Squatter sovereign., 1855-08-21
The Three Great Powers.

4
United States, though often brilliantly en-
forced, are not quite so frequently illustra-
ted by the comprehensive aid of statistics.
The present time, when the great nations
of Europe, with, which We are constantly
compared, are actively exhibiting their
strength. power and proportions, and when
their characters and resources are daily
brought before us, affords fitting oppor-
tunity to glance at ourselves as well as
them.
Russia. France and England, are the
three leading powers, and with them we
compare notes, and, for the clearer view
of the subject give the following tables, ex-
hibiting the area in square miles the popu-
lation, and the number of the latter to each
of the former, taken in the aggregate:
Area So. Miles. Pop. Pop. to So. NJ
Russia in Eu....2, 12O, 397 60, 0,708, ,1O1 % 2-3
Russia in Asia. 4, $4,000 5,585.OOO I-6
sses Amer. so7sSs @ s57slSss 1Sss 2 as a-s
Great Britain. 112,57S 27.737 1863 226 2-5
United States....3, ,260,873 23,347, 1884 Ia
Densely as the population appears to be
packed in England. the average to the
square miles is only two-thirds of the a
mount exhibited by the statistics of Bel
glum and Holland, there being in the for
mer an average of over 399 human be-
ings to the square mile, and in the latter
an average of almost 253. And looking
into Asia we find China with the inn
mense population Of 375, $50 900, covering
an area as large as the United States and
European Russia both together (5 ,26O, 900
square miles, in some places, little Bu-
charia for instance, having 145 persons to
the square mile, but in the aggregate
showing an average of73 2-5. 7
Now if we apply the rates of population
of those countries enumerated to our capac-
ity to increase and support like number
to the square mile, there is certainly the
widest foundation for all the rhetoric our
orators can conjure up to illustrate our fu-
ture. And there is no reason why we may
not calculate so. We have have greater
resources, more inducements to foster and
consolidate a population, more capacity
under the earth, and more luxuriance on
! it, more water to work machinery,
and more enterprise to invent, or apply for
eign inventions, than any of the people
specified. 1901 ''a
The growth ofour population keeps pace
with our commercial progress, and in this
respect also distances our transatlantic cou-
sins. The increase of population for the
ten years previous TO last returns, has been
about at the rate Of 1881
In Russia, 90 per cent; France II per
cent; England, Exclusive of ireland,
which has decreased from famine and emi-
grafton, at the rate of 25 per cent IL per
cent; China, 10 per cent; United States,
SO.
Thus the ratio of our increase has equal.
: ed France, England and China altogether,
and more than equaled Russia and France
united, which respectively show the great.
est per centage on the increase of the Et-
ropean population. - ....-, f.-.--
: If, then, with the stupendous realities oi
our history before us,-if with the knowl.
, edge of what America has done, and what
she is doing and can do in war and peace
, in arms and agriculture, in railroads, tele.
) graphs, ship building. the mechanic arts
. and everything calculated toincite industry
; educate herself, spread information, invoke
strength. wealth, power create history, and
stand a recognized Titan by the side of the
old and jealous nationalities,-if with sucf
capacity and such position at present
who may dare imagine her mission wher
America shall have, like Russia, over 2e
persons TO the square mile. and conse.
qnent population of S7.455. 1926: or, like
+ England. more than 226 persons to the
same space, and the enormous aggregate
Of 737 ,OS0 ,526-an amount rivalling the
, population of the entire globe at present
If the same increase as we have noted
continues in the United States, we shall
have in thirty years a population of 61..
359, ,S99; while the population of France
in the same period and at the same pei
centage she exhibits for the past ten years
will be 5000 .31s-some 1900, 600 be-
hind US. And in seventy years, at the
same rate. we shall have 322 500, $50
, while Russia, at her present rate will have
217.731 .313.
These calculations are reasonable, an6
afford vast suggestiveness for such as de-
: sire to speculate more in detail upon the
t future greatness of our nation.
Es9@A correspondent tells the follow
ing wonderful story:
: A poor man over on the Kennebec
. rendered desperate by hunger, presented
favorits, black cat at the door of a san