Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-08-17
REVOLUTIONIZING EUROPE

! A writer for the Fortnightly ReUie,
! (English), after reviewing the curren
politics of France, Germany, Austria
Spain and Italy, turns to Americf
with the following words:
at is relief to turn from the bick
ering of the jealous nations of the Ole
World to the spectacle which is pre-
sented to US across the Atlantic. The
future is there, and as we contemplate
the majestic proportions of the great
western republic, with its population
of fifty millions rapidly swelling tc
double that total, we feel that here we
have the factor that is destined to rev
olutionize the world. The influence Of
the United States upon Europe was by
no means Insignificant even in the first
French Revolution, but it was small
compared with that which it is exercis.
ing to-day, but was as nothing com.
pared with the power which it will
WELD tomorrow. We feel the subtle
but direct influence of America in al
most every European State The most
significant sight afforded US this year,
although one of the least noticed, is
the enormous exodus which goes on
increasingly from the Old World TO the
New. In numerical proportions the
exodus of the Children of Israel to the
promised land was mere bagatelle
compared with the vast and fertilizing
stream of human life which is being
emptied upon the prairies of the west.
The rate of immigration into New
York will this year exceed two thou
sand a day. Altogether the United
States have received an overflow of the
surplus population of Europe exceed
ing ten million persons in the last fifty
years, Hitherto America has been but
as the safety-valve of the older world.
The outcasts, the prescribed, the OPP
pressed, and the hunger-smitten of Eu-
rope, have found in the American re-
public safe shelter and Widespread
table "The Providence that ordains
all things" said an American recently,
"has bestowed upon America land
enough to give every European peas
ant farm 1t seems now as if every
peasant is about to claim his guerdon." "
The rush across the Atlantic is unpre-
cedented. One-fortieth of the entire
population OF Sweden has booked pas
sages to New York eff this goes on
unchecked" said German, Sin few
years all Germany will be found in
America" Already Ireland beyond
the sea counts more sons of Irish de-
scent than the Green Isle itself Even
from little Switzerland last year went
seven thousand emigrants to the re-
publics of the west. More than fifty
per cent. of the emigrants are able-bod
led men under forty years of age. The
emigrants are the cream of the popula-
tion of the countries which they desert.
The "frecklcss loon" stays at home.
1t is the man of intelligence, enterprise
and energy who emigrates. 1t is obvi-
GUS tnat so vast disturbance of the
balance of population must in the long
run produce corresponding changes in
the political and economical situation.
The reflex action of the New World
upon the Old, already great, is daily
increasing. Everywhere American
competition, American emigration, or
American ideas are at work disintegra-
ting the fabric of European society, and
perplexing the statesmen Of the older
world with thoughts of change. The
constant drain Of his best fighting men
to the New World is one of the great
est grievances which Prince Bismarck
cherishes against Providence, and his
pcrplexity is more or less shared by
the masters of many legions all over
Europe In Ireland we are face to
face with movement which owes its
origin to the Irish Americans, who
supply it with its organ, its funds, and
it's leaders The same phenomenon
may yet be witnessed in Germany 1t
is already being witnessed in the latest
agitation against Austrian rule in the
Bocche di Cattaro, where the noun
taineers are said to be melted to revolt
by returned emigrants from America,
who have brought with them the dem
ocratic ideas of the west. American
influence moulded the Bulgarian con-
stitution, and although that has proved
no great success, being too much in ad-
vance of the condition of the popula-
tion, it is significant hint of things
which are to come. SO far from allow
ing the Europeans who are settling in
millions within their borders to Euro
peanize the States, the States bid fair
to Americanize Europe.
American influence is most directly
felt in the economical region, but the
political effects of the economic revolu-
tion which is being wrought by Amer
lean competition are already becoming
perceptible. The American farmer is
undermining the foundations of the
English aristocratic system. While
driving his plough through the virgin
prairie, he is uprooting the feudal insti.
tutions which linger beyond their time
i -. ko oIlo, ,.,orII