The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-28
The Man of Tomorrow.
Inc MAN OF TOMORROW.
Terse Comments for August 20, Home
Missions: Our Cosmopolitan PopuIa-
tfon.'' Luke Is: 22-3O
BY WILLIAM T ELLIS

l.
The increasing interflow of travel and
immigration among the nations has
broken down many insular prejudices.
Whole races are coming to a clearer
understanding of one another. Com
mercially and socially, each is busy in
selecting and adopting the best of the
others products. And on the western
continent the very peoples themselves
are mlngllng and merging, so that what
ethnologists characterize as new
racial type is developing. Ignoring the
line that divides Canada from the
United States, they call this emerging
cestr7 this child Of varied an
MN are the best Of the characteristics
OF the older peoples. He has new traits
Tor the new times. The coming man is
our homegrown cosmopolitan.
Inere Is an unfortunate tendency
it as undesirable Some denarogues
speak as II the Immigrants to these
shores were an intruder In sober
truth, this is a land of immigrants
They We're its founders and. in many
respects, they are still it's strength.
The persons who are wide-awake to
the meaning of current events have
not failed to observe the frequency
with which children of newly-arriyed
allenS carry off public school honors
The latent powers of slumbering gen
erat1ons spring into flower in the IA
Vorable American atmosphere For
elgn-porn residents are forging to the
front In many lines of activity. That
Is Weit-so long as they are thorough
~ nat1onalized and Christianized. go
that the essential ideals of this new
land be preserved. This work of ma
ttenalization and Characterization is
what we call home missions,
Every immigrant is a possible ma
tional asset.
The cardinal ideals of the nation
are frequently more precious to the
man just landed at Ellis Island than
to the man whose ancestors came
over in the MaEfiower.
This North American continent
may become, or even now be, Gods
laboratory. for the solution of some
of the old problems of all the ma
lions.
in this western world toward fed
Grated Christian activity which are
as yet unsupported by most persons
The recent convention of the Fedora
ly the leaders of Christian thought
and work have been gripped bv the
Importance of the religious side of
the immigrant question. There was
sink all UNCONVENTIONAL differences
in united effort to show the best
side OF the national life to newcomers
into our midst. The reception of
immigrants, the cosmopolitan city
population the foreign-born com
munities at Industrial centers. and
the smaller colonies of aliens in rural
parts, were all discussed as urgent
opportunities for the most brotherly
unknown to himself. the stranger
within the gates is helping his hosts
to a realization of their highest re-
sponsibilities.
Somebody has made the point that
an easy practical and Immediate
form OF Christian and patriotic SER
vice to the. cosmopolitan population
is to learn how to say Glow do you
o?'' in the language of the nearest
foreign settlement.
The. immigrant helps the native
born to realize the preciousness of |
many national blessings which the lat |
ter had taken as a matter of course.
The progress of immigration shows
certain broad developments. The
foreigners who are least sympathetic |
with our historic national standards. |
When immigration brought chiefly |
English speaking peoples Of our own |
faith the problem of assimilation was |
less serious. Now the Anglo-Saxons, |
Celts and Teutons are being suppressed |
ed by Latins. Senitics and Orientals. |
who are more difficult to incorporate
into the national life. This should not |
deter the forces which make for ma
tional unity and Christian idealisn1. |
Ssn rather as an nc nsg to
terest is added. If they are not ANAL |
gamated into our life they will disin- |
tegrate it. If they cease to be regard |
come a peril The issues at stake |
Justify the utmost expenditure of de- |