The San Francisco call., 1904-06-10
A FOREIGN OBSERVER.

v
w life and in that respect say with ST. Paul we
"a debtor both to the wise and the unwise
both to the Greek and to the barbarian" By this time
well accustomed to all the vagares of the critic
tribe, and know how to smile when they try to be witty
at expense and how be Indifferent when they un-
dertake 1atter We are interested now only when
one of them presents us with something of a novelty in
the way of theory Such critics rare but occasion
ally they show themselves, and of the best is GER
tain Emil Reich, who, after five unbroken years of So
journ in the United States" contributes the result of
his studies and his observations the London National
Review.
He says at the outset: "Peschel and many other
eminent geographers have long ago proved that the
Northern American continent is. physiographicaly
speaking, very much inferior Europe" He adds:
"Geopoliticay is certain that America is placed in
both and inferior position. If there is thing
which follows with absolute and indubtabe clearness
from European history is the fact that each nation
modern Europe made infinitely less by its
spontaneous efforts than by the necessity of averng the
hostility and aggression military and otherwise of its
immediate neighbors. The geopolitical neces-
sy of fighting for every rood of land has existed
in America. The reader remembering the i'm
porance necessarily be attached to fight and struggle
against enemies the formative agent of historical pro-
gress, will ask whence there the undeniabe
energy characteristic of the people of the United
States. In reality the question is answered by consd
Grafton OF the foreigner as one of the richest types of
history. The Americans far as the majority is con-
cerned still what in every European country would
be considered foreigners"
Having thus stated that country physiographi-
caly and geopotcally inferior Europe and that as
suffer much under those disadvantages that
sustained only by influx of foreigners, our
critic to say that the third great difference be-
tween America and Europe is the American woman.
Upon that point he says: "The American woman es-
peciay in the of the last fifty years. has assumed
outward tone and internal attitude diametricay
opposed to what it is customary feminine
in Europe" Conceding that the American woman is
bright energetic and ambitious, the critic that
the less she is the of greatest danger the
republic The incredible host of boarding houses with
which the land is up" he attributes the disin-
clination of American women to keep house He adds
Gone Of the most serious questions which clouds the
already threatening future of America the breakdown
of American maternity. Statistics reveal that
the United States in wise depend for its future
prosperity upon the offspring of its women" He
concludes that phase of his review by saying at is
hopeless attempt offer any solution of this grave
and immense problem. Many state has been brought
to ruin by its women"
The American man is credited with many good quail
ties but he too is found to be seriously defective Our
critic puts it this way The American man is lacking
in natural completeness. We may say that each nation
has the women it merits. The Americans have been
unable to create that form of womanhood which in
Europe is esteemed best The American consequently
lacks many of the influences which such women alone
can bring to bear"
Such being the conditions of country our poll
tics, and our men, there remains the ques-
ton: Can anything us? Our critic says that SAL
vaton is impossible provided get into war with
all Europe and thus obtain the discipline which war
against heavy odds always imposes upon heroic souls
Such war he deems to be quite probable result
of the worldwide commercial antagonisms to re-
suit from the construction of the Panama canal and
the opening of the Orient to twentieth century energies
He concludes by saying: "Should the Americans give
up the Monroe doctrine should they enter on secular
conflicts with Europe then and then alone will they be
able in case of success, to aggrandize themselves
power of the first rank eventually of unique great
ness" Here certainly is theory interesting it can
be fairly classed among the things described as Sim
portant, if true"