The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-13
The Conflict OF Color.


People who are acquainted with the
writings of Mr.. B. l.. PUTNAM wEALE ON
the problems Of the Far East will know
exactly what To expect as 10 his views in
his new volume. The Conflict NJ Color
,ths Macmillan Company. which bears
n its suggestive subtitle The Threatened
Cpheavai Throughout the World 4
good deal Of it has appeared in The World 3
Work here and in England. MIR. Weale's
long residence in the Orient and his sym
pathetic insight have furnished him with
an unusually intimate knowledge NJ the
Eastern peoples and their point of view
The point of view from which Mr.. Weale
considers the whole vast question Of
the conflict OF color il that TO the white
races in the lands Of the colored peoples
the twentieth century. unlike all it's prede-
cessors. can only prove century Of
rstruacton and redsmse He says that
the real key to "A thousand vaguely defined
problems lies i'll mems capacity 40 obey
natures most imperative political law.
which il to multiply and increase or die In
this respect IL is now generally assumed for
purposes Of comparison that blacks double
their numbers in forty years. browns
and yellows IN sixty year,. and whites
1 in eighty years. The other y-eat factor
in the now ~ ,naC;r!. conflict OF color Is
the almost universal growth Of real knowl-
edge IA opposed to knowledge largely
based on tradition and superstition: and
, the author takes occasion TO say plainly
that the vast and curious fabric which
has been raised in Europe since Chris
tianity received the official sanction Of
RSme IL not whit more worthy OF re-
ceiving blind homage to-day than those
other fabrics raised by other priesthoods
in other regions of the world As for the
Chinese. h. considers their present faith
IL better adapted TO them than Christian
ity and reminds the reader OF the fact that
ConfuClus had been teaching for many
years before Athens and Sparta were even
mud villages. With Athens. and Greece
in general. A. well a. with Rome and clas-
steal lore. he has a well defined quarrel.
He insists that training in the -classcs-
and IN. unimportant local quarrels of
Greek and Roman provinces or the sqiab-
bles of the greater part Of Europe make
men narrow. stupid. unfit 20 discern or
rrapple with the really great historical
events or the questions such must now
be- faced and settled correctly under pen
prove incapable.
In hls general introduction the author
.nd..avor- To- establish the difference.
between Europe and Asia, in particular.
bafor. proceeding to consider tn. specific
effect upon each nation exerted by their
sudden contact with European
forces. which at the dawn Of history be-
came the greatest propelling agency in
the advance OF the white nations. Part
OF that difference. he says. was the Euro
pcan principle of primogeniture. now an
anachr onism. a. opposed To the principle
OF selection. which Is the fundamental
basis Of both public and private life in Asia.
Moreover. European history is largely the
history Of the development OF armed
forces. quite contrary. for instance. TO
the history of China. wher" armed force
has been "a di-integrating rather than n
constructive power. Chimes. reason IL
inclined to- reject az "a valid argument "a
blow or series Of blows; in Europe all
liberties owe their existence to violence.
When the author goes ON To predict the
probable changes IN Europe Ias we'll a.
slsewhsreb in his general survey of the
divisions Of color. he does not make his
meaning quite clear about Austria. Does
he regard as Austrians- the overwhelming
population Of Slav-. extending almost 10
tn. gates of Vienna, who IA well as the
Bohernian- do not regard themselves and
are not regarded a. ethnicalIy one with
the true Austrian? Or does he. IL would
appear from a later cryptic remark. re-
gard the Magyars the true Austrian-?
In discussions along other lines h" as-i gns
the Slavs and the Magyars Ia their proper
sthnic groups. The main racial contest
can only be between the old antagonists.
Europe and Asia. ASIA will no longer
permit Europe to dominate her a. ia Via.
PAST But Asia II slow To decide and slow
to- act: shs forever carries a burden which
ia the secret of much Of her immova-
biliiy in the past the burden NJ climate.
which will forever prevent h.r initiating
Europe b"yond "A certain point. no matter
how great may ~. her efforts. On her
weigh and numbers she must rely Ca
OFFSET "a psrrnanent inferiOrity ~ many
| vital thIng- Europe. however. will never
match it, strength with Asia under on.
banner. as IN the days VI the Crusades: