Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-11-28
British View of the Wonderful
Growth of the West.


Whoever carefully examines the sta
tistics showing how the population Of
the United States has grown of late
years, must be impressed with the ra-
pidfty with which the Western States
are outstripping the Southern and
Eastern. The rate of increase in some
of the Southern and Northern States is
almost Identical; for instance, the
Southern State of Mississippi and the
Northern State of New Hampshire are
on par in this respect, while Alabama,
one Of the most backward of the former
States, is not much behind Vermont,
one of the most enterprising of the lat
ter. If Texas be classed among the
Southern States, it may be regarded as
an exception, because it seems to ex-
hibit as rapid progress as any one in
the West, yet when its size is taken
into account. there is nothing very
wonderful in its development. Such
States as Kansas and Illinois, Colorado
and Minnesota, are really conspicuous
in this rivalry, and they bid fair to con-
tinue to be distinguished above the
others. It is with reference to these
Western States that the words OF Mr..
Whittier, in his well-known verses on
the Western Pioneers, are fraught with
perfect truth, for in them the pioneers
are really advancing like the first low
wash of waves where human sea will
soon break. The progress westward is
the more significant because it is en-
phatically progress Of trained and
seasoned men who have learned what
life is in less ,congenial regions, and
who are we'll adapted for bearing with
equanimity and ihardihood the priva-
tons inseparable from new sphere of
existence. The fertile prairies of the
great West are Us inviting to the farmer
who tills the stubborn soil Of New, Eng
land as the virgin land of the seaboara
was to the first settlers OF America.
What proves most attractive to the
European immigrant is not the Western
prairies, but the Rocky Mountain
mines he presses on to mining camp,
hoping to draw prize in the mining
lottery, in preference to settling on q
farm and earning comfortable subsist-
ence by agriculture. In consequence
of this, the absorptive power of these
regions is greatly heightened. There
is always room for newcomers, because
the older hands die of so quickly. A
miners chances of long life are far less
than those of farmer, and it is I'M
likely that we shall see the capacity OF
the West to sustain large population
fully tested till mining holds second
airy rank there among the inducements
to seek new homes. In any case, the
citizens of the United States will doubt
less have ample reason to congratulate
each other as the figures of every sue
ceeding census arc made public. They
are certain to become as numerous rs
the most exacting among them might
desire. We witness their progress with
satisfaction. As they widen the circle
Of their nationality, they at the same
time enlarge the bounds Of our common
race and of our mother tongue. NJ. de
Candolle, the French statistician, esti-
mates that q century hence English will
be the speech of $50, 000, 900 persons,
kGerman of 124, 0O0, 600, and French of
100000. The figures are fanciful,
for it is hardly to be expected that the
increase Of the Englieh-speaking popu-
lation will be maintained at the same
ratio in the future as in the past. But
the notion involved in the forecast is as
gratifying to citizen of the British
Empire as it is to citizen Of the North
American Republic. 1t is asserted that
trade follows the flag. It il certain
that ideas follow the language, and the
increase of the English-speaking people
implies the wider diffusion of the ideas
of well.ordered freedom and continual
improvement, which are the glory of
our race and the source OF its prosperity
and Observation-Disclosures Times.