Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-20

/ always fascinating 10 near tHe pfOD-
lens of humanity discussed by a man
who is competent to do so with the dispas-
sion of science. Most of us react toward
the grievous stresses Of today according
TO the promptings of emotion, prejudice,
hearsay and sentiment. But the scientist,
who has schooled himself to view the trou-
bles of humanity through the endless per-
spective of time who hesitates to dogma.
tie about anything, who has vigorously
steeled his mind to acknowledge Truth
(even though she slay himt-the scientist
brings us a message that we dare not
sidestep.
DR. ROBERT T. MORRIS, the distin-
- guished New York surgeon, has written
book "The Way Out of War: Notes on
the Biology of the Subject" which we have
been reading with great interest. Human
contacts and transmissions are always sub
icct to error and we do not wish to be con-
sdered as rejecting his views with strict
accuracy. But We wish to bring forward
some of the thoughts he launches, as they
have filtered through our own faulty
mechanism.
THIS is not the last war humanity will
L be plagued with. Warfare-by-arms'
saws Doctor Morris, will continue for some
centuries in all probability, but with ever
lengthening intermssions OF peace AS
long as autocratic nations remain there
will be wars; and there are probably many
more autocratic nations seeding In the
humus of Time. Still, autocracy Is on the
wane. 1t has been tested with its own in
struments and found wanting.
SoCIOLOGY and history do not show us
~ any way out of warfare; but biology
docs 1t is fundamental law of nature
that any species must not prey on itself
il it is to survive. Bears do not XIII
other bears foxes do not kill other foxes,
dogs do not kill other dogs Of the
same breed. (There may, of course. be ac-
| cidental exceptions) But man has trans
gressed against this law OF life and set
about killing his own kind.
| NATIONS are groups of hybrids, which
IN for racial and ethnic reasons have the
| unfortunate ndDit VI ueNeiophiS S'io"e 49,
| tipathies for each other. Such matters as
| commercial rivalry and religious difference
are often effect rather than cause. seated
| in some subtle racial habit of mind. Take
| the case Of north and south Ireland, for
| instance. The Ulstermen are Nordic
Alpine stock; the south Irish are Mediter'
ranean Alpine This is a racial contrast
| that gave rise to the shillalegh.
There are four marked subspecies OF
man: Malay, Aryan, Tartar and Semitic
| OF the Aryan subspecies there are three
varieties: Mediterranean, Alpine (which
includes the siavs) and Nordic includes
| English and Germans).
The crossing of species produces what
| the biologist calls specific hybrids; the
| crossing of varieties produces UartetdI hy-
brids The specific hybrids are apt to show
/ undesirable and willful characteristics.
| crhe mule is a specific hybrid) Mexico's
| political troubles, Doctor Morris suggests.
are due to the fact that she is. racially, a
specific hybrid. cross of Spanish and In
dian. The varietal hybrids. however. ex-
hibit more durable characteristics.
TlHE Prussian is q Nordic- Alpine hybrid.
! In whom the aptitude for mass sction
has developed to remarkable degree. u
z = nstuFal for Prdssians Y ~ NI(e ~
y Is 4 : {. n 4 8 s. I. n 5