New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-09

4 "The authorities who fear that the Areri-
can race will die out may not have noticed
that all the ingredients OF that race are still
being born in Europe at about the usual rate
And at the worst, IL one American race dies
out there will be another race "a good or
better in America TO take its place.
Several American races have already died
to the extent that the members are no longer
to be separately identified and their distinc-
tive IDEAS no longer exert influence on the
country Among the vanished races are the
Pilgrims. the Puritans, the Cavaliers, the
Huguenots, the Acadisn voyagers, the knick-
erbockers, the Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Dutch, the pioneer forest tribes Of Kentucky
Ohio and Southern Indiana, the picturesque
Yankee, the Southeastern Cracker, the typi-
cal plainsman and cowboy, each OF whom IN
his time and place was the representative OF
small and distinct nationality.
NO Need to Worry"
"The Americans Of two generations are IN
like. To use an Irish epigram, change Is the
1 only established Characteristic Of the Ameri-
can. The American in whose veins flows the
blood of half a dozen European races, whose
grandparents may have been born in four
states. his parents in two states; whose wife
may have been born in a state other than his
own and whose four children may be married
10 men and women Of four nstionalities, IS
not worrying greatly regarding the exact
composition Of the American race In
dividually he has on hand rather complete
stock of the ingredients and is satisfied with
the idea that he is doing his best to help es-
tabish a representative order Of humanity.
There is no need to worry about the pass
ing of race. The world and humanity are
the big ideas. The race that deserves to DIE
will pass. The race that fights for its exist
ence. whose members have pride IN their
kind, will live. race is recruited only
through the cradle. race that disregards
its young is doomed But mankind Will not
be less numerous and that which is OF value
will survive Not only the end Of the race
but the end of the world is in sight for those
who leave no children to perpetuate their
bodies and their minds
American Haxymindedness
But these futures" are not won by chance.
While hazyminded peoples talk OF the world
and humanity" as "big ideas" busy, sharp
sighted races chart the premises. IL IS not
all we'll with Us because our numbers roll
I'D past the hundredmillion mark. 1t IS not
all well with US when the control passes from
group to group.
The thing we are unwilling 70 face IS this:
Not all races have equal merit. Not all ideas
are Of equal value We are holding ourselves
wide open TO all contributions. We have
practised free trade of blood and bellef
! till we are flooded with peoples and tenden-
cies unforeseen when We planned the great
experiment We are unconcerned as long as
we are let alone. Somehow the best VIII WIN
without fighting for it. OF course, actually
what will win at a given time in gwen
Of yvhI
can rally convinced adherents. Precisely that
! stock which is most numerous and most fer
tile will defeat the stock less prepotent, how
ever excellent its ideals. The throwing OF
stones into a heap does not build a cathedral
nor even a way station. By sacrifice our
ancestors tore this country from strange
hands and shaped it into nation mat
unity. twice bought by blood, we are turning
| into a variety. Ours is the sin OF great
carelessness What our fathers suffered to
gain for US We have spent on strangers
| Why should they hold choice the thing we
hold lightly?
This theory of internationalism not only
makes US slack in safeguarding our racial
quality at home, but it leads US to look with
untroubled eye on the war in Europe, as II
| il were a wrangle between two good fellows
who ought to make up. The present war is
the first great test given US in recent years
II has revealed to US that we are no longer
thinking as one nation, responding oy one
tone to the stroke Of crisis.
Is there anything in the American race
that is worth preserving? By race mean
stock of a certain blood, = certain language,
a certain belief, a certain spiritual tradition,
fed on a certain literature, and certain deh-
mite ideas of law and human relationship.
Was the leadership of that race unworthy
Ought we. that come Of that race, to resign I
Is the social movement to be swung along on
the impulse of fiat materialstic concep-
ton Of life? Is il to result in as chaotic,
loveless. unbeautful thing as the commu-
nitv life of New York? Or shall the social
movement come as the full, ripe expression
of our individuality as nation: an American
radicalism, as distinctive as the equality OF
France?
The goal of the future is not at all an indie
terminate internationalism, but federation
of nations, with racial differences. Express
sions of nationality are often gross, hateful,
fself-seeking, just as family life is marred
with cruelty to children, unfaithfulness, in
ternal jealousy and pickering, and the envy
Of neighbors. But there is a Christening
which comes to family and nation alike, when
their offences swell. We are the witnesses
of such Christening now in the family Of
nations. The solidarity Of the human race
! is q great truth and it rests on the two eter-
nal units of family and nation.