Page:Mead - The Overthrow of the War System.pdf/114

 Were Europe freed of the curse of Babel, less would be heard of racial antagonisms, for language has become the chief distinguishing characteristic among Europeans, who are all Caucasians whose inter-marriage has largely swamped distinctive racial characteristics. In America, aided by a common tongue, all of the European varieties of men have found a common denominator.

The democratic solution

America's democratic policy regarding race differences is, with the exception of the negro problem, in sharp contrast with the imperialistic policy which has failed in Europe. Imperialism is based on the assumption of the right of the superior race to dominate. Democracy is based on the assumption of the fundamental equality of rights of all races, de- spite their superficial differences. The British Empire is a unit because England learned from our Revolution not to coerce Canada. Australia and New Zealand.

At the start, the United States defined for the world the only race-policy that fits the realities—that of the widest fraternal, rather than paternal, tolerance of human diversity—in the belief "that all men are created equal." This