The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-06-21

The centre OF interest and activity. polit-
cally speaking, Is no longer 10 be found
I'm Europe but rather in the great world
without. IN the dark continent of Africa,
gradually opening 20 tho light, In the
mysterious orient. rich I'm resource and
opportunity. in the Pacific, destined 10
become the great carrier OF the world =
con merce. The political pendulum has
swung far 10 the east. leaving the Europe
OF today no longer the sole factor but
merely orc Of the many controlling forces
I'm the great realm OF world politics.
VAST COLONIAL EMPIRES.
During the last few decades the great
powers" OF Europe devotirg less and less
attention 10 their home affairs. have be-
come absorbed IN the construction Of vast
colonial empires. France, recovering with
remarkable rapdity from the blow dealt
her by Germany I'm 1870 has sought 10 for
get tho woes OF the past In the dreams OF
a French empire Of the future i'm Asia or
Africa. Germany. coming late into the
family Of nations. hos been ~ dis
advantage in acquiring new territory, but
already shc has made strenuous efforts 10
provide for her immense surplus popula-
ton Ry taking advantage OF Russian
pre- occupation I'm the far east she has
secured a firm foothold In the commercial
affairs OF Asin Minor.
~ the theory Just advanced seems
doubtful ask yourself where the wars Of
tho period have taken place. Toward the
close OF tho 10Th century Europe Is fight
ing her battles M longer en- the old
fauilla fields Of the continent. but in far
away lands beyond the seas. Relatively
unoccupled in Europe the troops of the
states OF the west are busy in the east
and tho south The commands, as of
old. still issue from tho capitals OF
Europe but they are flashed across two
continents 70 armies and navics in distant
Asia or Africa Germany avonges a
murdered missionary IN China by virtual
ly annexing a province. Russian am
biticn az last brings her face TO face with
Jnvnn and the controversy can he settled
In only ono way They fight, the one for
world commerce nnd empire. the other for
very life and existence
A RELIC OF THE PAST.
Tho old Mcttemlch theory OF a Euro
pan balance ~ power, involving policy
OF intervention for the maintenance OF
existing dynasties. is now n relic Of the
past II is a worlds peace, not the peace
OF Europe. which is at stake. The
balance OF rower. II IL exists will he
found not IN Europe alone. but rs an
equilibrium established among tho great
powers Of Europe, OF Asia and Of America.
The Anglo-Ja pancsc alliance by restrict
ing the war IN the far east 70 the original
parties involved has been a mighty factor
In maintaining the worlds peace
~ az the outset our theme, as suggested
hy the words OF Won Beust. Europe is no
more" seemed too fantastic 20 he true.
can we not appreciate its significance?
In the Europe of today do we any longer
behold the Europe Of old. sufficient unto
hersclfc No. for sho has been out I'm the
world seeking vast empire battling with
world problems. widening her point OF
view. For the cast and the west have
mot at last face 20 face. The civiliza
ticr, OF tho Orcnt looking backward into
the centuries. absorbed I'm the past, proud
OF its ancestry and lineage. challenges the
civilization of the Occident. alive, active
energetic. eager for opportunity. looking
hopefully into the future. Is there 10
be conflict? n So. which can survive?
Can there be successful fusion beneficial
10 both or arc eastern and western ideals
necessarily antagonistic? Well may
Europe forget her boundaries and her
dyrastiea to grapple with such problems.
tpon n successful solution of them de-
pend her future power and greatness
ORGANIC NATURE OF TRUTH.
The last speaker was Mr. Leonard VOL
sey Cronkhite OF Newton Centre. MISS,
who spoke on The Organic Nature of
Truth
The spirit ~ the times Is one of mu-
tual understanding and liberation. Yet
even I'm this time beneath an apparently
unrufricd surface there Turk fundamental
antsgonisms between the followers of
Calvin and those Of Kant ard between
Conservatives and Radlcais Where arc
we 90 nrd the common ground upon
which TO rrAitrate these differences? one
"a constrained 20 answcr-in tho great
universal arst principles Of knowledge.
Reflection discovers 20 - az least three
such cardinal elements IN the nature of
our knowledge of truth FIRST. the validity
of reason. second. the law of consistency
or non-contradicticu. and third. tho law
% development of truth. or these "funda-
menta principal. an ~ them important
the law of evolution ofs truth Is today
richly laden with moral teaching and es-
pecially fraught with significance. I say
especially. because whi.e We have unhCsi-
tatlngly applied TO much of the universe
OF matter ana mind, the doctrine Of evo-
lutlon. which Is tho distinctive contribu-
tion of the 18th century, We have not
always been ready 20 recognize 70 as
principle operative throughout the whole
world of thought a-dstruth
THE PRINCIPLE or TRUTH
Does our comprehension Of every prin-
ciplc of truth. and hence tho principle
rself-for tho two cannot be separated