Throughout the nineteenth century, as well as in the beginning of the twentieth, reconstruction of nationalities was effected on a linguistic basis. The part played by language during that period is of tantamount importance to the religious feeling which formerly caused many a destructive war. Practically all the wars of the last hundred years are the outcome of three great constructive movements which led to the unification of Germany and of Italy as well as to the disentanglement of Balkan nationalities. These were outward and visible signs of the progress of democratic ideals. The Congress of Vienna failed to provide Europe with political stability because popular claims were ignored during the deliberations. At present, inhabitants of linguistic areas under alien rule are clamoring for the right to govern themselves. The carrying out of plebiscites under international supervision can often be relied upon to satisfy their aspirations and serve as a guide to frontier rearrangements. All told, the growing coincidence of linguistic and political boundaries must be regarded as a normal development. It is a form of order evolved out of the chaos characterizing the origin of human institutions. The delimitation of international frontiers is as necessary as the determination of administrative boundaries or city lines. Human organization requires it and there is no reason why it should not be undertaken with fair regard to the wishes and feelings of all affected. For nations, like individuals, are at their best only when they are free, that is to say when the mastery of their destiny is in their own hands. FOOTNOTES: [264] What is the German’s Fatherland? O name at length this mighty land! As wide as sounds the German tongue, And Germans hymns to heaven are sung, That is the land; That, German, is thy Fatherland. [Translation from J. F. Chamberlain’s Literary Selections as an Aid in Teaching Geography, _Journ. of Geogr._, Sept. 1916, p. 12.] [265] J. L. Myres: The Alpine Races in Europe, _Geogr. Journ._, Vol. 28, 1906, No. 6, pp. 537-553. [266] F. von Luschan: The Early Inhabitants of Western Asia, _Ann. Rept. Smithsonian Inst._ for 1914, p. 577. [267] D. G. Hogarth: The Nearer East, New York, 1902, pp. 198-199. [268] F. Ratzel: Politische Geographie, 2nd ed., Munich, 1903. Cf. Chap. 16, “Der Verkehr als Raumbewältiger,” pp. 447-534. [269] R. Blanchard: La Flandre, Paris, 1906. [270] _Bull. Com. Trav. Hist. et Scien., Sec. Géogr._, Vol. 29, 1914, p. xli. [271] J. Vidal de la Blache: Étude sur la Vallée Lorraine de la Meuse, Paris, 1908, pp. 165-180. [272] Cf. inset on pp. 63-64, Andree’s Handatlas, 6th ed., 1915. [273] J. Brunhes: _La Géographie humaine_, Paris, 1912, pp. 598-599. [274] L. W. Lyde: The Continent of Europe, London, 1913, p. 383. [275] D. W. Freshfield: The Southern Frontiers of Austria, _Geogr. Journ._, Vol. 46, 1915, pp. 414-436.