The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-07-04
OUR WONDERFUL GROWTH


closes the most extraordinary national de-
velopment Of which history has any ac-
count, every sheet OF it aiiording new food
for reflection and causes for wonder. We
are in deed and in truth the asylum for the
oppressed and the refuge Of nations, and in
q decade or two more We are certain to be-
come the most mixed people on earth. What
effect such fusion with foreign elements
will have upon our institutions or character
of manhood, it is, Of course, impossi-
all now to imagine, but the gratifying fea-
ture in the matter is the fact that the great
majority Of our immigrants spring from
our own original source, the sturdy Anglo
Saxon, are by nature true lovers Of liberty
aud hardy and fitted for the accomplish
ment Of the highest aims and civilization.
One thing, however, we may rest assured
Of The thought Of this country, from the
great multiplicity Of races and creeds will
inevitably become the most liberal OF
the world as regards religion, politics
and society, and intolerance or oppres-
sion will be impossible. We may
become wonderfully mixed, but we con
rest assured OF perfect freedom. The fear
that the free introduction Of foreign ele-
ments and ideas might weaken the faith in
our own peculiar modes of belief and politi-
cal institutions is not founded in reason, as
tho difference aud constant friction OF
views will have no other possible effect
than to bcget constantly greater tolerance
and freedom. In short, We may continue
to welcome the world to our shores with
the assurance that every increasing tide Of
humanity only brings us more ideas, more
muscle, and ultimately greater wealth
and freedom. In view OF these
facts it is interesting to glance at the cen
sus reports to see how rapidly and wonder
fully we are growing. Nothing better illus
trates the real strength and significance o
a nation than its voting population. 1t il
the directest practical way of determining
what is the nations power and bona fid'
dependence. In other countries it is dill
cult to get accurate figures in the premises
but by our system Of universal suffrage i
is comparatively easy here. The round fig
ufes just issued by the departments
as to our voting population
place the total number at II,
3i3,005. Excluding the more aged Il
will DO seen that we could put all army o
at least 100000 men in the field, some
thing that perhaps no other country coult
do. OF this IL 100000 and over, 100000 ar,
foreign born. Our present white mali
adult foreign population is therefore greater
than the total population Of the thirteei
colonies which revolted from GEORGE III
and this fact alone is one OF the most re
markable in history and calculated to Sc
reflective men to thinking. In Texas W,
have 3el, 1877 men over II years of age
some 5000 Of them being foreign born
In Wisconsin the foreigners exceed thu
native born by 900. These are wonder
full facts, and, as before suggested, NOR
wildly illustrate our great growth than an!
other facts ofour history. The rapid intro
duction Of the foreign element is seen at
glance, and the indications are now tina
this elment will continue regularly to be
como larger year by year, until, in the mex
ten years it is likely We may have NOR
foreign born voters than native. The re
suits no man can now calcu
late, but the fact is beyou
dispute that our politicians. literati, bust
ness and thinking men must turn tn cir al
tention more and more to Europea
thought and customs if they would cor
tinue to lead and appreciate the sentiment
wants and peculiarities Of our population
of the future. We may desire to be e,
elusive, and refrain from participating i
the broils and confused complications {
the rest of the world, but the very growt
and organization of our society in fe
years will force us into a lively intere.
therein and prevent neutrality. W
are more rapidly becoming cosmopolitan a
people, than any other on the globe, an,
the influences of this fact upon our though
and manners quarter OF a century henC
will be simply incalculable. In the meal
time the growth, which is so grand and a
most perceptible, is the most remarkab
and pregnant fact of the century, and eac
new inquiry therein only discloscs ne
caSses for wonder.