The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-11-17
Our National Strength and Gov
SeymOur's Threat Of Repudia


Asrega IDS orr national resources, the sug
gastion Of Gov. Seymour. Of the possible
disgrace of national reputation; echoed and
repeated with Characteristic arrogance by the
London Times. has led to more familiar &C.
quaintance with the statistics Of our census
and, without wishing to detain You long up
on this pint, Won will perhaps allow me to
remind you Of the leading facts Of our c,n
dition as com,ared with the NATIONS Of the
world. They not only illustrate a chief rea.
son Of the foreign jealousy that has been of
late exhibited toward our Republic, but they
throw food Of light up,, the g-eat ques-
ton Of our present policy in the treitment
Of this Rebellion. a.j9
peace Of 1888. 100000 square miles, was en-.
largad by the purchase Of Louisiana, the ac
QUESTION nf Florida the annexation of Texas,
and the Oregon treatv, AMI the treaty with
Mexico, to 100000 square miles, almost
four times it's original area nearly double tho
area of all Europe, excluding Russia, and
twenty time, as large as Great Britain. Our
populati in has increased from about four
millions in 1890 to thirty millions in 1860,
the annual increase having been four times
that Of Russia, six times that of England,
nine times thatof Austria and ten times that
of Francs, AMI according to the ratio Of in
crease, which has been singularly uniform.
our population in 1890 would bs about one
hundred AMI seven millions. d
II this seems fancifnl and exag yerated,
remember that a resort to statistics is the
only safe m,de of obtainin, correct idea
for the present AMI future Of our country,
and as Lord Stanley-who b. the way, ap.
preciatcs Alright the American question-has
we'll rem ,rked, when in discussing the so.
cial question we apply the st.tistic,l test,
we are really ding no more than appes ling
from imagiration 10 facts. from an imperfect
to perfect system Of 0bservation.,' a
During the last d,cade, then, from $50 to
1860, while the population Of Great Brita in
increased Iess than ons nar cent, that of the
United States increased thirty-five per cent.
During the sane ten wears, while the est.
mated increase of national wealth in Great
Britain was 80 per cent. the increase of our
national wealth was 1875 per cent, rising
from seven thou ssnd million (7,l35. $50. 000)
in 1850, to sixteen thousand millions ne,
l59 GIG. 900 IN 1860. at tho rate Of more than
nine hundred mllionsa year. -
Er pede Herculems From this little item
Of the census you c,n judge of the stature OF
your country. volups Of statistics could
hardly show mora clearly the length and
breadth and height of tho gigantic n ,tion.
atty which this Rebellion. instigated by the
ambition Of handful Of Shareholders, is at
tempting to destroy. iasas
A territory twenty times as large as Great
Britain, population increasing at tho rate
Of IS per cent to her par cent. and na-
tional wealth increasing four times as rapid
ly, despite her monster capital accumulated
through centuries, and her early superiority
in agriculture. com nsrcs, arts ani IN ,nufac.
lures
drop the topi, OF com p,rison. which
have intro luc mot 70 enco Ira :, in this