New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-19
TIE STAR or EMPIRE.


surplus population of Western Europe to the
American continent, is so far marked by the
spirit of the age that it originates iii no big
otry and proceeds without bloodshed. Ii is al
most without historical precedent, because 1t is
stimulated by no spirit of military enterprise,
and because all the other great emigrations
which the world has witnessed have been
hardly better than predatory lnvasions. Large
masses of men, following the instincts which
they share with the lower orders of animal
life, have more than once advanced, with raging
appetites and barbaric banners, to conquest
against which cultivation was impotent; and hay
ing first carried the outposts OF civilization and
exhausted by their prOdIgality the enyirons of
enlightened societies, have finally established
themselves in the stateliest seats OF empires
too weak to resist and too proud to submit
the final victims Of predestinate absorption.
1t has been from changes like this, and under
circumstances in some degree necessarily dis
advantageous that human society has taken
fresh start in manners, morals, politics, and
the major and minor economies of life and
yet, although it might drive man into
melancholy madness To believe that the race
has not perceptibly advanced nearer and nearer
progress mainly melted by military ambition,
and too little by devotion to the nobler du-
ties of peace. must be always imperfect and
frequently interrupted, subject to long lapSes
of activity, if not to positive retrogresslon
The popularity Of American emigration, to
which it would he difficult to find any general
historical parallel is that it is totally uncon-
nected with conquest in the ordinary sense of
the word Our invaders come by invitation,
aud are warmly welcomed to the places which
have been prepared for them. The poet long
ago sung of
The Norman race. the Of mighty Rollo
Who rushing in tempest from the North
Great nurse OF generous frecmen-braNcY won
With their own swords their seats and stu possess them
BY the same noble tenure"
The United States secures all the advant-
ages of a supply of population commensurate
with their immense territory, and of an iniu
sion of fresh blood, without the drawback or
the danger of organic political changes. We
confide in these w-comers-nor have we yet
had reason TO regret our confidence. All the
attempts of speculative factonsts TO bring
odum upon the classes which bear across the
broad ocean their allegiance to liberty have
failed, and, in the nature of things, should
they be renewed will fail again Parties
organized for the avOwed purpose OF restrain
ing and limiting emigration have speedily met
with the fate due to their illberal, blind. and
Wphilosophieeall spirit What are we, indeed,
if we are not nationally benevolent and pOlti-
cally generOus7 Two hundred years ago, even
a gentle spirit like John Milton could de-
nounce the Irish as COnsceIerdtd ct barbara
collurieS; but he who furnished the poisonous
sentiment supplied at the same time the slow
working but certain antidote and a country
which Milton helped to make greatly free can
afford to disregard the infrmty of O noble
mind.
1t is fortunate. as it is also natural, that our
miraculous access of population should come
mainly from the Northern races, with which
our older population can to the best advan-
tage assimilate. Only the other day q Western
newspaper stated that within the shor. period
of seventy-two hours two thousand Sandina-
vans (forty-fve car-loads) passed over the
Michigan Central Railway-emigrants, who are
characterized as good, cheerful, rugged peo-
"ple, stout hearted, clear-eyed, with thrift to
keep what advantages brain and muscle will
"wIest from their new homes" Something
might be said of the positive wealth which
such an emigration brings to the country, and
the actual transfer of money from Europe to
the United States This, into whatever small
sums it may be divided, must reach an i'm
portant amount in the aggregate but it be-
comes insignificant in comparison with the adj
dition to our population of so many frugal, in
telligent, and productive men and women
who go to conquer the wilderness and to add
so greatly to the available territorial extent
of the Republic. The country has good reason
to look upon this new flow of the tide of emf
grafton with confidence and complacency.
There may have been a time when the intro
ductOn of such various and apparently con-
fiicting elements might reasonably have created
some apprehension of its effect upon social
n..I h. IL IL