History of a literary radical, and other essaysBourne, Randolph Silliman
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History of a literary radical, and other essays
Bourne, Randolph Silliman
American essays -- 20th century
A college where such a spirit is possible even to the smallest degree,
has within itself already the seeds of this international intellectual
world of the future. It suggests that the contribution of America will
be an intellectual internationalism which goes far beyond the mere
exchange of scientific ideas and discoveries and the cold recording of
facts. It will be an intellectual sympathy which is not satisfied until
it has got at the heart of the different cultural expressions, and
felt as they feel. It may have immense preferences, but it will make
understanding and not indignation its end. Such a sympathy will unite
and not divide.
Against the thinly disguised panic which calls itself “patriotism”
and the thinly disguised militarism which calls itself “preparedness”
the cosmopolitan ideal is set. This does not mean that those who hold
it are for a policy of drift. They, too, long passionately for an
integrated and disciplined America. But they do not want one which is
integrated only for domestic economic exploitation of the workers or
for predatory economic imperialism among the weaker peoples. They do
not want one that is integrated by coercion or militarism, or for the
truculent assertion of a mediæval code of honor and of doubtful rights.
They believe that the most effective integration will be one which
coördinates the diverse elements and turns them consciously toward
working out together the place of America in the world-situation. They
demand for integration a genuine integrity, a wholeness and soundness
of enthusiasm and purpose which can only come when no national colony
within our America feels that it is being discriminated against or that
its cultural case is being prejudged. This strength of coöperation,
this feeling that all who are here may have a hand in the destiny of
America, will make for a finer spirit of integration than any narrow
“Americanism” or forced chauvinism.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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