New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-17
~GREATER AMERICA"
Mr.. COIquhoun's analysis and Fore
cast.

GREATER AMERICA By Archibald r. Colqu-
Pp- XII SO Harper Bros.
who was that devotee Of tabloid literature
who gave order for a History Of the World
IA a Thousand Words? We are half inclined 10
think OF him. and 20 wonder If Mr.. Colquhoun
had him in mind on taking up the present vol
unle Greater America is a large theme; too
large. we might say. FOR treatment in a single
volume. II involves "A dozen topics. any one Of
which might well demand goodly volume for
itself Nevertheless. If a conspectus OF the whole
is 70 be taken within 80 small a compass. Il
would not be easy 10 find a better man TO take
81 than Mr. Colquhoun who is familiar with the
subject from close personal study. and who has
long been trained in the art % considering great
subjects in epitome. Those who recall his Key
10 the Pacific" viii appreciate at once the fitness
of his discussing the status and the outlook
OF shat power which holds that key and which
through still other means is making itself the
paramount power or that ocean of the future. -
We have at times felt weary Of the oyerworl1-
.ng Of greater in greater" New-York. and
greater" London. and greater" Squedunk Cross
Roads, and have been inclined 10 say. Let the
day perish 81 which Sir Charles Dixie. now near
" forty years ago, started the world upon the
inter1ninable series" IN the present case, how
ever. there IS an almost redeeming fitness. at
least convenience. in the usage. Note that Mr.
ColquhOun unhesitatingly uses America" in
stead OF United States" meaning the same
and also something more. The citizens OF the
United States must be called Americans.
There Is no other people who claim the name
Americans, and no other country which could
De spoken OF as America" But while the United
states Is America, America IS something more
than The United States. II is composed Of
states, Territories. dependencies. and protec-
4orates." In that this British author shows a
better appreciation OF American constitutional
ism than some Americans themselves have done,
or have adected 10 do. He sees that while the
United States. strictly speaking, consists OF the
constitutional union OF States and nothing more.
a Is quite legitimate Tor that union 10 possess
other territories as It has been doing for more
than q hundred years, and to hold them in
whatever status seems best both for it and for
them. It IS this establishment OF the federal
union OF States plus all its various possessions.
that constitutes the Greater America"
Naturally, he begins with a consideration OF
the United States itself and he does so with
that keen understanding and generous estimate
which have been characteristic Of former essays
from the same pen. He sees our faults He
sees at the present time what appears to him
decline OF literature and the arts America pro-
6uces talent but not genius; nor is there to be
found to-day IN any part Of the United States
that peculiar literary or aesthetic atmosphere
which IS so often the cradle for genius It was
and IS not" Is that, does II seem. harsh
judgment? II is greatly softened by his eX-
PLANTATION OF f. The solution lies in immigra-
ton Europe has been pouring materialism into
AEnerica--hard headed men Of business. keen,
ambitious, inartistic." That influx. through its
own essence and through the competition which
81 has caused has imbued US with a degree %
eordidness. The same IS true in politics.
There are corruption and intrigue and demagogy
and license. But these arc not indigenous 10
the soil but exotics. naturalized. This he
declares, is not the standard of the countrymen
~ Washington and Lincoln II owes its inspi-
ration Ia the cutters OF Europe" From that
judgment we shall not dissent.
We could wish that every American citizen
might read and ponder what this kindly and
discriminating observer has 10 say about the
negro problem. about the need Of education and
legitimate occupation for the negro and the
necessity Of our treating him as human for our
own sazeg If for no higher motive Profitable.
too. wouH II be for men to consider his ,rtti
cisms Of our educational system in which. he
thinks, efficiency is more sought after than
depth or thoroughness" and in which there is
TOO much desire for the actual advantages that
learning can bestow, rather than love Of Il for
Its own sake" In that discrimination between
technical apprenticeship and real culture he
touches one OF the vital centres of current .oor-
troVersy over the curricula of higher education
Yet by strange contrast to the overpracticaIjsr
which Is here displayed IN some particulars he
notes Ia other cases too much ideaIis,p In ~
Fmhppines, for example what was wanted Was
less ioeslism and more common sense
O0nanlon sense says that the Filipinos wanted
peace. good government and commercial -.
per1ty' America has given them political -
SuruuonS and legislation Filipinos v-antAd o5,,-
oauon; Americans are determined Ia give H.,
mat unfortunately. they have Forgotten IT,
Oosnence Is the first lesson. and that one mus,
-. Ossln 70 rule until one has learned 10 obav.
- an inaccuracy- in that Judgment il
-. uiat which the overidesIistic anti, I'M
Derialist imputes to it.
4ir. Coiquhoun has slv,a-s h..
,..,-.-. --1-4 construction and control Of The
'1lllLnAn canal and IN this worl, no b,;,. -,
satisfaction the assurance that So ".'n
VIZ promptly be fulhlled The cl.r,a- -,
me completion OF the canal win cs,so q, -
commerce and In the politics Of the ,rorIa 49,,
CONSIDERED by him at length in an ont,ro,.+i.
spll1e America win be benefited. Great r,ri,ai,,
"-H De oenenteo. and the two win he d.,
more closely together. The British v-es- -
VIZ ENJOY revival Of prosperity and C,,t.
IA presently become American ter-jtor,, s.
domingo too. he thinks will have for en- -.
oI humanity, TO come under American go,
"hen that is effected and the Danist -,
are secured. the Gulf OF Mexico and ,ba 80
mean Sea viii become American IakA-, 60,
y his version OF the future IN tbosa ,,,s+o-. -
ne aoos frankly that British adrninis+ra,,o~
must oe uncommonly wise and generous - en-
iI.1A west lnales are not also to swing from
Hhr|-