In the same journal, Theodore
Roosevelt announced that the African was a member of "a perfectly
stupid race" which was kept down by a lack of natural
development. Another one whose views became influential was
Josiah Strong. A prominent clergyman at the turn of the century,
he was of the opinion that the pressure of population expansion
would eventually push the whites, who had superior energy and
talent, into Mexico, South and Central America, the islands of
the seas, and eventually into Africa itself. This expansion would
lead to racial conflict which would culminate in the survival of
the fittest through the victory of the white over the colored
races of the world. Strong's belief that white racial
superiority would naturally lead to racial imperialism and world
domination by the white race was shared by many contemporary
Americans. A few of those who shared his ideas were Senator
Albert Beveridge, Senator Cabot Lodge, John Hay, Admiral Alfred
T. Mahan, and Theodore Roosevelt. Racism opened the door to
American imperialism.
The new racism could not depend on the existence of slavery in
order to reinforce white superiority.
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