The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1907-05-03
TILE ANGLO-sAxON RACE.


appropriate and elaborate speech at
the opening OF the jamestown expo
sitiOu on April 26, upon the three
hundredth anniversary Of the settle
ment OF jamestown Apparently i
was carefully and laboriously perpar-
ed. Quite properly he discussed the
Cavalier and the Puritan and other
settlements which entered into the
makeup OF the elements that entered
into the nucles Of peoples from which
this nation sprang. The AnglO-Saxon
was given prominence, but Dutch,
Swedish, Spanish and French were
mentioned In line with what the
president said, the following, an edi-
torial in the Denver News is apropos,
showing what small per cent Of both
English and American civilization was
Of Anglo-Saxon stock, and in fact that
It was a blending Of the best Of Euro
pean stock:
About the time Of the Spanish war
there was a great deal said in this
country about the natural supremacy
Of the AnglO-Saxon race. We had
whipped poor old SPAIN very nee
essary but not at all difficult task
anu the NlCLDEE WENT 20 OUT nCdQS- ~ =
quite overlooked the balance Of weight
and wealth and nearness to the seat
Of war which made victory inevitable,
and proclaimed in thunder tones that
we won because Of our racial super
iOrfty- The Saxon became the type Of
all that was good, great and energet-
ic There was nothing we could not
do. We were going to take up the
Philippines and civiIize them, just as a
little side job. We were going to run
things for the republics to the south
Of US We we're going to have a share
in the scramble for other peoples
goods In Asia; one bishop declared
that it was the duty Of America 10
civiIize and Christianize China, if 1t
took q million bayOnets to do it. In
short, while we still admitted that the
earth was the Lords we plainly show
ed our opinion that it was up to US to
administer the estate.
I'VE are wiser now Yet the News
has not the slightest doubt that the
Jamestown exposition will be the sig
nal for the OutpOuring of a food of
arrogance and ignorance about the
superiority Of the AngIO-Saxon race
again; less militant than the same talk
was in 1898. but quite as inaccurate.
And we think, in consequence, that
this is a very good time to analyze
the matter a little, and see what the
AngIO-SaxOn race is, and in what line
it is so far above the common clay
OF the rest OF mankind.
eff by AngIO-SaxOn we mean the
descendants Of the heather conquer
ors Of Britain, we much fear that they
will not include many Of those who
use the term most confidently. DR..
BeddOe estimates that a good deal less
than one-third Of England can trace
its blood to those horse worshippers.
They came to a pretty thickly settled
island. and, bitter as the war Of con-
quest was, It is likely that the old
Britons we're quite as numerous as
their masters, after it was over. Then
the Danes came, in numbers sufficient
to leave their place names scattered
over a good part Of the country. Then
came the NOrmans-half Dane and
half French-and there must have
been quite a number Of them Then
there was the immigration Of Neither
Ianders during the great prosecutions,
and Of French HugenOts later, until
It seems to US unlikely that even one
third Of the modern English are de-
scended from those who followed the
banners Of Hengist and Horsa.
Now, take that fraction Of English
blood that is AnglO-SaxOn, and see how
it has been diluted in this country.
Several Of the colonies were not orr
ginally settled by the English at all
New York was Dutch; New Jersey
Swedish; Pennsylvania was mainly
German Even in the English colo
MES there was a great admixture Of
foreigners. South Carolina got the
largest proportion OF French Hugue-
nots, but there were two families OF
that stock in the Mayflower. Irish and
Scotch there were in huge numbers
Then, ever since about 1920, this orr
ginal mixture has been still further
crossed.
THE fact is that what we call the
Anglo-SaxOn race is really a blend Of
the most enterprising, the most rest
less, the most liberty loving peoples Of
half OF Europe 1t is the product Of
an unconscious selection. more than
OF direct inheritance. The best Of
Germany, the best Of Ireland, are IN
America. So are much Of the best
scandinavian countries as well. The
qualities which we ascribe to race are
mostly those which are developed by
freedom. or to which the hope Of free
dom acts as q lOdestOne- It is liberty
that has made the glory Of the Saxon,
Just as 1t is the lack OF liberty that
has arrested the development OF the
Latin It is more good luck than
racial superiority, and we would do
well to see that this luck is passed on
to our descendants The corruption
which saps our free Institutions win
do more to ruin the race than much
immigration. undesirable though a
good deal Of this may be"
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT NOT