Before international organization can be realized there seems
little doubt that a period of protective national organization must
intervene. At present there is a floating population of the weakest
and less capable--unable to emigrate to a new country--always flowing
from a poorer country into a less poor country, and bearing with them
the seeds of vagrancy and crime. No progress is possible if every
little redeemed patch is at once flooded from over sea. It must be
remembered also, that the dykes necessary to regulate the floating
population are required even in the interests of the poorer countries.
We are approaching a time when the general spread of information,
especially by means of newspapers, will render it impossible for any
country to tolerate the fact that the general level of its people’s
existence should exceed in wretchedness that of any other nation.
The evolution of a better state can only take place by the pressure
resulting from the presence of these outcast elements of society. To
reject them is but to disguise the condition of a nation and to imperil
its destiny.
The destiny and fate of nations has always fascinated the popular
imagination, and the destinies of nations are now shaping themselves
before our eyes with singular clearness. Within a measurable period
of time France will have become a beautiful dream; all Frenchmen
will be Belgians or Italians, the races which have already in large
measure taken possession of the country; it is a process which
Frenchmen themselves observe and chronicle with painful interest.
But France has already accomplished a great work among the nations.
Of wider significance is the development of Russia. For various
reasons the position of Russia is peculiar. The youngest of European
nations in civilization, with a strong Asiatic element by position
and race, Russia is approaching the task of social organization with
a different endowment from that possessed by any other nation. This
racial endowment, while imparting a curious freshness to its methods
of dealing with European problems, especially fits it for its great
mission of dominating Asia. To the English it has never been easy
to find a _modus vivendi_ with lower races, or races which we are
pleased to consider lower; the very qualities which give us insular
independence and toughness of fibre, unfit us for the other task. But
the Russian temperament, as is now generally recognized, is peculiarly
adapted for mingling harmoniously even with the fiercest yellow races
and bringing them into relation with the best European influences;
all those who care for humanity view with satisfaction the growing
influence of Russia in the East, an influence which, we may reasonably
hope, will overspread the continent. A very large field indeed is
still left for the other great expanding race of the world. The
English-speaking races have in their hands the greater part of North
America, and nearly all Australia, and here their special qualities
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account