New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-09
AMERICAN INTERNATIONALISM
BY ARTHUR GLEASON

By ARTHUF
For the last fifty years, certain Germans
have preached boundless internationaism,
while the German people have practised an
intense ingrowing pstionalism. They have
dug in their spies and pushed up their
howitzers while we were softening on their
humanitarianism. II is, of course, true that
these men who preached il were themselves
rebels against the German system. Karl
Marx, Lassele, Engels, helped TO found the
international movement in protest against
the form of nationality within which they
lived. But the direction and violence OF
their rebound were governed by the hard
surface from which they recoled. The per-
sonality Of these men and the tonic value
Of their thought have been Of inestimable
benefit to our age. In their main position
they were much nearer the truth than their
opponents. But the precise point ! am deal
ing with is their theory of internationaisrn
And here a grievous personal experience in
a cramping environment misled these early
radicals, and they incorporated in their pro-
gramme the anti-nstional item which did not
belong. Because their analysis Of conditions
was in the main so searching, so just, their
thought has continued to exercise a profound
influence, and the animating ideas in their
philosophy Of history and in their analysis
Of industrialsm were imported to England
and to America. The stern and unbendlng
leaders of socialist thought have reproduced
their masters voice with an almost UNI
changed accent; Hyndman and the late Kerr
Harde in England; Morris Hillquit in
America.
Our Refined Radicals
&c raGp
daintily stepping radicals have whitfield
away some Of the original doctrine of the
class war. The materialistc theory of his
tory, surplus value and the proletarian d.
vision have had to yield in part to the facts
of the case But the modern reformers cling
to that creation of German thought, an in
ternationalized world, the merging of races
and nations into a universal brotherhood
with gradually disappearing boundaries. We
find it in our intelligent skilled social
workers like Jane Adams, Paul Kellogg and
Lillian Valid. We find it In the modern es-
sayists, who are read in America, like Loves
Dickinson, Bertrand Russell and Bernard
Shaw. This doctrine of intemationaism
has misled our social workers, our socialists,
our radicals in social reform, our feminists-
almost very element in our social movement
Our American radicalism is permeated with
a vague internationalism, and its child, pa
cfsm At no point has German thought ex
ercised profounder effect than on the mod
ern social movement. Russia, in the persons
of Kropotkin and Tolstoi has contributed to
this blurring OF values.
We need the check here Of the Latin men
tally. The clear Latin mind refuses to be
misled by idealistic phrases, whose meaning
does not permit of analysis into concrete
terms. The French and Italians have recog-
nized that the contribution of race and nation
is vital 10 the future. Their conception of
social change is healthier than ours 1t is
Mazzni and not Karl Marx who is the prophet
Of sane evolution.
Mazzini wrote:
"Our country s our house, the house that
God has given US, placing therein numerous
family that loves us and whom we love, a
family with whom we sympathize more read
lily and whom we understand more quickly
than we do others, and which, from its being
centred round a given spot and from the
homogeneous nature OF its elements, Is
adapted to a special branch of activity. Our
country is our common workshop. Before
men can associate with the nations of which
humanity is composed they must have ma
tonal existence He speaks Of natural divi-
slOHS anu the bcHueHSicS
Of the peoples"
The Quality of the Stream
IL is discouraging that our great ameliora-
tive campaign has been captured by German
thought. For the immediate future lies with
radical changes in the world of environment.
Living conditions are going to be improved.
A greater measure of equality will be achieved
in our own time. But what is the quality OF
the stream that Is breaking down the banks?
That is all important. Is it flooding with
clear waters that will fertilize and enrich, or
with bitter waters that will blight the lands
on which they overflow? / look in vain
through the writings of our leaders in social
work for any fundamental treatment of this
question. find Miss Adams, for instance,
working for the better pay, the better treat
ment the kindlier environment, the recrea-
ton. the cleaner home, of the multitudes who
pour through Ellis Island. But am unaware
Of any consideration of what final race and
nation are to be made out of these varied
peoples who are being helped. Ours is
premature internationslsm-an ideal with
out intellectual roots, simplihcation OF llfe
that outpaces reality. It is as if, believing
that our way Of dressing was false, unnatural,
unhealthful-as it is-we should advocate
assuming nakedness
have found a perfectly clear statement
Of what lies loosely in the mind of modern
Americans of mixed race and intense preoc-
cupation with the game Of getting on have
found it il the editorial columns of Middle
Western paper. The Cedar Rapids "Gazette"
says:
uAp nrpENDENT ON HATE