The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-23
THE AMERICAN IDEA


Chefoo became centers of American
Intellectual invasion. Large printing
plants have been put in operation,
flooding China with books and pamph-
lets in various Chinese idioms. Young
Men Christian Associations branches
established in every important orien-
tai city. Thousands of Chinese and
Japanese students have been induced
to receive their education in American
colleges and universities. Next came
the Spanish war and the annexation
of the Philippines, destined to serve
for a more solid and steady material
base of American influence in these
regions. On the Threshold of Asia,
under the eyes of it's despotic rulers,
a democratic republic was created In
these Islands to serve as an object
lesson to men who for the whole
hoary history of this huge continent
never knew what self-government
democracy and republic mean.
Under these influences, within but
one-half of a century, Japan adopts
and consistently maintains a liberia
constitution. China, enormous China
! the proverbial embodiment of inertia
routine, stagnation and corruption
mirabile dictu-rises as one man ant
procaims herself a republic. Now
all these facts following each othe
in quick succession, facts that all to
gether, for short, may be designated
as American invasion of the Orient,
are they purely accidental? And, i
not, what meaning, what sense ha
invasion? What idea lies at it's foun
dalton? What forces are at work be
yond the curtains, beyond the appear
ances?
Whether accidental or not, no on
will gainsay that it constitutes a
great an event in human history TO
the Orient as French revolution wa
for Europe and America, a turnin
point on the progressive path of hi
manity towards the great goal.
To Charles Darwin we owe tn
discovery that black soil is the biolog
cal product of earthworm. BY eatin
dry leaves and decaying vegetation
and voiding, it makes humus, withoU
which no vegetation could prosper, n
cereals-wheat,, rice, corn, barley
that feed us, could be cultivated. Th
black soil was essential for the origi
and development of our civilization
Is the earthworm, individual cart
worm, cognizant of the great missio
he is called to fulfill on earth? Doe
he care a rap for humanity and it
civilization? No, he eats dry leave
because he is hungry, because thcI
leaves constitute for him toothson
and palatable food. In this as in evel
other act of his life he is prompte
by purely selfish, individual instinc
of self-preservstion and the preserv
ton of his species. But of what 4
estimable value this selfish act b
comes collectively on every acre
the earth's surface. Unconsciously
performs a great thing.
Again, take an average invento
What inventor considers the gre
consequence for good or for bad, tn
. may result from his invention? F
works for himself, only for himse
= for gain or ambition. And look VIII
results arise from such inventions
the steam machine, wireless TELEGRAM
or the aeroplane mean econocimi
= social and political results.
When we ask any American who
one way of another was instrument
in bringing about this great revol
> ton in the Orient, why and what (
!. he came here or gave his dollar,
invariably will reply that he new
thought of creating revolutions. TIL
HIS pulpN was purely oSiAiSh' W.
came or invested their money to ma
d or increase their fortunes, some othe
to work for salary and make thu
b. living, some from curiosity or am
ton. Even those who have contrib
ed to the mission work, did it for
salvation of their souls.
And, nevertheless, collectively tn
= all worked for the same great purpo
:; unconsciously exerted themselves
the same mission of bringing into
fold of civilized nations the unit
milliors of Chinese, Japanese and \
layans.
III Other nations have contributed
some extent; English, Germ
u French, Dutch and Spaniards, TT
II had arrive on the oriental stage e'
Ter, but the part they played cam
be compared with that of the Uni
States neither in character nor In
suits. Even collectively their role
III ---. Zach T1ndar fhair infuan