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THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF THE ARGENTINE

NATION

By Bailey Willis, Ph.D., Consulting Geologist to the Minister of Public Works, Argentina, 1911-1913: Member of

the United States Geological Survey

The point of view which is accepted in this paper is that of a study in evolution, involving the well established principle that any organism on migrating into a new region becomes modified by adjustment to its environment, and develops activities suited to the conditions of life by which it is surrounded. As applied to all the lower ranks of animals, the bearing of this principle of adaptation is not questioned, nor does its validity need to be argued in applying it to races of men, or even to nations. Let me illustrate the point by referring to the migrations of Asiatic tribes into Europe, where several thousand years ago new nations were born and civilization began that evolution from which we are developing. It was in the new environment that the human race made progress. Once more, and for the last time, when Columbus led the Europeans to the American continent a similar great opportunity offered itself to humanity. Under the tremendous stimulus of modern forces we already see progress toward the evolution of a higher type of man, the Pan-American.

In all parts of the Americas the American type is becoming distinct in physical and mental characteristics from the European stocks from which it originated. Everywhere evolutions are going on, in each region according to the racial factors of the colonizing peoples and the physical factors of the environment into which they have migrated. From the snowy north lands of Canada, through the fertile savannahs of the United States, in the tropics of the Isthmus and the Amazon, on southward across the vast

support in no other way, then let us reconcile Justice with Expediency, and while doing no injustice to Panama, readjust our relations in a way to do full justice to Colombia, and to secure to the people of the United States the full benefits of the Canal.

[graphic]

THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF THE ARGENTINE

NATION

By Bailey Willis, Ph.D., Consulting Geologist to the Minister of Public Works, Argentina, 1911-1913: Member of the United States Geological Survey

The point of view which is accepted in this paper is that of a study in evolution, involving the well established principle that any organism on migrating into a new region becomes modified by adjustment to its environment, and develops activities suited to the conditions of life by which it is surrounded. As applied to all the lower ranks of animals, the bearing of this principle of adaptation is not questioned, nor does its validity need to be argued in applying it to races of men, or even to nations. Let me illustrate the point by referring to the migrations of Asiatic tribes into Europe, where several thousand years ago new nations were born and civilization began that evolution from which we are developing. It was in the new environment that the human race made progress. Once more, and for the last time, when Columbus led the Europeans to the American continent a similar great opportunity offered itself to humanity. Under the tremendous stimulus of modern forces we already see progress toward the evolution of a igher type of man, the Pan-American.

In all parts of the Americas the American type is being distinct in physical and mental characteristics he European stocks from which it originated. EverySolutions are going on, in each region according to tos of the colonizing peoples and the physical vironment into which they have migrated. north lands of Canada, through the ferthe United States, in the tropics of the mazon, on southward across the vast

[graphic]

support in no other way, then let us reconcile Justice with Expediency, and while doing no injustice to Panama, readjust our relations in a way to do full justice to Colombia, and to secure to the people of the United States the full benefits of the Canal.

THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF THE ARGENTINE

NATION

By Bailey Willis, Ph.D., Consulting Geologist to the Minister of Public Works, Argentina, 1911-1913: Member of the United States Geological Survey

The point of view which is accepted in this paper is that of a study in evolution, involving the well established principle that any organism on migrating into a new region becomes modified by adjustment to its environment, and develops activities suited to the conditions of life by which it is surrounded. As applied to all the lower ranks of animals, the bearing of this principle of adaptation is not questioned, nor does its validity need to be argued in applying it to races of men, or even to nations. Let me illustrate the point by referring to the migrations of Asiatic tribes into Europe, where several thousand years ago new nations were born and civilization began that evolution from which we are developing. It was in the new environment that the human race made progress. Once more, and for the last time, when Columbus led the Europeans to the American continent a similar great opportunity offered itself to humanity. Under the tremendous stimulus of modern forces we already see progress toward the evolution of a higher type of man, the Pan-American.

In all parts of the Americas the American type is becoming distinct in physical and mental characteristics from the European stocks from which it originated. Everywhere evolutions are going on, in each region according to the racial factors of the colonizing peoples and the physical factors of the environment into which they have migrated. From the snowy north lands of Canada, through the fertile savannahs of the United States, in the tropics of the Isthmus and the Amazon, on southward across the vast

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