Page:Mead - The Overthrow of the War System.pdf/113

 and racial cleavages, the European war might never have occurred.

Barriers of language and political frontiers

This same policy of politico-linguistic intolerance still pervades many imperialistic countries, applied to some extent in Poland, Finland, Alsace-Lorraine, Italia Irredenta, Schleswig, Bosnia, Herzegovina and the Power-made Albania. The futility of trying to crush out by force what is native and distinctive is demonstrated by the failures of Hungary to Magyarize Croatia, of Austria to Austrianize her imperial agglomeration of unrelated subjects, and of Germany to Germanize the French in Alsace-Lorraine, or the Poles in her slice of Poland. Europe has had more experience in meeting the race problem than any other continent, because of the proximity of the parts of Europe's mosaic of races. Space forbids discussion of our urgent Philippine problem which is not precisely a race problem. Its solution is independence of the islands, as speedily as may be, with protection through treaties of neutralization; friendly guidance through chosen foreign advisers and custom collectors; and fraternal instead of imperialistic or paternal help.