Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-06-08
All of tho Individuals have perished,
leaving no descendants, and the blood

leaving no Oe1CeuUuuI0s 0AO IA0 eA~SS
has disappeared.
Certain other tribes Of Indians have
as tribes disappeared or are now DIS
appearing, but their blood remains be-
ing absorbed into the veins OF the
white intruders or Of the black men
introduced by these white intruders,
so that in reality they are merely be-
Ing transformed into something abso-
Mtely different from what they we're.
In the United States, in the new state
of Oklahoma. the Greeks. Cherokees.
Chickasaws. Delawares and other
tribes are in process Of absorption into
the mass of the white population.
When the state was admitted, cou-
ple of years ago, one Of the two sena-
tors and three or the five representa-
tiyes in congress were partly OF In
dian blood. ..
In but few years these Indian
tribes will have disappeared as COM
pletely as those that have actually died
out, but the disappearance will be by
absorption and transformation into the
mass Of the American population
Growth and Decay.
Why do great artificial empires
whose citizens are knit by bond OF
speech and culture much more than by
a bond Of blood. show periods Of ex-
traordinary growth and again of sud-
den or lingering decay? In some cases
we can answer readily enough; in 9TH
er cases we cannot as yet even guess
what the proper answer should be. II
in any such case the centrifugal forces
overcome the centripetal, the nation
will, of course, fly to pieces, and the
reason for its failure to become dom
inant force is patent to every one.
The minute that the spirit which
finds its healthy development in local
self government and is the antidote to
the dangers of an extreme centraliza-
ton develops into mere particular1sm.
into inability to combine effectively
for achievement Of a common end,
then it is hopeless to expect great re-
suits.
We Americans and you people Of the
British isles alike need ever to keep
in mind that among the many quail
ties indispensable to the success Of a
great democracy and second only to
high and stern sense of duty, OF
moral obligation. are self knowledge
and self mastery.
You. my hosts, and l may not agree
in all our views. Some Of you would
think me a very radical democrat, as,
for the matter Of that, l am. and my
theory Of Imperialism would probably
suit the anti-imperialists as little as 1t
would suit a certain type of forcible-
feeble imperialist. But there are some
points on which we must all agree If
we think soundly. The precise form
of government, democratic or other
wise, is the instrument, the tool, with
which we work. 1t is important to
have a good tool, but even If it Is
the best possible 1t is only a tool.
No implement can ever take the place
of the guiding intelligence that Yields
it.
A very bad tool will ruin the work
Of the best craftsman, but good tool
in bad hands Is no better. In the last
analysis the all important factor in
national greatness is national charac-
ter.
Tho Birth Rate Question.
There are questions which we Of the
great civilized nations are ever tempt
ed to ask of the future. Is our time
Of growth drawing to an end? Are we
as nations soon to come under the rule
Of that great law Of death which Is It.
self but part Of the great law of life?
None can tell. Forces that we can
see and other forces that are hidden
or that can but dimly be apprehendcd
are at work all around us both for
good and for evil The growth in lux
ury, in love Of ease, in taste for vapid
and frivolous excitement, is both evil
dent and unhealthy.
The most ominous sign is the dimi-
mutton in the birth rate, in the rate of
natural increase, now to larger or
lesser degree shared by most Of the
civilized nations of central and west
ern Europe. Of America and Australia.
a diminution so great that if it contin-
ues for the next century at the rate
which has obtained for the last twen-
ty-five years all the more highly CIV
ilized peoples will be stationary or
else have begun to 80 backward in
population, while many of them will
have already gone very far backward.
There is much that should give us
concern for the future, but there is
much also that should give us hope.
No man is more apt to be mistaken
than the prophet of evil.
believe with all my heart that
great future remains for us, but wheth-
er it does or does not our duty is not
altered However the battle may go,
the soldier worthy of the name will
with utmost vigor do his allotted task
and bear himself as valiantly in de.
feat as in victory.
Come what will. we belong to peo-
pies who have not yielded to the craven