New-York tribune., 1917-12-12
By Frank Bohn, Ph. d.

tensiVe iron and coal deposits VIII very SUM
give TO Russia the basis for an enormous
industrial development. Russia is, fortu-
natey, possessed Of most seryiceable sys-
tenn OF inland waterways. Her uavigablc
rivers total over fifty thousand miles. " hethcr
or not Central and Eastern Siberic ca1 be-
successfully moulded into the Russian ra
ton is FOR The future 10 decide Bu, West
cru Siberia 5 sure 20 remain an integral part
of Russia.
We now conc TO the matter OF racial Dr.
ycrgencc. viii no. the various racial clc-
ments Of this enormous territory finally make
national unity under a democratic system
impossible?
Racial Differences Exaggerated
Let me say at the outset that racial diff
ferences in the structure Of European ma
tions have been enormously oycremphasized.
The theory, for instance, that the French arc
one race, the Germans another, and so on,
is so much in error as to be quite ridiculous
The German people and the French people
are both composed primarily of two chiei
racial stock. We shall not here discuss
third and fourth clement, which are much
less important The body Of both the Ger
man and the French peoples IS made up Of
a Tcutonic or German element and the Celtic
or Middle European stock, The Germanic
race, which is predominant in the north Of
France. fades into the great Middle European
Celtic stock in the North, Central and East
ern France. The great mass Of the South
Germans are Of the same racial stock exact
" as the Eastern and Central French. The
essential factor in the national lives Of
these peoples is that these various racial
elements have been blended within histori-
cal times by economic relationships, social
contact and intermarriage in contiguous ter
ritories The foundation of national unity
in each case is geographic form, which
leads TO economic unity. There Is not ma
ton in Europe whose people are racial!y
"pure." The endless nonsense in connection
with the subject disseminate by popular
chauyinistc writer's in practically all the ma
lions and believed by the various popula-
lions is one OF the primary causes OF bitter
racial hatreds. 1t has been lesser and yet
important cause of European wals.
Racial differences in Russia, considering
the size of the nation and her history, sur
prise one by their limitations, For instance.
there are tribes of Mongolian Lapps and
Samoyedes in the far north. These elements
endanger Russian national unity as much
tribes of Esquimaus in Northern Alaska en-
danger the unity of the United States. The
not constitute separate race. They are an
artifcially created population, settled upon
frontier territory for the purpose of pro-
tecting Russia from invasion and furnish
ing a professional soldiery for the Cars.
IN the east and southeast are considerable
Mongolian clements. In Poland, in the Riga
districts and in the south are perhaps eight
millions of Hebrews. Yet the population of
European Russia presents fewer racial diff
ferences than that of the United States. The
basic stock of the Russian people is the
same element which prevails in Southern
Germany and Eastern France-the Middle
European or Alpine stock.
The Alien Groups
The nationalistic groups within the Rus
sian territory which present real problems
arc four in number: Finland, the Germans
OF the Baltic provinces, Poland and the
Ukraine. The Firms have not as yet de-
manded absolute independence. Though con-
nected racially with the people of the Seam
dinavian countries, the Firms understand
only too we'll the economic bond which
unites their land to Russia. The Finnish
farmers furnish dairy products for Petrograd
and its enyirons. Territorial neighborship,
if nothing else, tends to unite them by the
closest sense of fellowship to Russia. Hell
singfors and Vborg are to Petrograd what
the cities of Connecticut are to New York
City. Finland will undoubtedly demand con.
siderable degree Of home rule. She will ask to
be state among the United States Of Russia
AS regards Poland the situation is much
the same Poland is the first industrial CEN
ire Of Russia. Her cities are becoming great
textile and metal manufacturing centres.
Their natural market is Russia. An attempt
to place a tariff wall between Poland and
Russia would meet with the strongest dis
approval of both the Polish employing class
and working class Like all stupid racial
hatreds and national conceits, Polish patriot
ism will live on among the peasantry and
land-holding nobility long after it has ceased