Polynesian., 1851-10-04

lions and fraction more than the population
OF Central Europe. In 1851 it is ahead of
every civilized race in the world. Of races
lying within the zone Of civilization, the
Sclaves alone are mnre numerous, counted
by heads, but comparatively few of this plas-
tic. aud submissive stock have vet escaped
from the barbarism of the dark ages. In
wealth, energy and cultivation they are not
to be compared with the Frank, the Teuten
and the Anglo-Saxon. Number is amos,
their only element of strength. OF all the
races which are now striving for the Inaste-
ry of the world, to impress on the future of
society and civilization the stamp Of its own
character and genius, TO make It's law, idiom,
religion, manners, government, and opinion
prevail, the Anglo-Saxon is now unquesiion-
ably the most numerous, powerful, and ac-
tive. The day when it might possibly have
been crushed, absorbed, or trampled out,
like Hungary and Poland, by stronS Ter hordes
is gone by for ever That il was possible at
one time for this people to be subdued by
violence or to fall prey 10 the slower ago
MES of decline, there can be little doubt. In
1850, the United Provinces seemed more like
ly to make grand figure nthe worlds fu-
ture history than England. Their wealth,
activity, and maratime power. were the most
imposing in Europe. They had all the car
rying trade of the West in their hands.
Their language was spoken in every port.
In the great Orient their empire was fixed
and their influence paramount. England
was then hardly known abroad Her difficult
ldiom grated on foreign ears, and her stormy
coasts repelled the curiosity of more cuiiva-
ted travellers. Had the thought Of day ar
irving when any single European language
would be spoken by millions of persons,
scattered over the great continents of the
earth, from New Zealand to the Hebiides
and from the Cape Of Storms TO the Arctic
Ocean, occurred to any speculative mind
Dutch, not English, would probably have
been the language to which he would have as
signed the marvellous mission. Yet Holland
has fallen as much as the Saxon has risen
in the scale of nations. Her idiom rs now
acquired by few Her merchants conduct
their correspondence and transact their bus
mess in French or in English. Even her
writer's have many of them clnthed their ge-
MUS in foreign garb. On the other hand
our literature and language has passed en-
tirely out of Tins phase Of danger. Dutch,
like Welsh, Flemish, Erse. Basque, and
other idoms, is doomed TO perish as an intel
leciual medium but whatever may be the
future changes of the world, the tongue of
SIrakespear and of Bacon is now too firmly
rooted ever to be torn away. No longer
content with mere preservation, it aims at
universal mastery. Gradually il is taking
possession Of all the ports and coasts of the
world isolating all rival idioms, shutting
them up from intercourse with each ether,
making itself the channel of every communi-
cation. At hundred points at once it plays
the aggressor. II contends with Spanish on
the frontiers of Mexico drives French and
Russian before it in Canada and in The North
eren Archipelago, supersedes Dutch at the
Cape and Natal elbows Greek and Italian
at Malta and in the Ionian Islands ; usurps
the right of Arabic at Suez and Alexandra
maintains itself supreme at Liberia, Hong
kong, Jamaica and St. Helena; fights its way
ag gainst multitudinous and various dialects in
the Rocky Mountains, in Central America,
on the Gold Coast in the interior Of Austria
liza, and among the countless islands of the
Eastern Seas. No other language is spread
ing in this way. French and German find
students among civilized men; but English
permanently destroys and supersedes the i'd
IONS with which it comes in contact
The relative growth of the two great An
glo-Saxon States is noteworthy. In 1901 the
population Of Great Britain was 10, 9l2, ,646
in 1900 that of the United States was 5. .3l9,
762, or not quite half In 1850 the popula-
ton CT the United States yas two millions
and third more than that of G cal Britain
in 1851 at the moment probably exceeds