DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13852#0134
86
CREATION OF A WORLD-CENTRE.
upon spiritual as well as upon economic motives which are world-wide in
their scope, and more and more tend towards peace and progress. If nations
prefer to live as large separate families, they have every right to do so; yet
without the advantages of communication and comparison their children will
not be able to develop and grow mentally and physically strong and robust.
No boundaries can hinder the expansion of the human mind. No law
can prevent the human intellect from developing; and to-day thanks to rapid
communication, all centres of the inhabited world come within easy reach.
Knowledge is gained through ever more rapid and economic means; thus
increasing a thousandfold the desire to take advantage of the special privileges
otfered by other states and countries, which, but a few years ago, were not
within the range of possibility. Whereas then three per cent only of the
human race could receive the privilege of studying the arts, science and
natural development of other peoples, to-day the ways that connect nation
with nation are open so widely that all parts of the world come within imme-
diate and economical reach of all mankind. Those who have higher aims than
that of serving individual or local objects, and who in the past have worked
separately and isolatedly, and, too often in consequence, have worked in
vain, have in modern times used the broad and open roads that lead from
country to country. Each country opens its heart to receive them and to
show them freely the accumulated treasures of mind in art and science from
which it develops and builds.
Thus nations give and take and are mutually benefited by the highest
endeavours of each. We look with pride upon our statesmen, artists and
scientists, and watch with interest the effect of our achievements as they are
received by other nations. For national pride will never leave the heart of
man, and national endeavour will only be strengthened as the pacific relation-
ships of nations progress. Yet, there seems to be in people's minds a general
sense that the time has come for the nations to understand each other better
and that there should be a central point of interchange, a common centre of
communication. Innumerable books and statistics full of possibilities and
abounding in suggestions, are continually being published; and carefully rea-
soned arguments convince the nations that unity of purpose and endeavour,
in art, science and commerce can but enrich and expand the interests of each.
All scientific facts are now diffused and taught clearly and accurately in
most parts of the inhabited world. Therefore, henceforth, no voice that
appeals to human needs can remain unheard. Every national achievement,
almost before its birth, is heralded by the Press with trumpet notes, which
vibrate round the world. This only proves that, in spite of national distinc-
tions, the highest endeavours of man are international property.
The fact that inventions and discoveries can be rapidly transmitted and
utilised by all who need them, often sustains and invigorates a people
that otherwise would weaken and decay. The traditions of orderly deve-
CREATION OF A WORLD-CENTRE.
upon spiritual as well as upon economic motives which are world-wide in
their scope, and more and more tend towards peace and progress. If nations
prefer to live as large separate families, they have every right to do so; yet
without the advantages of communication and comparison their children will
not be able to develop and grow mentally and physically strong and robust.
No boundaries can hinder the expansion of the human mind. No law
can prevent the human intellect from developing; and to-day thanks to rapid
communication, all centres of the inhabited world come within easy reach.
Knowledge is gained through ever more rapid and economic means; thus
increasing a thousandfold the desire to take advantage of the special privileges
otfered by other states and countries, which, but a few years ago, were not
within the range of possibility. Whereas then three per cent only of the
human race could receive the privilege of studying the arts, science and
natural development of other peoples, to-day the ways that connect nation
with nation are open so widely that all parts of the world come within imme-
diate and economical reach of all mankind. Those who have higher aims than
that of serving individual or local objects, and who in the past have worked
separately and isolatedly, and, too often in consequence, have worked in
vain, have in modern times used the broad and open roads that lead from
country to country. Each country opens its heart to receive them and to
show them freely the accumulated treasures of mind in art and science from
which it develops and builds.
Thus nations give and take and are mutually benefited by the highest
endeavours of each. We look with pride upon our statesmen, artists and
scientists, and watch with interest the effect of our achievements as they are
received by other nations. For national pride will never leave the heart of
man, and national endeavour will only be strengthened as the pacific relation-
ships of nations progress. Yet, there seems to be in people's minds a general
sense that the time has come for the nations to understand each other better
and that there should be a central point of interchange, a common centre of
communication. Innumerable books and statistics full of possibilities and
abounding in suggestions, are continually being published; and carefully rea-
soned arguments convince the nations that unity of purpose and endeavour,
in art, science and commerce can but enrich and expand the interests of each.
All scientific facts are now diffused and taught clearly and accurately in
most parts of the inhabited world. Therefore, henceforth, no voice that
appeals to human needs can remain unheard. Every national achievement,
almost before its birth, is heralded by the Press with trumpet notes, which
vibrate round the world. This only proves that, in spite of national distinc-
tions, the highest endeavours of man are international property.
The fact that inventions and discoveries can be rapidly transmitted and
utilised by all who need them, often sustains and invigorates a people
that otherwise would weaken and decay. The traditions of orderly deve-