The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-22
For What End Reservoir

DR.. Sheldon Jackson, the retiring
moderator of the general assembly Of
the Presbyterian church, in his address
commented upon what has been made
before this the subject of remark, the
singular exception of this hemisphere
from occupation by any progressive
race during all the ages while the
Eastern hemisphere was being success
sively peopled by races that rose, -four
1shed and fell into decay, disappearing
to leave behind monuments to puzzle
the archaeologist. The fact invites
speculation as to the purpose of this
reservation, for the purposeful human
mind cannot conceive of action without
aim, and each bordering mind finds
the object lying in the direction Of its
own bias. So Dr.. Jackson declares,
with a sureness that betokens his I'M
Questioning faith, that this is the con-
tinent which God has reserved for his
church. This is the land which God
has given his church to possess-to take
and to hold as base of operations for
the conquest of the world
Without assuming any familiarity
with Divine purpose nor pausing to
comment upon the obvious dilatoriness
such dedication involves, we think it is
certain that on the northern half of
this continent there is being worked
out problem that is big with con-
sequences to the world in a not remote
future. 1t will affect the church and
all churches, because it affects the hui
manity out of which churches derive
their membership, but the effect upon
the churches will be incidental The
factors Of the problem are the peoples
Of Europe. who form what the Budd-
histic adopts class as the first SUFFRAGE
Of the fifth great root race; classed by
Salisbury as the living races as dis
tinguished from those which are dying.
For centuries they have been develop
ing their leading characteristics. Radi-
cal differences Of language have isolat-
ed them as completely as they did the
builders of the tower, of Babel. Climatic
influences have affected national tenn
permanent. Types have been developed
so distinct in thought, customs, tenn
permanent and even features that it re-
quires no expert to distinguish their
nationality at sight. The caricaturist
hitting each off with apt figures that
illustrate some leading national trait.
After centuries of successive genera
tons had firmly set these character
istics there is suddenly opened new
world inviting these variant people with
it's resources and opportunities. The
compression of population in Europe
pressed hard the invitation of the new
world Millions accepted it,. The phil
osophic, phlegmatic German. the VEN
turesome. thrifty Northman, the dollr.
tenacious Scot, the mercurial Irish
came following the advance. of the dog
matte Englishnaan to share with him
the occupation of the land. Later there
have been coming the. mixed peoples Of
Austro- Hungary, and sunny Italy is
furnishing it's contingent. Into this new
continent, as into a great kneading
trough, all these varying peoples are
poured, not to re-establish here the lines
OF demarcation that kept them distinct
in the old countries, but to mingle
and intermix; to be worked in togeth-
err, race mixing with race under the
barrier breaking influence of a COM
mon tongue and of that great leveler,
our common schools. All about us,
with increasing rapidity. We see race
barriers breaking down and the chill
dren of these immigrants intermarry-
ing ard bringing forth children to again
repeat the process of racial mixture.
This is the process we can all see
going on daily all about u.s. We need
not seek to penetrate the inapenetra BILE
and ask of it the purpose. The future
will unfold that in it's own good time.
But what we can be sure of is that out
Of this kneading of race characters
tics of the old worlds peoples into one
homogeneous people there is to be de-
veloped a, new type of character, a new
race, with new ideas. new aspirations,
new characteristics, mental and ply
steal. It may take centuries to bring
this to its fullness. but, when it is
come, we may be sure there will be on
this continent a people distinctiveiy
American.