Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-04-13

OIL course, was Negro, more or less
Nobody wastes any time in the Republic
of the Southern Cross in trying to deter
mine the moral and intellectual potential
tiles of people by skin color or facial
cOnfiguration. In this country mans ac-
cOmplishments are the measure of his abil-
ity. Even before the complete abolition
of slavery, the greatest statesman of the
Empire a muatto. A black of the
deepest dye was a commanding figure in
Journalism. Today there are men of Negro
blood in the national and state legislatures,
representing citizens of any and all hues.
One Of the most important diplomatic rep
resentatives of Brazil would be called
Negro in law and ''nigger' by custom in
the United States. In short in every walk
of life, from the highest and most useful
calings to the humble and unproductive
one of begging and the less honorable but
less prevalent one of stealing Brazilians
are engaged, without let or hindrance, pure
ly because of their own or their grand
mothers color.
But withal white civilization is still SUI
preme and is constantly increasing it's power
and influence, for it is supported by the ma
tlonal conscience of people passonatey
devoted to the practise of liberty and JUS
tice within their own borders and among
always endure, for it is only when Bethman
Holweg declares: "We'll knock Belgians
on the head, and then talk to them about it
afterward,' that Waco becomes Verdun and
white civilization commits suicide
The South American countries have had
their WacOs and Verduns, and for this rea-
son they are not anxious to pay more than
they can help Of the penalties for wrongs
done unto them rather than by them. For
four hundred years Europeans Africans and
American abOrignes have toiled together
according to their gifts to make this con-
tinent what it is today. Out of this long
experience has been evolved the attitude
toward men and citizens of the various
countries, which is thus expressed by Don
Francisco Garcia CalderOn, former Minister
Of Bolivia, to the United States, in an essay
on Pan-Americanism. Past and Future
1.-The biological notion of race that in
ternal fatality as memorable as destiny of
Old which is revealed by the crsnial line
and the color Of the skin is declining in
prestige. Sociologists have given up dis
covering pure blood in confused nations,
they do not recognize the hereditary pre-
eminence which used to be attributed to
particular ethnc groups they contest the
summary opposition between o-Germanc
and Semitic which explained, in the mind
of ambitious historians the development Of
the drama of peoples, their progress and
decadence, the construction of empires and
philosophers the mission of Orient and o.
cident But we do not abandon the idea
of race as the synthess of the diverse
elements of a definite civilization. Religion,
art, language, lengthy inhabitation of the
same territory, tradition, moral affnities
which fix, through the centuries, lasting
cultures and unmista<abe psychological
characteristics.
This idea of race as being Synonymous
with nation holds true in Brazil. Perhaps
in the Great Republic of the North the
time is not far distant when an American
will be no less than an American, no matter
what the shape Of his head the color of
his skin. And then, when you have no more
Wacos, you need fear Verduns. At least,
you will have the satisfaction of knowing
that none of the blood and treasure which