The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-05

his guiding star. The leaven of our democracy
is leavenmg all Europe. AS our success in the
Revolution Of 1776 caused uprisings against
| despotism all over the world, so our greater
victory in the more terrible and vaster revolu-
ton which has just terminated will result in
similar popular movements. Europe may as
we'll be prepared for these outbreaks. They
will come as surely as the day follows the
night They are logically inevitable.
The Now Census OF tho States, East and
West.
The returns of the census now being taken in
the several States, under the auspices of the
State authorities, reveal many curious and
interesting facts. The decrease In population
in many localities, and the enormous increase
in others, developing as it does the ebb and
flow of the tide of population, presents a fea-
ture worthy of careful study. The great
westward tendency OF our population revealed
by the national census of 1860 still continues,
and at more rapid rate. The present census
not only proves that this feature, so noticeable
in the last census, was not temporary affair,
but that the change il going on even at
greater ratio. Thus in 1860 the returns
from the Atlantic especially the New Eng
land States-revealed decrease in the
population in many towns The same re-
suit is shown by the census now In pro-
gress, not only in regard to New England, but
also in some of the agricultural districts in this
State. Such manufacturing towns as Lowell,
where 1t would be supposed that the p0pula-
ton would have increased, it has declined
The same is true of other manufacturing towns
| Of New England and agricultural districts in
ell the Atlantic States. But when we turn to
the census returns Of the Western States, we
find, instead Of a decrease, an enormous in
crease, and at a ratio. tenfold greater than the
decrease East This change must, from the very
nature of our country, its climate and char
acteristics, increase from year to year, working
the most decided results in the political affairs
of the country. The decrease Of the popula-
ton In many parts Of New England
foretells similar decline Of power and
influence in government affairs, while on
the other hand the great increase In the
West not only points to the fact that the
day is not far distant when the Mississippi val
ley will be the centre Of the republic, and that
what is now known as the West will control
and guide the political destinies of the country
Under the present tendency westward but COM
paratively few years will elapse before the
whole section from the lakes to the Pacific, will
be peopled, and working wonderful and extra
ordinay changes in the body polite.
With all the decrease in the New England
States and the agricultural districts of the
East the returns of this metropolis reveal a re-
| verse result here. Instead of decline in the
population in this city, the returns show an In
crease, and that, too, at ratio larger than at
the West. The city proper, or Manhattan Island,
under the census of 1860, had population
Of about eight hundred and fourteen thousand;
the enumeration taken by the Sanitary Bureau
of this city in 1864 developed an increase of
over one. quarter OF million in four years, and
that, too, in merely the city proper. The cen
sus under tho auspices of the State authorities
has not been concluded yet, but from the re-
ports thus far made these figures will be fully
sustained. When we add to this the increase OF
Brooklyn and all other portions of the metro
|
city, this increase will, if anything, be still
larger. All this Is but additional proof that
the city of New York is the real hub Of this
country, and that its growth and prosperity
keeps pace with the whole country, and sympa-
thizes with It in all particulars. New England
may decline and decay, the South may be de-
vastated by war, and her trade prottrated
for years, the agricultural and manufacturing
interests of all the Atlantic States may fall off,
yet still this city goes onward, rapidly hcreas-
ing in population, wealth and commerce. II is
the great heart Of the republic, at which
centres all the veins laden with treasures As
long as the North American continent prospers
just SO long will this metropolis increase in
population and wealth. If this continue in the
same proportion, in ten years more the city
of New York will be larger than London and
the largest city in the world, except 1t may be
some of those cities 80 effectually hidden away
In China that no person from the outside world
can ever see them. In 1851 the population Of
London taking in all the surrounding country,
was, in round numbers, q little under bur mil
lions. When we take in the entire Metropolitan
district, Jersey City and Hoboken, which are as
much part of the city Of New York as many Of
the suburban towns enumerated in the popula-
ton of London, we have population of over
two millions, and increasing at moe rapid
rate than London. Events and the develop
ments of time are thus not only proviig us the
greatest and most powerful nation on the face
of the earth. but that the city Of New York Ia