The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-17
THE EPOCH or GREAT CHANGES.
Speculation as TO the Course OF the COM
munai Movement OF Modern Life.

specializing concerning worldwide polit-
! cal changes OF the future 1t may bc
promised with some assurance that thc
coming century will witness an advance
in comprehension of the social sciences
and humanitarian arts quite as remark
able in its way as has been the progress
during the past century in the natural
sciences and industrial arts. In the
last hundred years mankind "a:
reached an extensive mastery ~ the
forces of nature and the mechanisms of
constructive accomplishment; but the
racial gain in understanding of the per-
sonal needs of humanity and mnistra-
tion to them has been pitifully insig-
nnCant. 1t perhaps Is obvious to AL
who have considered th0ughtfully the
recent tendencies of human interest and
effort that we unquestionably have en-
tered upon this promised era of SUI
prcmcly social evolution, and that II
must eliminate politically in most
striking Establishments of the admins
trativc standards and international re-
lations Of the entire world.
May II not. then, fairly be suspected
that the prophetic redlstrihuttons Of
political boundaries and control haz-
ardcd lately in correspondence to THE
SrN are somewhat too restricted in the
extent Of the changes suggested?
In the growing socialstic temper
common to the several pes of civill2a-
tion arbitrary processes of government
presently will not be tolerated and
empty survvals OF monarchical pre-
tension will cease to he vcncratcd. The
more enlightened peoples yin lead the
way In the coming realization ~ the
individual and collective rights Of hui
manity, and the less advanced and bar
haro1s peoples must follow under pres
sure uf tho general need. conceivng
the present universal striving for the
Liberation Of mankind from every
species Of injustice and oppression as
bound to progress to its legitimate end
with a cumulative momentum resem-
bling that Of our recent advance in me-
chanical efficiency, it is difficult indeed
To grant n duration Of many generations
. to any une Of the autoCratic methods 81
government Dynasties will pass and
I. the citizens of all nations rapidly will
: assume the formal investiture of the
actual rule which they are coming
more and more fully to enjoy. II rea-
sonahly may hc doubted, so strong and
widespread is the communal movement
. Of modern life whether any form #
tive democracy possibly can survive
for so long "a term as a century. on
the other hand, pure democracy,
should any such hc undertaken on a
large scale. inevitably must tend to re-
vert to the representative form through
sheer weigh Of its cumbrous imprac,i-
cability.
In the av1idablc growing intorde-
pendonce Of all parts of seemingly
shrinking world as an effect of increls-
Ing stress Of population. closer init
! macy Of relations and stronger urgency
Of administrative facility. the spheres
, of paternal influence of the leading
civilizations necessarily must come to
, embrace all mankind in unified
scheme OF development in which n long
continued maintenance of rigid lines of
( political dcrnarCation between the nat
% ural social and commercial subdivisions
of the continents will be impossible
Step Ny step. as the new order Of COM
mon interest and understanding per-
Vadcs the nations, distinctions of situa-
t!on, custom, sentiment and ambition
will bc swept away. the advantage Of
each will become identified with the
p advantage Of an, and worldwide homo
, gcncity Of political theory and practice
2 AtAlIlbAflg must unite NNf races IN a
! cooperative alliance scarcely II at all
+ to he DISTINGUISHED from single loosely
D federated state. It seems not entirely
beyond the bounds of reasonable prob
, ability that this end may be achieved
within half n millennium.
9 Regarding our own political destiny
q through the centuries to come, the for
y tunate geographical situation and phys
{ Teal circumstances Of the United states
! seem to promise to its inhabitants the
attainment and perhaps permanent cN-
crcISc Of supreme influence in the af-
= fairs of the world.
As North America Is the only country
ahutting favOraby on the two great
oceans, II possesses at once the best
+ natural dcfenCes against hostile in
Vasion and the widest of commercial
' opportunities in times of peace; its To-
. cation is central with respect of direct
y communication with all parts of the
+ globe. or the whole continent the
}, United States alone enjoys that modern
v tion of climate essential u the most
y effective development of both natural
y resources and human character. In
! addition. no tract Of equal extent com
! bincs with a suitable climate SO large
an area of land available or easily Ia
Il bt lldut dNdlldDle loT the uses or INDUS
g trial occupancy, nor affords greater and
. more varied sources of productive
wealth.
These distinctive advantages must
continue to attract to our communities
large numbers of the most ambitious
q and energetic citizens Of all nations. and
the unifving processes of the genera
. tions may he relied upon to develop
e. fr' IN them the highest TYNE of human
+ efficiency possible in the prevailing con
dItons of racial evolution.
70 The United States, then. for some
,S considerable period of the future may
= be expected to lead and dominate the
. progress of civilization and to become
r the functional IL not also the formal
% capita. state Of the fcdoraCy of the
world. FRED METCALF.
IL ILAINFIELD. y. j., September lG
Durable Peace.