416 COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION 



back into another age of barbarism more cruel and more difficult 

 to overcome than any former one, and to give to the more primitive 

 societies a secure economic foundation for future progress and devel- 

 opment, these should constitute the elements of a sound colonial 

 policy. If we restrict our efforts to those things which we clearly 

 see can be accomplished, - - to the maintenance of peace, the pro- 

 tection of health, the creation of adequate means of communication, 

 and assistance in industrial development; if we set our face firmly 

 against slavery and exhaustive exploitation in all its forms, we may 

 rely upon the working-out of the colonial problem with the same 

 confidence that we place in the mechanism of a complicated electrical 

 motor. But in order to obtain such results patience is most needful. 

 Civilization cannot be transferred as a whole. To deal with intel- 

 lectual and spiritual matters directly involves such difficult psycho- 

 logical considerations, such incalculable contingencies, that in an 

 effort to develop a constructive colonial policy, it seems wiser to 

 make sure first of the things in which at least a somewhat clearer 

 forecast of results and a somewhat safer calculation of effects can 

 be had, than is the case with impulses and enthusiasms the range of 

 which passes at present the scope of careful analysis. Activities 

 along these lines are by no means to be discouraged, but they fall 

 into a different sphere from that which the legislator and adminis- 

 trator can hope to deal with successfully. One principle seems clear 

 enough, namely, that our moral civilization cannot be propagated by 

 laws, perhaps not even by exhortation, but that the only true civil- 

 izing influence is example freely followed. Thus the primitive Ger- 

 mans voluntarily chose their Roman neighbors as models for their 

 action, and Japan to-day is of her free will imitating our institutions 

 and methods because she recognizes in them a certain superiority. 

 By setting up models of action and conduct which will be gladly and 

 spontaneously imitated by other races, the Western nations may, 

 indeed, hope to exert a powerful civilizing influence. 



It will, therefore, be wise for the colonial legislator not to attempt 

 too much, not to have too ambitious a programme. But if rightly 

 planned, the economic reforms which it is in his power to effect with 

 success, may, like the massive architecture of a cathedral crypt, in 

 time upbear an edifice which will answer larger purposes than those 

 of mere economic welfare and progress. 



SHORT PAPER 



PROFESSOR ALBERT G. KELLER, of Yale University, presented a short paper 

 to this Section on " The Value of the Study of Colonies from a Sociological Stand- 

 point." 



