The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-02
The PAST--THE FUTURE.
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Interesting Historical and Sta
tistical Information.
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the LAST HALF CENTURY or THE. WORLD.
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STATISTICS OF THE CITY.
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MORTALITY OF THE METROPOLIS.
TRADElOF THE CANALS.
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The National, State, and CITY. Govern
- E@ ments.
&C., &C., &c.
THE LAST HALF CENTURY.

THE LAST HALF CENTURY.
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Thes progress Of mankind since the commence.
meut Of our century has been marked by many
facts Of lively and peculiar interest. And At the
present climacteric OF the reetng months when the
minds Of intelligent and thinking men are naturally
drawn to such retrospect, propose briefly to re
count the most significant of these facts political,
scientific social literary, and moral. The extent Of
the subject will necessarily conine our attention to
what is suggestive Without entering into details.
but aiming at generalization, we shall, instead OF
indulgirg in the prsmatic Development Of single
rays Of truth content ourselves with collecting and
concentrating many rays into few foc.
THE UNIrED STATES.
In the year 1900 republic, then in its infancy,
had enjoyed the blessings of its political union but
eleven years. Freed from their yoke Of bondage,
the colonies had in l776 declared their indepeu.
dence, snd in ll7s7 formed their federal constitu
tion which, during the next two years. was adopted
by the States and began Immediately to manifest
its' energising influences. The original thirteen
States mcref sed in number to sixteen Vermont.
Tennessee, and Kentucky, being added to their
revolutionary precursors New Hampshire Msssa-
chusetts, Rhode Isand, and Connec lieut.; New York.
Z,
Virginia, North Carolina South Carolina, and
Georgia. The District of Columbia was composed
OF parts Of the States of Virginia and MARYLAND.
Our territories covered the remaining portion Of our
domain. On our north were the British possessions.
and on our SOUTH Louisiana, (then the property OF
France) and the Flordas then in the possession Of
the Spanish crown. On he east, our border was de.
fined by the province of New Brunswick and by the
-
the Mississippi.
At that period. the now influential millionaire OF
population, Ohio, was unborn snd SO also we're all
the other younger members OF cur federal family.
Ohio entered the Union in 1902; Louisiana, 1911.
Indiana, 1876 Mississippi, 1877 Illinois, 1918; Ala.
bams, 1919; Maine and Missouri, 1920; Arkansas
and Michigan, 1885; Florida Iowa, and Texas, 1916;
| Wisconsin, 1913; and California, 1850.
Before the year 1903, our territorial area was q
million o. square miles That year our government,
during Mr.. Jefferson's administration, purchased
from France, for fifteen mil ions OF dollars, (two
and half millions being retained to compen-
safe for French spoations,) that immense range Of
country now occupied by Minnesota Iowa, Missouri,
Arkansas, Louisiana, the Indian Territory, Nebraska,
the Northwest Territory, Oregon. and Washington.
It was happy hour Of our political existence This
purchase, at adding to our possessions million
and half Of square miles, more than doubled our
domain. A new and valuable acquisition was made
in 1919, by treaty with Spain, who coded 10 M
the Foridas, then valued at five million OF dollars,
the estimated amount of spoliations committed by
Spanish vessels upon our commerce. Two years
after our government took possession of this Palmetto
region, with its almost 60,C00 square miles. East
and West Florida formed territorial government In
1922, and became State In lS45. Texas, which
was in 1885 Mexican State, revolted, and became
independent in 1886, and was, nine years after,
| Qs45,) annexed to our confederacy. We thus had
new territorial acquisition Of 237 900 square miles
At the close of our late war with Mexico we pur-
chased from that government, for twelve million Of
dollars, more than half million Of square miles,
| comprising Upper California and New Mexico. In
| ls49, California adopted its constitution, and the
| next year II became one OF our States.
At pre- sent moment area Of square miles is
three AID q quarter millions. Less than half
million more, and we shall equal in extent the whole
| continent OF Europe. We now have thirty-one
United States, six organized riiores, and three
yet unorganlzed The king and people Of the Sand.
wch Islands are, by late accounts, very DESTROYS of
annexation to our Union; and there are some marked
symptoms Of growing disposition Of the same kind
in another quarter.
OUr population, in 100, was 3ossa 900; in 1900 it
was 1906 0OO in 1910 1t was 100000; In 1870 it
was 1888 coo; in 1880 it was 1856 900; in $40
it was l7,O0OOOo and in 1850 It amounted ia
20, 263 600. The ratio of increase has at no time
been less than hrtytwo per cent, and from 1910 to
1850 it was more than thrty-six and quarter per
cent
pl,nlo latio pf tuor tvtk oxl =
quarter Millions the natives OF Ireland are not quite
1000 goo; the Germans are not 600 600; the Eng.
ih and the British Americans are not 500 900; the
Scotch are but 10000; the French, "a oOO and tho
Welsh, 10000. Although emigration has made thu
Celtic "a sc great numerical element Of our popu.
aop it is our experience that the Celtic and Anglo
Ssxon races viii not assinlate. They have each
msniiestly different destiny, and they have each a
different work and mission as the Nethinim and thu
High Priest. Celts are the worlds hewers Of wood
and drawers Of water; and AngloSaxons are, CON
fessedy, The rvealers and promugers Of the worids
oracles Of truth.
The aboiignes Of our country now number about
500 600. In the year 1920 our government made ar
rangements with the tribes residing in the United
States to migrate to the Indian terrs,ry and this ar.
nngsment has been crowned with wonderful success.
The CLerokees and Caoctaws, and some other tribes
Of red men, are greatly beneitog BY their niqra-
ton. They have organized governments Of their
own, and are enjoying all the blessings Of Christian
civilization. A Cherokee Indian, George Gusss. In
vented, in 1925, Cherokee alphabet. consisting q
eighty Eve letters, expressing all the artlculsta
sounds Of his native language, and this alphabet has
been adopted by the whole tribe. Many Of the
Cbsrokees are highly educated mon; and at n -.
tans period Indian governments may be admit "a
among The members Of our confedersey.
Our Union has now existed almost sixty six years.
There have been fourteen Presidents. washinrtn
and John Adams constitute thu rulers OF the Ar
axa. Ioffar,c.a, ma Ma iie1u. 4oa. 1r a. -.