The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-12-07
The Growth of NatiOus.


The comparisons made at the close
of the last decade by writers wi deal
in figures on u grand scale are fayor&.
bic to the United States. In spite OF
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 ~ prosperous
andremarkable and even Prussia has
been free from the Internal strife
which has made the growth of this
country slower than ii should have
been, and has imposed burdens ell
tirely exceptional in the experience OF
modern nations, Since 1910 the popll-
lation of the United States had ad.
vGncei rom eighteen to forty million;
and since 1850 the estimated value
of property from G,O0O millions to 49,
600 millions. OF the other great na-
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 aud the alienation Of the
p0pulous 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 CouQuests gave her. Germany
had securely laid the foundations of Il
great empire. The physical and NOR
al condition Of her people was every
where improving. Education was al
mOstunivrrsal. Her facilities OF COM
munieati0n were not eXcelled by
chose ofany other country except Bel
gium and England. Her internal
commerce was admirably organized
and growing from day to day with eX-
raorduary rapiity. Her treasury
was 80 well supplied that the loan al-
thori2ed nj the close ofthe war Of 1866
rymaiueda long time unused; while her
people out Of theirample resources not
on greatly enlarged their own manu-
| features, and extended theirOwn means
( of travel aud commerce., but furnish
ed hundreds Of millions for like pur-
poses to the United States. "Out OF
/ the shattered fragments,h Mr.. Carey
wrote four years ago, "which Lately
passed with the world as Germany
/ there has already been created the
most Important empire in Europe
whose power for self defence is Soet
| in the fact that.....the number Of hel
young men who annually attain the
age fitting them for military duty eX'
ceeds that Of France by siXty-eight
. thousand, the mere surplus being suE
iiciont for meeting the wants Of war
sh,uli unfortunately at any tim'
var be uecded.n War has since
como, and the result corresponds t,
tbo prediction.
In sppculaJng ON the worlds pro
.reas, the United States and German,
ARE nearly always placed side by side
! II !, only among ourselves that tn
, growth Dt the nation, not in popU.l
i.on and wealth only, GUt in the be-
clements Of national character, i7 dt
praniatud, There are guicEaNud+ ur
d.roUJ feet ami clouds over our head
.uuq1c,liouahiy. six ycal5 il the Ill
OF nation did not give time cnDur
to recover from the consequences Of
= conflict which had been Iipeuing sine
1857. Butwa have PASSED iba create
danger in settling once for ali tin.
that the nation las poyer TO dpfru
itself. Gnc1mparisOn with fine Uui,c
! States the German union is cr,!d
and ill-assorted combination of state
Professor Seelcy, looking over Il,
world for an example for Euron,
e Ila.sly said to his London audienc,
,TES American system may fail in
. hundred uointe, but this does not prt
vent il from being gloriou4ly succes,
. Nll asa federation, They have fouu