The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-01
MONDAY. JANUARY l. 1899.



Discussions of the progress made by the
human race since January l, 1890, are
likely TO become trite before this month
has passed. So many important events
have taken place since that New Year
Day hundred years ago. human thought
has been Sc quickened and the field of
human endeavor so extended, that the
period may easily be considered the most
remarkable in the history of the world.
There will be numberless writers and
orators who will point out this fact, and
enlarge indefinitely on the contrast be-
tween the conditions Of the year 1890 and
those of today. The subject is most
tempting one.
This is all very natural, and it is right.
The assurance of success in the past is the
best foundation for that courageous OPP
tiTnism which leads to greater success in
the future. 1t is both interesting aud in
spring to contras, the bigotry. the intol-
GRANGE, the lack Of material comfort the
slowness of transportation, and the gen
eral poverty of hundred years ago with
the enlightenment. comfort. freedom. and
progressive spirit OF today. To an Ameri-
can it is especially delightful to engage in
such a retrospect. for we have done so
much in the hundred years since Wash
ington died that We may well hope that the
next hundred years will go far toward the
making of the ideal Republic
1t may be well, therefore. TO consider the
directions which our development may take
during the coming half-century. Although
the fifty years just passed have added more
TO the material progress OF the country, the
period between 1900 and 1850 was that OF
the making of the nation. in that time
our Constitution was made definite, our
territory extended nearly to its present
boundaries, the beginnings OF our Literature
came TO light, and the general character
of the American people was formed. In the
last half century We have nor departed very
far from the principles established by our
srandfsthers. New problems have come
up, alien elements Of population have been
assimilated, and the principles themselves
have taken on new outward form in some
cases; but the national character is essen
tally the same as it was in the df;ies.
Uncle Sam still STANDS as the American
tgpe-shrewd, cautious, yet impulsive on
occasion; humorous above all things; ten
der-heated, especially to women and chill
dren: little provincial in some ways and
given TO oddities Of dress and speech; hon
est and simple rather than diplomatic. yet
possessing a certain native sagscity which
saves MIN from serious blunders. Every
great American, Of whatever stock he may
come and whatever advantages he may
have possessed or lacked, has something Of
this national character; and il Is quite as
well defined as that of John Bull though
the latter is much the older figure The
persistence OF this type, in spite OF all the
conglomeration OF nationalities, races.
and traditions which goes by the name Of
the American people, is really one Of the
most hopeful signs FOR our future Wher
Davenport, just before the Spanish Ameri-
can war pictured the long, lean. whiskered
figure of Uncle Sam" grasping in one hand
newspaper and reaching with the other
for the old gun on the wall every true
American felt that be was represented in
that cartoon. II, hundred years hence.
some cartoonist OF the twentieth century
wishes TO reach the hearts of the people,
he viii portray the same grim, quaint, out
landish personality, and it will be recog-
nized by every American then as now.
From the very simplicity OF his ideas and
the nature of his work, the carioonist is
apt to hit on salient truths.
The persistence of national charact in
the coming century may be take Tor grant
ed; and ii Will naturally b. the largest e'e.
ment in our progress. Nothing can be
hoped of a nation which is split up into d
dozen Earring factions. with no common
ideals; and the fact that East and West
North and South. widely as they may diner
in many ways, are still Americans. sharing
American characteristics, is the mos; hope.
full phenomenon OF the present day tn,
welding together OF different nationalities
and the combination Of opposing tradi ions
always makes for strength. Two of To,
strongest national types in the world toda,
are the Scot and the Hebrew; and in boti
Of these this assimilation has taken place
Two or three hundred years ago the Low.
lander, the Highland Celt. and the Frenci
Huguenot were brought into close contact
in the tiny cradle OF land between tn,
Scotch and English mountains, and the re
suit is people keener. stronger more
dominant in certain directions ;hsn any
one of the strains thus mingled. In III,
case Of the Hebrew We have a people IS
sentially the same In blood. but so thor
oughly scattered over the world that tn
various branches nave widely different ira
ditions and ways OF living, and are almos
as unlike as If they were not Of the sam,
stock. The nation which is composed O
dissimilsr but not altogether discordan
elements has the best chance In the strug
gle for existence. We may hope, therefore
that the vast mixture of Americans o
English descent and Of later immigrant
will in time result in the finest
strongest people the world has ever sen
The next fifty years viii witness the be
ginning OF this Welding process. as In
years between 1899 and 1850 witnessed III
making of political parties and Ideals
Both processes must be more or less un
conscious. shaped only by the general idea