Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-23


ciples Of republicanism are few. obvious
and simple-the right Of majority to rule,
subject to constitutional provisions-the
right Of the minority to be protectcd-re-
sponsibility on the part ofthe representa-
tive-no privileges, no monopolies. no re-
straints upon conscience. These are prin-
ciples which the foreigner readily COM
prehends. They enter at once into the
heart Of the immigrant, and bind him to
the land Of his adoption. They are the
lessons of nafure-the innate teachings of
the hcart-the universal hope Of mankind.
Wherever people, rising beneath a sense
of wrong, and feeling ofoppression have
striven to shake their bondage off,it has been
to establish some or all of these princi-
ples-whenever they have failed, their
first and deepest longing has been, for
habitation among US. How strikingly has
this been shown in the last two years.
Within tina, period, we have beheld Eu
rope convulsed from shore to Shore
France has spurncd from her, the last of a
long line ofKings. The iron crown of Char
lemange has been broken into fragments.
The blouse has jostled thecourt-suit on the
Boulevards. and the pare that once hum
med with the aristocratic roll of hveried
coaches, has been heaped into a bar
ricade, behind which boys and beggars made
frolic ofrevolution. Where did France
in the first wandering gaze of freedom,
turn for guide Too much bewildered,
it is true, to see clearly, she yet caught the
dim outline of cisAtlantic model, and
endeavorcd vainly we fear, to assume its
shape. Rome heard the sound ofrevolu-
ton, and the long corridors of the Vatican
echoed to the tread of hurried and flying
footsteps. She failed in her great under
taking; but hundreds of her sons still faith
full to the principles, which they then en-
deavored to assert, have fastened to our
shores. Hungary has rocked with the
blood of brave and noble men, but many
as brave and noble as they, have made,
and are yet making homes among US
These are reasons, why we do not appre-
bend danger to our form of government,
from the immense influx of races, foreign
to us In birth, language, education and ex-
pericncc. The very impulse, which brings
them hither, fits them to remain. We ask
no other guarantee than their instructive
dread oftyranny, and their Unborn love OF
freedom.
Looking then to this great element ofin-
crease, as one from which no evil is apt to
arise, and connecting it with the grand a.
gencies Irrational ggrandizement at work
among us, thcsublimist vision of human pro-
gressis presented, thateverengaged and out
measured the contemplation of man. Struck
and puzzled by the spectacle, even British
Journals with all their prejudices and igno-
rance upon this subject, acknowledge their
astonishment. The American census, SAYS
the Athcn@um, though not yet complete,
points to conclusion far beyond hope or
expectation. Look at n. York for instance.
In 1920 it had a population of 1873 900; in
1880, 100000; in 1910, $4,000. This
rate OF increase was unparalleled in the his
tory of statistics. But the population is
now SAID to have risen to the astonishing
number Of 100000! There arc but two
larger cities in Europe; in ten years more,
at the same rate of progress, it viii be lar
ger than Paris. In thirty years from this
date New York will, on the same terms, be
larger than London.
material power has been developed, c.
qually with population. Great Britain a
lone excepted, no State in Europe could
now maintain equal ornaments in the field
for any length of time. This marvellous
growth is de'anging all the old tradition of
"balances of power" Americas not only
first class statc-in few years, if no in
ternal disorder shall occur, she will be the
greatest of all. Should the 1SlO-5O rate of
increase be maintained for fifty years, the
population will then amount to more than
1O0,000,000! German wars and French
revolutions sink into complete insignifcance
by the side of considerations like these"
"With such a comment, how well we
may understand the 'roars of laughter
with which the American Senate recently
received the menaces of Austria! When
the United States shook off the yoke of
England, their people numbered no more
than 100000; when they were last mea-
sured against an European power, they were
OF more than 100000. Ten years hence
they will be equal to France or Austria
There hardly seems to be a limit to their
growth. The valley of the Mississippi
would alone support the wholepopulation
OF Europe. In its vast basin, nations are
now growing up as if at the bidding of en-
chantmcnt."
Such is the view of an intelligent and we
may presume not partial Journal ofthe fti-
ture condition of tins country. But let us
look little farther into the evidences gifts
prosperity, and the promises of its coming
greatness. In the year 1900 our popula-
ton was 100000; it is now 23,53o, 900;
then, the number of states comprising the
Umon was thirteen; it is now thirty one
Our territory then was 100000 square
miles; it is now 100000. All our pre-
sent domain west of the Mississippi then
belonged to France and Spain, and was
an unbroken wilderness. Florida was
owned by Spain, and Georgia was the on