The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-02
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER.



THE EURoPEANIzIxG OF AMERICA.
The Arena for December contains a.
strong article by John Clark Ridpath
entitled, shall the United States BE
Europeanized?" As suggestive paper
II is entitled 10 the earnest attention of
Americans. bilt its conclusions are too
indiscriminate to be accepted in their
entirety. The good IL will do Is in It's
tendency to arouse public sentiment TO
a possible danger-possibie. but not
probable, because long before II became
imminent the instinct Of Democracy in
the United States would take the alarm.
The germ OF the danger Mr.. Ridpath
sees in the tendency OF all peoples to
forget their country in the pursuit Of
trade. Commerce does not. he says, de-
want change and progress. but fixed
ness and conservatism. When the peo-
pie OF two nations trade. the people Of
the free nation, the progressive nation.
the changing nation. get in love with
the nation that Is not free. that does
not progress. that does not change.
But Is this entirely true? How, il 50.
are we to account for the phenomenal
development of this country's COM
merce? 1t has been achieved not by
change, but by Improvement. 1t seeks
the favor Of every nation-it has made
its way into England, Germany, China,
all less progressive more conservative
teristies Of the American remain as con-
spicnous az ever
This Is less true Of the "hourse." as
Mr.. Rlfpath describes the money mar
ket. The bourse. he says. has no flag
except the oriflamme OF Security and
Gain. Bat this is no, Incompatible with
freedom. Stability In government. in
standards. Is the best security for free
institutions Liberty is the fictitious
excuse for revolution, and revolution is
inexcusable in country where the peo-
pie are soyereigns, AS In the United
States. 1t Is true that the people some
times neglect great principles In their
selfish grasping after wealth: but this
Ia fault restricted TO no class. The
poorest man in the United States seeks
TO be financially better OF, and this un-
rest is the secret OF our success. II will
not make a peaceable, contented ana
pastoral people. but 1t viii create a
great and powerful nation. Content
nent is stagnation, Discomfort. effort.
unrest. ambition. are necessary 10 pro-
gress.
The American sham society. which IL
seeking the hollow glory Of European
alliances. Is only a passing fancy. The
dissipation Of a few fortunes by ner-
cenagy marriage WIN soon check that:
and In any event the proportion OF these
Is 80 small compared to the vast nufn-
ber and thu vast. growing wealth ~
this country as TO De OF little conse-
euence.
The United States can never heco,na
iuropeanized. Europe Is becoming
more Americanized. The despotissns
are being limited by the people. the EN-
rires are fastening to destruction. ana
liberalism. the extension Of the pre-
roeatives 81 government 10 the peon,a
Is advancing. England Is leading ,hs
way. The past half century has nit-
messed q broadening OF the base - gs,>--
eminent IN England no less remark
abe. although more slow. than tho d..
Selopment 81 this republio. As West.
err cities. unhalnpsred ey the clingin~
groNths of a century. ara far more q >
Sanoed than tAe cities of New England.
So the United States. free from the
tFafnmels q traditions. castasns sn1
vested interests of centuries. Is forging
sheaa - the srss place in the civilized
world
NJ tfus American has anything bat
contempt for tie apinr BY shoaav
Americans II European WAYS. b.,
these little naaanertssns have no taea-
cree apoa the American character.
t'na 90 the conclusions ~ M. RIA
Fath can be snost heartily .ndorsez. u
IS sHors ,ruly descriptive At ire actual
condition than hts fogeho.iings:
fssfs - The ansn3ljea Instincts ard
sd heart of Anlss1ea. iar2aasns IN fns
tfeast - sEa p@aYsa. Ne SHALL be demo-.
saR3sSa ~sfs tran "a are. kept sndspeas.
So Bszsss3 fafsSri ~ the direction -
l. fgeT lEh@gtts& fer s5essfy ara Grnsar SAFE
sa@sGs faf ths Individual Etsat< 81 nan"
Es,4t ~ tast Same article SIR. ElGpath
~@fnS NS against fn!stakinr u~ea
shA - faF gseeFess. tha sham 1or the
tf@s. @ssifest allowing ear desire fog