Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/454

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434 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

And what is true in this single affair is true in general. If Russia's national ethical ideal is so selfish as to allow her to attempt at all hazards to monopolize the working power of China, and to get industrial control of the rest of the world by manu- facturing in China for half cost to producers of England, United States, France, Germany, and the rest, then war, born of the instinct for self-preservation, is inevitable. If in this case a world-homogeneity is gained on a level of willingness to indus- trially enslave other nations whenever opportunity offers, there can be no peaceful development of civilization ; but if by some ethical education there can be a world-homogeneity of opinion in favor of equal opportunity for the adjustment of the civiliza- tion of each nation to that of every other, then progress can be made in peace.

NaHo?ml homoge?ieity of ethical ideals is a desirable condition, providing for national strength and progress without internal strife. What we want to avoid is not simply sectional war, such as the rebellion, but internal disputings that arouse enmities and destroy the sympathies that make a united nation. And a republic is especially subject to weakenings caused by differ- ences of ethical ideals. An anti-war party can make a much more effective resistance to the leadership of Congress here in the United States than it could in Russia to the resolves of the Czar. Facilities for social control are developed in Russia, and obedience to government is a habit of the people, but our republic stimulates individuality, diversity of opinion, unwillingness to follow leaders. Our national activities need the backing of unanimity of public opinion, and at the foundation of individual

principals, and the professors of pedagogy, will take the suggested method seriouslv. Dr. G. Stanley Hall gives me permission to quote him as consideiing this matter "worthy of most serious attention." Dr. W. J. Milne, of the New York State Normal College, Albany, N. Y., sympathiEes with the fundamental idea, and arranged for a presentation of the method on October 27, before an audience of about five hundred of Albany's thoughtful people, and on the afternoon of that same day Professor Charles W. Cole, superintendent of schools in Albany, with the assistance of Principal John Howe, made a trial with 200 children in School No. 4, which they consider successful. Dr. Wallace Buttrick, of the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Albany, N. Y., Dr. T. P. Sawin, of the First Presbyterian Church, Troy, N. Y., and Mrs. Fairchild, of the New York State Library School, heartily approve this suggested method.