an
other as forming one people. in contrast with
the nations who have gone further than they in
throwing Off the customs and feelings which
belonged 10 all Europe In the Middle Ages.
whose predominant religious impulses are DIFF
ferent whose intellectual life and ideas Of gov
eminent have little In common with their own.
They may be said TO be pushed together from
the outside. Their unlikeness TO others makes
them more alike. And certainly. whatever their
race. they do tend toward II sentimental union
regards the rest Of the world which is intel
llgibly, If Incorrectly denOmnated Latin feel
ing The name stands for real thing even II
II Is not founded OF blood.