The Forrest City times., 1893-09-01
Our Responsibility and Our Oppor'
 tunity.


 world's ciyilizstion. In 1901 there were only 20. .520.000 English speaking people. l2.7 per cent of the dominant nations of Europe and America. In 1890 they numbered III 100000. or 2I.1 Der cent of the same nations. an in crease from 127 per cent of 16l ,So0,O 900. to 27.7 per cent of 40l. 100 900, a change from fifth to first place. They do three fifths of all the railroad travel. and own more than two thirds of all rall- roads and of the world $ merchant ton mage. Yet present conditions give An glo Saxon civilization an influence vastly greater than mere numbers and possrssions would indicate.
 American civilization IS the potent factor in the Anglo-Saxon world. No thoroughly civilized nation has larger undivided area. No nation in the world has greater wealth. or contains within itself greater resources or more wealth producing elements. It's agri- culture aloue is capable Of sustaining 900 .0o0 .0O0 people. In 1901 Ameri cans constituted little more than one- fourth of the whole English speaking population: now we are nearly three iifths. While the English speaking people have increased five and one half times, we have increased twelve times From 33 per cent of 16l ,S0O.- GOO, Americans have in less than cen tury become I5 6 per cent of 40l 100 900. They constitute a larger part of the civilized nations than did all English speaking people ninety years ago.
 While Anglo-Saxons have easily out stripped all others, Americans have distanc-d the rest of their own blood. Ang .o-SaxonS lead the world; Ameri- cans head the Anglo Saxon procession. World leadership is upon us. Are we equal to it's tremendous responslbil- ties ?
 N nile population an dnatural resour- ces help in leadership, intelligence and morality art the most powerful ele- ments. Statistics need not be adduced; it is conceded that as a whole our peo- pie are more intelligent and moral than any other, unless very limited numbers are considered. Are condi- tions favorable for perpetuating these essentials of our superiority?
 Our form of government is helpful, for it encourages intelligence. Our public schools provide for the elemen- tary training of all, the colleges for the thorough education of those who as- pire. Our Christianity is strong, ag- gressive. and conservatively liberal. Still. fearful dangers menace our in- stitutions. and are HOW mentioned simply because we can not avert evil unless we realize it's presence and mag ntude.
 The dangers assume different aspects but may in nearly every case be traced to l common origin, namely, popular discontent over inequality of condi- ton, awakened by increased knowl- edge of rights and fuller consciousness of power. Economic relations reveal the difficulty: demagogues propose drastic remedies; practical Christianity, Suud Sanaritan gospel, will effect the cure.
 However, it is not the purpose of this article to discuss methods. but to show the present relations of Arkan- sas to the country at large, her respon- slb,lity and her opportunity.
 First consider what are the danger spots and where they are located. The danger spots are: q Foreign-born pop ulatlon. unassimiated. clinging to the vices of despotism without restraints; i2l llliteracy: (3) Saloons: (4) Decrease in rural population so that good schools and churches can not be sustained in the country; (5) Increase of city lopu- laton SD that lhe ''slums' are crowded with the dtspairing poor and good city government becomes wellnigh imposs- be. Space forbids the discussion of ihese evils. but they will be readily recognized as real and imminent. Where do they exist in greater viru- lrnce? In the North and North West as the following partial statistics show.
 The per cent of foreign boru in the whole United States is l475: but in 20 Northern and Western states the av- craze is .6 $. none less than 20: some aS high as II D; while in II Southern state> the average is A. in several less than one per cent. While the illiteracy of ihe South is greater than that of he North. 1t Is largely due to the presence of negroes who as slaves were Iin- taught; and vet in the above 20 North ern States there is only one school house Ia 3tS inhabitants and in the I l southern states there is one school house to 303. the average in the United Staies btilg one to 290. In the United states one liquor permit Is issued for 262 people: ln the above 20 Northern states there IS one for every 13. while )i the II Southern states only one is issued for 6l people. In tables giving the number of townships and popula- ton i'll the several states it appears hat of ths rural townships which in he last decade lost population the per ceir was much greater in the North ,lian in the South. Throughout the lana the city population has increased