The Washington times., 1922-02-19

A very serious condition Of the
last century has been that knowl-
edge has outstripped the moral
sense. The greatly increased pow
ers over nature have not been used
with corresponding growth of con-
troll and sense Of responsibility.
The gains OF mechanics and chem
istry. of movement in air and In
water, have been most actively de-
veloped for destruction.
In general. the cinema has been
exploited rather to degrade our
ideas than to confer any real bene-
fit. The right use of our oppor-
tunities has been dwarfed by their
wrong use.
The question which arises from
the fact that knowledge is growing
faster than the normal sense, and
of how to use knowledge, are al.
most insQlubie. Yet they threat
en- all civilization. This r. naialy
a new difficulty; It vas nc doubt
felt at an earlier time when the
invention of bronze and then iron
so largely helped 9es-ructivcreSs.
Yet no one coulG put back the
use of metals and nov no one can
put back the use Of explosives and
lethal gases and the development
of electricity. however much dam
age may be thus done.
COLORED RACES RIVALRY.
Recently there have been many
shuddering glances at the possible
rivalry of the black races with
Europe. or Of Islam. There may
be risks Of destruction by violence
from those sources. If Europe is
foolish enough to wreck itself in
ternally; but 1t does not seem
likely that either OF these groups
could beat the brain power Of Eu-
rope.
Islam, at least in its present
form, has too great a drain on its
growth of mind in the memorizing
of the Koran mechanically. This
atrophfes the reasoning power, and
the type of this sacred book does
not favor clear or logical thinking.
OF the principle sacred books the
Koran is below others in it's lack
of system, its wanderings, casual
changes OF subject, and it's same
ness of ideas. 1t is the product
of a people shifting about con-
tinually in an arid country.
OUR COPIED RELIGION.
The Mahabharata. for example,
is far above 1t in vigor Of thought,
continuity and development of
character in its persons. 1t Is
most nearly on the level of the
Iliad in its structure. Many pas.
sages Of the Vedas show even more
moral beauty and delicate percep-
ton. The sacred books Of China
may rank higher in thought, and
the logical bases Of principles with
which to fortify the resolutions;
but to other races more personality
would appeal more strongly.
The jaw has transcribed them
all in the Bible, whether in simple
magnificence of narrative, vigor of
composition, the moral earnestness
of the prophets, or the spiritual
vision of the Apostles. Where we
Western Gentiles stand in the pro-
duction Of religious literature 1t IL
hard to see. for We have done moth.
ing but copy.
The type of ideals shown by
what is revered suggests that
Islam will never surpass the
activities Of India, China or
Jewry. The great intolerance Of
Mcha:nruedanism, ard the lower
position accorded in law and prac-
tice to women. will always be q
bar to its SURPRISING in civiliza-
ton the races Of other creeds that
have been named.
The negro would require ages Of
a different climate to transmuts
the superabundant vitality which
he needed to combat the African
climate into the brain power avail
able in favorable climates. Picked
individuals Of fine character show
what the race may be when condi-
tons have changed; but It could
not Gust the trained Europeans ex-
cept after general wrerkage.
THE FUTURE RACE.
II we were able to mould the
future. the reasonable course would
be to look around for a race which
would best counterfeit the deficisn.
cies of ourselves, and to favour q
mixture In isolation.
We need to remedy the unrest
and excitability Of the present
population by producing a more
solid and Woodworking people; to
counterfeit the lack of security by
n sense of perrnanence and conn