New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-03
THE UNIVERSAL RACES CONGRESS-,

The ideal of inter-racial and interna-
tional harmony and unity which IS cher
ished by the promoters Of the forthcom-
ing Universal Races Congress in Lon
don is beautiful in theory and Is in
vested with so large a degree Of AGA
demic interest that we must regret that
no provision has been made for the rep
resentation there Of the aboriginal race
Of the North American Continent Ger
tainly our Red Men would seem 10 he
entitled 10 a place in such q gathering
From the practical point Of view. how
ever. the realizing If this ideal seems
doubtful Of fulilment. II not of doubtful
desirabiity. That all races are Of one
blood and that all men are brothers are
splendid truths the importance of which
j. not 10 he overlooked Yet the con-
crete fact is that the people Of the world
are divided into distinct races and ma
tons with ineradicahle differences. and
we may add that the practical recogni-
ton Of this fact bas been productive of
immense good II The whole race as
we'll as of much evil in IT'S eyacgeratiou
and perversion.
1t is one thing 10 say that all men
are so far brothers that there should
be no oppression Of race BY race. II il
q very different thing 10 say that ethnic
distinction should he ignored and inter
racial and interna tional lines should be
abolished The former is commendable
The latter must be sharply aud resolutely
challenged. II II is not beneath the
dignity Of the subject 70 draw such
comparison, We may profitablv note the
lower orders of created life. animals and
plants. We know that there are differ
enceS Of breed and of variety. which II
has been found we'll not 10 destroy-if
that could be done-but actually 10 cul-
tivate and Ia intensity One breed is
particularly good for one use. and an
other for another To hybridize them
all into one indiscriminate blend would
be TO destroy their greatest values II
may rea Sonably he argued that very
much the same is true Of the human
race and thar a frank recognition Of
racial differences. without. If course. ok
aggcrating them into offensive contrasts.
will he for the benefit Of all
There have no doubt been examples If
profitable racial blending Some Of the
most efficient peoples Of the world 70
day are composite. II indeed all are not.
Yet these cases If blending have been
effected through natural selection and
affinity, while on the other hand there
are only too many painful illustrations
of the disastrous results ~ artificial
anal gsmltion OF races which were not
naturally suited for It, Precisely what
chronological or anthropolocical principle
is thus involved may perhaps not at
present be determined. but that such a
principle exists and is potent and ire
versible may wei be maintained There
Is. indeed. an instructive recognition Of
the fact IN the disinclination Of certain
races 10 mingle their blood Nor Is thr
Discrimination by any means altogether
on the side IF those which We are wont
10 call the superior races There Is n
certain ethnic pride i'm the MAYA or the
Mongol or the Hindu. perhaps even ip
the Kaffir, which matches that ~ the
Caucasian himself
As for national individuallty. It's profit
H. mankind has been 30 immense that
we must regard with sheer wonderment
the Tolstoyan notion that patriotism
that Is. love Of ones own country over
any others the greatest of all crime
against humanity. The struggles Of the
Greeks against the Persians and OF the