conception is a difficult one to apply to practical politics, and it is not surprising that the United States Government, with its changing personnel, has at times lost sight of this foundation principle.
Challenges of American democracy
The chief challenge of America's fraternal democracy came in the institution of slavery. The burning necessity to make valid our theoretical assertion of equality was abundantly and tragically shown in the story of America's Civil War. America vindicated her racial democracy by war,—the most costly, and uncertain method possible. Rationalism and good will, instead of armies and navies, must be mobilized for meeting the new challenge of American democracy,—the quickening Orient.
America has found that the Chinese, the Japanese, the Filipino, and other Asiatic people exhibit ability and character, and are generally equal and in some respects superior, except where specific training has been lacking. The races we do not like are the races we do not know.
