Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-18
TIE FUTURE OF THE NEW WORLD.

TIE FUTURE OF THE NEW WORLD.
The vast resources Of the American CONT
nents, North and South, have ever given
fruitful material to both economist and
dreamer for glorious pictures Of future no
lional prosperity and grandeur. The full
and ever increasing tide Of immigration; the
wonderful material growth Of the New Re-
public; and above all, the spirit Of progress
and of stability, born OF the union OF the
best elements Of the older civilization, and
finding expression In all our institutions and
customs, these are the indications of com
ing national prosperity and splendor which
|, ad writers and orators to speak OF Amerc
as the great nation Of the future" Nor do, 8
tho prophecy to the most practical and I'LL
imaginative mind, wear the aspect of a mere
dream, or an Icarus flight OF patriotic fancy.
Truth is indeed stranger lthan fiction; and
measured by our progress and attainment in
the past, who can say the history of our fu-
ture is overdrawn, even by the widest specu-
latora
We have. been led TO the above line OF
thought by little pamphlet, published
by an English clergyman, the Rev. F. Bar
ham Zinckc. Mr.. Zincke has been very
extensive traveller, and. as he is a keen OBJ
server, and joins unwonted reasoning power
to strong imagination, his notes are of
hardly less value than his theories. His
pamphlet is an extended speculation on the
probable effect within the next century of
the continued growth, at lis present rate, OF
the English speaking Democracy, or, as he
concsely terms it, the "Englshry." He
proceeds, by a series of calculations
which, as they arc nearly all solid figures,
certainly cannot 'lie"-to show that in one
hundred years from to-day, the whole West
ern Hemisphere will be populated by high
ly civilized, English speaking people, united
under one comprehensive Republican form
of government. According TO his calcua.
lions by the year 1880 the United States at
lis present rate of increase will contain a
population Of 0,00O, coo; Canada, "a 0OO-
600; Australia, 4s,OOO,0O0 Soutl, Africa,
1G, 900, 600; aud tie United Kingdom TO-
100000. This will give in all about one
thousand millions of English-speakiDg peo-
Pile, living substantially TN Ter the same in
s'itutons and cherishins the same social and
political ideas.
SO far, he confines himself to pure proba-
bility. No one will question, however START
ling it may seem at first glance, the conclu-
sion of Mr. Zinckc. 1t is every way likely that
the prophecy will be fulliled-indeed, it is
rapidly being fulfilled. if statistics are
worth anything. The Republican form Of
government is practically coming to be the
criterion of all government. What is Grea,
Britain's to-day but government of and by
the people, with an executive head whose
permanency is very properly SET off by its
rcmoentss from the Legislative body.
But when Mr.. Zncke comes to speak Of
the social life and character of this great En-
glish speaking family, we think his imagin-
alton grows warm, TO the imminent danger
of melting the wax of his aspiring wings
"Thcre will be-" he says, "almost no poor
certainly no paupers 10 savages, no serfs
not many drones or sybari,es MI able to rcaC
and write, and determined toturn The Sc inslru
mcnts of knowledge 10 excellent account.
We fail to see the data upon which our re
verend dieamer-for dreamer he cerlainl,
is, al this stage POUNDS so glowing proph
ecy. The rate of increase" upon which hi
has so far, basel his argument, would no
seem 10 bear him out heIc. 1t is lament
able fact that modern civil cation does no
abolish poverty, savagery, crime and Hitter
acy III the same ratio with which i
increases The n,atcrisl prosperity of lh'
nations as whole, aad provides proper con
diti0ns for the rapid and effective propaga
ton OF the race. In one hundred years thu
English speaking nations will doubtless b
the leading people of the world, and viii
probably so far as the western hemisphere Il
concerned, DC united under common form
of republican government but that Will
the numerical extension Of the FACE, and TIL
growth of democracy, Tic much desired mil
leuluH lhy NC cApcCltu, We hithtiy lucs
ton. Social conditions may be vastly i'm
proved-probably will be but they may no
be. There are only variable and uncertain
data upon which TO found statement.
Sir. ZiRcKc's picture of the prevailing SO
cial type is likely one, and complimentary t.
our own form OF society. The American
farmer, he thinks. will be the Prevailing
dominating type. The vast majoril,
will spend their lives in the cultivation o
their own lands with their own bands in tn
manner of what he calls the "opcn-handet
American farmer,r
A picture ct once Arcadan and practical
Let us hope that, like the renowned kncker
booker sage, Olaife the Dreamer, our fanci
ful English traveller hath fallen asleep upci
the smoke-wr eathed border Of great ant
| olorioue realitv