2i8 THE TREND OF THE RACE 



Teutonic and Slavic from the Latin races are hereditary racial 

 characteristics, although they may be modified to a certain degree 

 by social environment. It may be maintained that conflicts will 

 still be more apt to be won by nations of the highest endowment 

 of intellect, and which by nature are best endowed with the 

 instincts which make for loyalty and cooperation. But granting 

 that this tendency exists, there are so many factors that modify 

 its influence that its actual biological effect is much in doubt. 



In the first place we must bear in mind that mere size is not 

 infrequently the determining cause of victory quite regardless 

 of the quality of the combatants. Fortunate alliances may bring 

 success to an otherwise weak country. Geographical location 

 often proves to be of importance in both offensive and defensive 

 warfare. But of especial significance is a nation's cultural devel- 

 opment which depends upon its past history and surroundings 

 perhaps even more than the natural aptitudes of its people. 



The Teutonic tribes fled before the well-drilled and equipped 

 armies of the Romans, not because they were inferior either in 

 mental or physical inheritance, but because they had lived outside 

 of the main stream of European civilization, and when we observe 

 the Serbians and Russians unable to cope with the well-organized 

 and disciplined armies of Germany there is little ground for 

 attributing the outcome to the innate superiority of the victors. 

 The immediate causes of success were superior discipHne, organi- 

 zation, equipment and the elaborate, scientific and detailed prep- 

 aration for a long premeditated contingency. While we may 

 admit that on the average and in the long run the success of a 

 nation may be the result of superior hereditary endowments, it is 

 probable that, as Schallmayer, Steinmetz and others have pointed 

 out, the role of hereditary differences becomes less as civilization 

 advances. 



Granting that war is most apt to be won by the best stocks, 

 its biological value depends upon the advantage that is taken of 

 the victory. If winning a war does not lead to a greater expansion 

 of the victorious people its racial value is nullified. As a result of 

 warfare in recent times nations frequently lose territory, pay 



