O PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 



Distinct groups of people bear the marks of successive influences 

 from the various causes named. So it may be affirmed that 

 national consciousness, as found in Europe, reveals the fact that, 

 while there are strong race traits still present, ract and 

 nationality among the European peoples can rarely be regarded 

 as identical. The most diverse ethnological elements are in- 

 extricably blended. Doubtless in certain sections of the conti- 

 nent there are craniological peculiarities which testify of Eastern 

 origin, and elsewhere distinctions in colouring, which tell of 

 journey ings from the south, but no nationality is so free from 

 exceptions to either of these as to make race and nationality 

 one. Sweeping generalizations regarding populations may serve 

 a political purpose, but they fail in the exactitude which science 

 demands. Whole sections of population in some areas have a 

 consciousness much more affected by religion than race, while 

 in many instances the consciousness is much more political than 

 racial, having been created by the vertical divisions set up by 

 astute and self-seeking rulers. An illustration of this is seen in 

 the carrying out of such maxims as those left by Frederick the 

 (jreat for the guidance of his successors. 



If possible, the powers of Europe should be made envious against 

 one another, in order to give occasion for a coup when the opportunity 

 arises. 



I understand by the word " Policy " that one must make it his study 

 to deceive others. 



Form alliances only in order to sow animosity. 



The history of Germany since PVederick reveals how in a 

 few generations a definite form of national consciousness may be 

 created in a people by a conspiracy or combination of the rulers 

 and teachers of the nation to make a certain set of ideas domi- 

 nant. 



Of what heterogeneous elements a European nation is com- 

 posed has been graphically set forth by Henri Fabre, who of his 

 own France writes : 



Long ago, it used to attract the sea-roving- Phcenicians. tine peace- 

 loving Greeks, who brought us the alphabet, the vine and the olive-tree; 

 the Romans, those harsh rulers, who handed down to uy barbarities very 

 difficult to eradicate. Swooping on this rich prey came the .Cymri, the 

 Teutons, the Vandals, the Goths, the Huns, the Burgutidians, the Suevi, 

 the Alani, the Franks, the Saracens, hordes driven hither by every wind 

 that blows. And all this heterogeneous mixture was melted down and 

 absorbed in the Gallic nation. 



When an attempt is being made to set the European world 

 in order at the present time it is not a little strange that two 

 conflicting principles should be seen at work in the ])resent 

 peace-efforts — the self-determination of small nationalities, 

 which is in danger of becoming a fresh emphasis of the vertical 

 divisions between the several peoples ; and the working out of a 

 League of Nations, which can only be eff'ective through the 

 development and utilization of the lateral interests of the people 

 as a whole. 



The failure of the form of civilization which has hitherto 



