Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-09-29
UNIVERSAL RACE CONGRESS-
w. q. cRlTTENpEN. A. NJ, WRITES
OF HIS TRIP 70 LONDON,
ENGLAND.

Imagine, II you can. yourself in the
great auditorium Of the University OF
London. There Is gathered an audi
ence Of some five or six hundred ear
nest men and women, among whom
are eminent representatives of more
than twenty civilizations, there are
men and women OF almost every hue
and color speaking some eight or ten
different languages; they have come
from every corner of the globe to dis
cuss in the light Of science and mod
ern conscience, the general relations
subsisting between the peoples of the
west and those Of the east, between
so-called white and so-called colored
peoples. with view to encouraging
between them fuller understanding,
the most friendly feelings, and a
heartier cooperation
Black and white and red and yellow
and brown thinkers and scholars Of
various peoples mingling most friend
ily and freely in Kaleidoscope pic
ture Of unusual and wonderful inter
est.
This congress OF races is but a part
Of that worldwide peace movement.
yet, indeed, most Important and ele-
mental part; for those of the more pro-
gressiye races Of the earth, as they
gathered at the Hague to formulate
plans and methods by which the ma.
lions Of the world might be brought to
reason rather than to fight together.
found that the first great obstacle to
be removed was race misunderstood
ing and race prejudice. That Is how
this congress happened" Remarkable
to say, too, It was suggested by an
American, Or. Felix Adler, of New
York; SO some good things along the
line of race recognition do come out
of the Nazareth Of American civiliza-
ton. HI.
About forty-eight or fifty eminent
thinkers and scholars OF different peo-
pies were invited to contribute papers
on subjects covering nearly every
phase that directly or indirectly affect
ed the INTERPRETATION of races, scien-
tific, ethical, economic. and religious.
purposely avoiding, however, the poll
tics. The papers were compiled and
printed in book form month or 80
before the opening Of the congress
and copies were given to the active
members as they secured their admis-
sion card. They were taken as read"
which means that the writer's did not
read them during the sessions. but the
topics yariously treated in the papers
were discussed each day, in five min
ute speeches, by men and women Sc.
lected for their ability and their
knowledge of the subject treated.
The sessions were opened by DR..
Seal, an Indian scholar, principal u
Maharajah of Cooch Behars college.
Cooch Behar, India. He sought to de-
fine the meaning Of race, tribe and
nation; then followed anthropological
and sociological discussions affecting
races and the problems of race equal
ity, and In the afternoon of the same
day were considered THE Influences
Of Geographic, Economic and Political
Conditions Upon Races, z together with
such subjects as inter-racial marriage.
a comparative present negro problem
Of America.
The paper contributed by Prof Earl
Finch Of Wherefore University upon
the subject. "The Effect Of Miscegena-
ton, was a very well written and
thoughtful paper, showing careful
study and research. It was one of the
most valuable contributions to the
congress.
There is no doubt about the fact
that this the first universal races con-
gress, is, epochal, in that it was so
eminently successful In bringing to-
gether men and women of the highest
possible characters from all parts of
the globe. Simply to have come into
contact with such men as the Rt.
Hon. Lord Weardale of England, the
president Of the congress, with Gus
tave Spfller, its honorable secretary,
by whose genius and untiring zeal
such a congress was made possible, to
have sat in council with DR.. Seal. the
Indian scholar. with General Legi-
time, the Haitian statesman; with Mr..
Mead Of Boston, the world pacificator,
and with DR.. MADDEN, the English
philosopher, was In itself an inspira-
tion OF a lifetime.
It Is epochal, also in that it tells
that there are many, many members
Of the socaIled superior race" who
recognize the injustice Of race preju-.
dice, and stand pledged to exert every
effort tc discourage and destroy. The
American negro who has been priyi-
legged to be a. part of this congress.
will return to his uneven struggle with
a lighter heart, a brighter hope for
the future, and with a more deter
mined purpose than ever to achieve.
At the meeting OF the next universal
races congress It will, perhaps. be not
too much to predict that 1t will and
itself materially nearer the realization
OF It's motto, "Concordia inter gentes
&C populos,' by reason OF the inspira-
ton and powerful forces generated st
this, its first sitting. 5.5
Salisbury. N. G.