The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-07-26
TIE WONDER THAT SHALL
BE

How long it will be before letters of
administration are taken out on the es-
tates of the Sultan it is impossible to say !;
but it cannot be long and when it is done
European powers will add to their pre-
sent Asiatic and African possessions
Syria, Armenia, the Euphrates Valley,
the region formerly known as Asia Minor,
and the whole of North Africa, including
Egypt and her extensive territory ex-
tending south of the equator. Persia and
Afghanistan will follow.
If one of us living to-day could return
to the earth hundred years hence, it
would be very interesting to contemplate
the condition Of the world at that time
How great will be the change What
science will have wrought in that inter
val we cannot say, but we know that the
changes will be tremendous, Judging by
the changes which have occurred in the
nineteenth century Two continents, not
to mention Australia, have been popu-
lated in that time by Europeans. On
one of them has grown up the most pow
erful nation of the world. The British
empire in the East has been created
Russia has pushed her boundary to the
frontiers of China. The political power
which conferred at Rome has been over
Swallowed by the growth of the Protes-
tant states of the North. What will be
the condition of Europe hundred years
hence? There will probably not be a
monarchy left-all will be Republican.
What religious changes will take place,
it were difficult to prophesy. Philoso-
phies and speculations that are fashion
able to-day will have given place to
others. What will be the condition of
the United States? The population may
reach two hundred millions. How those
two hundred millions will be governed is
an undetermined problem.
We may safely predict that India,
China, Japan, and all the countries of
Asia will be, at least, nominally Chris
tian Asia will have been Europeanised
or Americanised Africa will be a
Christian continent-also under Euro
pean civilization. The civilization of the
United States will be extended, at least,
to the Isthmus of Panama-Mexico and
Central America will (if our federative
system continue) be represented on the
floor OF Congress- as New Mexico, Ari-
IONA, and California are to-day.
China will probably be great power
and with Christianity and European
civilization, what an element she will be |!
The Evangelical Alliance will hold its
meetings in Picking, Calcutta, Bangkok,
Cairo, Rome, and Bagdad.
The chemistry Of the future may create
revolutions in human society of which we
do not dream. Even to-day, as has been
remarked, it has given US poisons so sub
tie that were we to employ such means
of warfare, we could sail in balloon
over the camp of an enemy and drop
upon it shell, the bursting of which
would kill every human being within
mile of its range. More powerful even
than dynamite, if an ounce of illuminate
Of gold be left in a stoppered bottle, its
grains falling by their own weight will
create a convulsion sufficient to lay all
London in ruins. The chemist can con-
struct shell the size of cricket ball,
which will explode the moment it touches
BE water and overwhelm in flames a
hostile feet.
What shall be the end of that race
which electricity has just begun to run,
who shall tell?
Improvements in the science of medi-
le may have conquered many Of our
most malignant diseases, and human life
may reach an average Of fifty instead of
thirty-fve years.
The Pobtics-or rather the sociolog1b-
OF the future constitutes the most inter
esting field for speculation. Can men
be governed? Can human nature be
taught self-restraint? Can drunkenness
be brought under control? Can capital
and labor be harmonised? Who shall
~ that in a hundred years Religion
may not have manifested new power
over society and the Cburob an ona~o,,,