The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-25

The high reputation won by Mr.. Col
quhoun with his China in Transition" as
a keen and intelligent observer of people in
the mass. is likely TO be. largely increased
by this volume, dealing very comprehen-
sively with the American people in that
phase of their national activity that has
made and is making for wider fields of po-
ltical achievement and wider influence in
shaping the affairs of the world. Not only
can he see clearly, but he can interpret with
fair accuracy the meaning of events and
movements and the changes that come
about so gradually as to be scarcely per-
ceptible in the transition. He reviews first
the origin of the American Nation and
points out the effects of origin and early
environment on the national character and
the notifications that have been brought
about 10y later assimilation of other race
currents and the conquest of a continent
for civilization. With few bold and true
strokes he marks the differences of charac-
ter, aspiration and method between the two
great branches Of the Anglo-Saxon family,
due TO the divergent paths they have fol-
lowed Tor more tnan century, and yet
shows how thoroughly consonant are their
fundamental notions OF life and govern
ment, of right and wrong.
Taking Inc viewpoint tnat the CONStltu-
ton was made tor the Nation and not the
Nation for the Constitution, he follows the
expansion OF American territory and Amer
lean institutions from the first acquisition
by the Louisiana purchase from Napoleon
down TO the most recent act of the drama
the Panama prOtectorate. as a natural eX-
preston of the sovereign national instinct,
and has no hesitation in predicting the
gradual spread of American control not
only over Mexico and Central America but
throughout ;he South American continent.
lie has taken the trouble to personally in
Vestigate our methods OF government in the
Philippines and Hawaii and Porto Rico, and
believes that destined 10 have prac-
tiCally no trouble III either of the two latter,
but declares that in the Philippines we are
handicapped partly by the lack OF a spe-
cially trained civil service for the islands.
but much more by the uncertainty caused
among both officials and natives by the
prattle about making of the FiIipinos an in
dependent nation. Ii does not require much
of his space TO point out the absurdity of
any such proposition. There is Fill
ipino people There is an archipelago of
innumerable islands, inhabited by con
geries of tribes, speaking numerous Ian
guageS and varying in civilization all the
way from saVagery 10 the airy superficial
education of the ''Meztizos' of Luzon. and
IN religion through the whole gamut of
idoatry, Buddhism. Mohammedanism and a
thin veneer of CHRISTIANITY of the kind inn
planted by Spanish Catholicism. Among
these peoples there is absolutely nothing of
solidarity of language, religion or aspira-
ton. Even I'm Luzon, the Meztizo aris-
tocracy and the Malay peasantry are as far
apart the poles.
Not by any means the least interesting
chapter is the last il which the writer
gives a cursory but very comprehensive re-
view of the present politics of the world,
and points out the expectations and asThra-
lions of the various nations now holding an
important place, the whole tenor of which
is strong plea for an Anglo-American un-
derstanding that would assure the peace
ful progress of civilization for centuries 10
come. Harper & Brothers, New York