The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-11-24
The Growth OF Nations.

The comparisons made at the close
Of the last decade by writers wi deal
in figures on grand scale are favora-
bic to the United States. In spite ot
immense losses, arising from internal
conflicts and faults of administration
the balance has been steadily on our
side. Prussia alone among civilized
nations has had career rs prosperous
and remarkable; and even Prussia has
been free from the internal strife
which has made the growth of this
country slower than it should have
been, and has imposed burdens en-
tirely exceptional in the experience OF
modern nations, Since 1S40 the popu-
lation of the United States had ad
yanced from eighteen to forty million;
and since 1850, the estimated value
of property from 5000 millions to I3,-
900 millions. OF the other great ma
tons, the United Kingdom rose in
population to thirty-one millions, and
France by the annexation OF Nice
and savoy to thirty-eight millions
since reduced by the losses of the war
with Prussia and the alienation of the
populOus provinces of AIsace and
Lorraine. The German empire now
takes the lead of European nations
with everything in its favor for MANY
years to come. Before the great in.
crease OF national prestige which her
military conquests gave her, Germany
had securely laid the foundations of a
great empire. The physical and NOR
al condition of her people was every
where improving. Education was al
most universal. Her facilities Of COM
municatiOn were not exceIIed by
those Ofany other country excent RAJ
gum and England. Her Internal
commerce was admirably organized
and growing from day to day with ex-
traordinary rapidity. Her treasury
was so well supplied that the loan ari-
thorized at the close ofthe war Of 1866
remained a long time unused; whiIeher
people out of their ample resources not
on greatly enlarged their own msnu-
factures, and extended theiroy means
OF travel and commerce, but furnish
ed hundreds OF millions for like mr.
poses 10 the United States. "Out of I
the shattered fragments" Mr.. Carey |
wrote four years ago. (which lately !
passed with the world as GERMANY.
there has already been creafeI the !
most important empire in Europe. I
whose power for self defence Is seen /
III the fact that......the number of her
young men who annually attain fine |
age fitting them for military duty ex-
ceeds that OF France by sixty.ei0ht !
thousand, the mere surplus being suf- |
hclent for meeting the wants of war,
shSuid unfortunately Y at any time !
war be needed" War has since /
come, aud the result corresponds to /
the prediction.
In specializing on the worlds pro- |
gress, the United States and Germany !
are nearly always placed side by side. /
IL Is only among ourselves that the 1
growth OF the nation, not i'm popuIa- /
ton and wealth only, but in the best .
elements of national character. il de- |
preciated. There are quicksands uu-
der our feet and clouds over our heals.
uDqueStiOnably. Six years in the life /
OF nation did not give time enough /
I'd recover nom the consequences of a !
conflict which had been ripening since
1857. But we have passed the greatest 1
danger In settling once for all time
that the nation has power to defend \
itself. IncOmparisOn with the United /
states the German union is a crude
ana lll-assoTted combination of states.
Professor Seeley, looking over the
world for an example for Eurspe,
lately SAID to his London audience:
:, Ihe American system may fail in a
points, but this does not pre-
vent it from being gIoriously success
ful as federation. They have found
q higher political unit for mankind:
they have found name greater than
that OF State; they have created a yir-
tue beyond patriotism. That union
ei nations, which here is wish. a
Utopia, a religion, has advanced a
great step towards practical reality on
the other side Of the Atlantic. There
you ihave already what seems so
ehlmerical here-States subsisting side
Oy side as amicably as departments or
counties; to protect frontiers ike that
1f rance no more need for Metz or
Strasoourg than on the boundary of
Alddlesex and Hertfordshire; and in
he budget OF States as large as Eng
and no grant for war establish
nent.' To this union of nations.
With resources not to be estimated.
very other civilized nation is con-
rioutlng. Whatever defects we our
elves find In the system, or in the !
way 1t Is administered, ii does not
all to furnish a comfortable shelter
or It's censors, and to attract q steadi-
y Increasing multitude from other
lations tn our shores.