The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-05-17

loft over which population Inny freely
spread, arc purchasing land In the
United States. This movement has
been going on quietly for some years,
until how there il scarcely rich En-
glish peer or wealthy English banker
who does not, either individually or as
member Of nomc syndicate, own
tract Of our new land, md tho pnr-
chase for foreign account ii going on
every dny, II IL with these absentee
lan'llotls TINT our coming millions
must mako terms.
Nor must IL bc forgotten TINT, while
our population IL increasing. aud our
"Nilh lands nrc being appropriated,
the productive capacity of orr soil il
being steadily reduced, which, praeti.
cally, amounts to tho same thing ~ re-
dncinv it, quantity. Speaking. gene
rally. the agriculture of the United
State, Il m exhaustive agriculture. We
Il, 10 return TO the earth what we take
from II: each crop that il harvested
leaves tho soil the poorer. We nrc cut
ting down forests which wc do not re-
plant; Wc are shipping abroad, in wheat
and cotton and tobacco and meat, or
ilnshng into the sea through the sewers
~ our great cities, the elements Of fer
tilty TINT have been imbedded in tho
aoil ly tho slow process Of nature, act.
ing for long nges
The ua, II near NJ hand when IL will
he no longer possible for our increasing
population to freely expand over new
land: when wo shall need for our own
millions tho immense surplus of food
stuils now exported: when we shall not
only begin to feel that social pressure
which comes when natural resources
are all monorolizcd, but when increas-
ing social pressure here will increase
social pressure in Europe. How mo-
mentons Il this fact we begin to realize
when re east about for such another
outlet rs tho United States has fur
nished. We look in vain. The British
possessions to tho north Of us embrace
| comparatively little arabic land; the
valleys of tho Saskatchewan and tho
Red River ARE being already taken up,
md land speculation IL already raging
there in fever. Mexico offers opportuni-
ties for American enterprise and Amer
lean capital and American trade, but
scarcely for American emigration.
| There II some room for onr settlers in
that northern zone that has been kept
aesolatc by fierce Indians; but it is
| very littla. The table land of Mexico
and those portions of Central and South
America suited to our people are already
we'll filled Ivy n population whom We
cannot displace unless. "a the Saxons
displaced the ancient Rritons, by war
Of determination. Anglo.SaAon capital
and enterprise and influence will doubt
| less dominate ,N.sc regions, and mans
| of our people will 80 there; hut It will
he As Englishmen 20 to India or British
/ Guinea.
Where land il already granted and
where peon labor can be had for I
song. no such emigration can take place
IA that which has been pushing its wa,
westward over the United States. Ss
OF Africa. Our race has made a rer
mnnent lodgment an Tho southern ex
tr,mitv of that vast continent, but IL.
northern advance is met hv tropica
heSts and the presence OF races o
strorg vitality. On the north the Latil
branches Of the European family seen
to have again become acchmatcd, ati,
viii probably in time revive tho ancien
pepuleusness and importance of Med
itsrranean Africa: but /; will scarccl,
furnish an cutie: fei more than them
A for Equatorial Africa, though VI
may explore and ciNilise aal develop
w canaut coloaize it in tho face Of tn,
climate and &C races that incrcas
rather than disappear in presence Q
tho white man. Australia is little NOR
than II rim of arabic land set round
aescr, basin, which anything like th'
emigratioa which Europe Is pouring
on America would soon we'll populate
Thus w come again to that greatest Q
tho continents, from which our rae
once started on its westward way. Asi
mother If peoples and religions
, which vet contains the greater part q
! tho human raee~-millioas who live an
,lie III all hut utter Inconsistencies q
aar modern world. In the awakeam
og those peoples hy the impact If Nes,
ern civilization lies ono of tho creates
!, problems Of tho future.
lut /, Is not my purpose to enter int
, such speculations. What l want
paiat out il that we ase very soon I
lose one Of tho most-importaat cond
: ! tians under which our civilization Ia
: leca developing that possibility I
J eNnsnsian over virgin soil that has give
svope nna freedom to American lif'
AMI relieved >a.Sai pressure upon I'll
: most pragres,isc European nations
:, | Tendencies. harmless under this cond
|. ton. may become most dangerous whs
: ii i changed. Ganpowaer does II
! eAnlele until it is confined. You ms
n.st YOUR hand on the slowls-asccndm
Jaw of hydraulic press. 1t will on
! gentlv raise it. En-. wait moment Il
: il meets reSistanee'