The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1886-12-04
PREDICTION BEING VERIFIED.

fish paper, written in 1858. on
European emigration to the United
States, the writer closes with the
following prophecy Of the future of
this country. His prediction, il not
as yet fully realized, we may safely
say this country is fast approaching
to that degree of increased popnla-
ton, industry, prosperity and wealth
predicted by him
at can not be doubted that, versatile
as they are, they will oon give the
same attention to art which they now
give to more solid but less graceful mat
ters. The incorporation into the COM
munitv Of so large an amount OF emil
grafton from continental cities, educa-
ted in art OF design and contributing by
the pencil and chisel TO the national
love Of show, will hasten the result.
When, in d very distant day, the pral-
ries OF the lake country and the Valley
of the Mississippi shall be peopled with.
$4,000. 900, gathered from all nations,
but guided by the English race and
governed by English traditions-when
the slopes of the Alleghanies and the
Green MOUNTAINS shall be covered with
sheep and their valleys filled with the
best bred stock when The plains of the
South shall he entirely devoted to the
production Of cotton; when the higher
and more delicate branches Of manutac-
ture shall have taken root in Massachu-
sets and the mechanical arts found OF
tirmer stay in Pennsylvania; when the
white man shall have driven the buffa-
10 from the fields which each sitting
sun shadows with the peaks Of the
Rocky Mountains: when cities shall
fringe the Pacific, towns line the banks
Of the Oregon and farms dot the sur
faceof California and the Valley Of the
willamette; when skill shall have sub
dued the mineral wealth of Lake SUI
perior; when commerce shall whiten
every lake and ascend every river of
the country and shall carry its pfoduc-
tons to every cline; when railroads
shall unite the Atlantic with the Paci-
iic and bring every part Of this vast ma
ton into close contact with every other;
when o%pulence shall have given a.home
to art IN these cities and literature
shall have created the traditions which
they lack-What a spectacle may they
not present to the world if, despising
the ~allurenlents of ambition and disre-
garding the erroneous advice of inter-
ested leaders, they are content to reap
the rewards Of their peaceful industry
and to enjoy the blessing which Provi-
derce places within their reachw
TAe remarkable prediction was
written on the completion Of the cen
sus OF 1850, which showed the total
population Of the United States then
70 be over $4,000, 900, Of which
iS,00C,0 600 we're native whites, over
2 100000 foreign born, $1,000 were
of unknown nativity, and $500. 900
were slaves. It appears that he,
tween 1910 and 1850, 1,5G9,s5O
foreigners sryed in the United
States, whence we should conclude
that the emigration before 1910 was
comparatively small. The census Of
1880. gave a population Of 10000.
600, including all classes. 1t will
thus be seen that from 1850 to 1880,
we have attained an increase Of
100000 in our population.
New States and territories are be-
ing created, and populated by intel
ligent and industrious people, and
large cities and towns spring up al.
most yearly in the Northern section
OF oar country, and yet here, in
Louisiana, where the soil and eli
mate are unsurpassed in fertility and
salubrity, we are sorry to state, are
making very poor strides towards
the advancement and improvements
necessary to keep pace with the
times. These new States and terri.
tories are adding wealth and popu.
lation to the nation, by bringing
into requisition, by profitable indus.
try, large quantities Of lands hereto.
fore unoccupied and valueless to the
United States; and with their gigan-
tic system Of railroads and rotor