New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-16

not only salubrious, but more stimulating tnah
has destined the largest and richest region of
the country b be the home Of one nation ana
one only. Severing its home by wide
ocean from the Old World Of Europe on the
east and by still wider one from the haf-old
half-new world OF Asia and Australasia on tne
west, she has made the nation sovereign or us
own fortunes 1t need fear no attacks nor even
any pressure from the military and naval powers
of the Eastern Hemisphere and 1t has niue
temptation to dsspate its strength In contests
with them Thus 1t Is left to itself as no
| great state has ever yet been In the world: thus
its citizens enjoy an opportunity never before
granted 10 n nation OF making their country
what they will to have 1t. These are unequaiieu
advantages. They contain the elements OF I'M,
mense defensive strength. OF immense material
prosperity They disclose an unrvalled Held Tor
the development of an industrial civilization
Nevertheless, students OF history, knowing nov
unpredictable is the action of what we call mora
causes-that IS to say Of emotional and intel
lectual influences contrasted with those rooted
in physical and economic facts-will rot venture
to base upon the most careful survey of the
physical conditions OF America any poiuer
prophecy than this. that not only VIII the state
be powerful and the wealth OF It's citizens pro-
digious but that the nation will probably remain
one IN It's government. and sun more prooao'y
one in speech. In character and In IDEAS.
The next chapter is on The South Since the
War" and consists partly of history OF ne
construction times, and partly Of a critical con-
sideration Of present conditions so lar az II
deals with sectional issues. 1t will probably be
regarded with more favor by certain class OF
Southern than by Northern readers. II was WE'LL
no doubt to mathematics the rascality or car
petbae" rule But simple justice seems also TO
require that the Ku-Klux reign or terror ana the
well-nigh universal debauchment OF the suffrage
should have received more than the nsh'' pass
ing touch Mr. Bryce gives them The indus'rial
renascence of the present day Is well portrayed
and the general estimate of the present anu
future Of the South is hopeful:
Everywhere there is progress: In some regions
such progress that one may fairly can the Sou,"
new country The population is indeed I'M
changed for few settlers come from the NORTH
and no part Of the United States has within the
present century received so small snare oi
European immigration Slavery was 1a'a ue
terrent while 1t lasted. and or late years tiie
climate the presence Of the negro, ana 'he hv'ion
that work was more abundant elsewhere' naNe
continued to defect in more northefN uiitV
ton the stream that flows from Europe bul
the old race. which is. except In IeNas '"heIe
there is a small Mexican and n larger German
elemenO and in Louisiana. a pure Engrsh anu
Scoto-Irsh race. full OF natural strength, ma
been stimulat ted and nvigorated by the chaheea
conditions OF its life 1t sees In the mineral ana
agricultural resources Of its territory prospvo'
of wealth and population rivaing most vi ' ts
Middle and Western States. 1t has recovered itS
fair share of influence in the National Govern
ment 1t has regrets over slavery ior IL leS
opnizes the barbariZing influence that shaver!
exerted Neither does it cherish any dreams oI
separation. 1t has now a pride In the thioi a.
we'll as in its state, and Is In some ways ni ,
/
cIoved by luxury than the rich are there ana
less discouraged by the spread OF social unrest
than the thoughtful have been there bu, ioi or
difficulty the South might well pc thoueh' 10 w
the most promising part OF the Union, that par
whose advance is likely to be sWiftes'' ana "'o9e
prosperity will be not the least secure
That one difficulty is Mr.. Bryce THINKS se'i-
ous one 1t is the presence of 100000 negroes
who's. nresent and future form the theme Of the
last Of the new chapters in this book There are
her If ALL the English people in Queen Annes
time They are however a constantly diinih-
ishing element. In 1850 they were 131 per cent
Of the population OF the whole country; ana III
1890 only l19 per cent. In those ten years theS
increased at the rate Of 1911 per cent, WINE '"e
rate Of the whites was 26.6s-more than twice as
great II we take only the eight placK Sta'es'
the contrast is almost as marked, for the negroes
/ increased by 1871 per cent and the whites py
/ 1858 There is no fear. then. OF the negro popu-
| lation ever outnumberng the white Negro uon-
nation is a fictitious bogy While, however 'he
negroes are comparatively falling behind in num-
bers, they are making extraordinary progress IN
other respects Industrially they are doing we'll
Internationally their achievements are marVellous
Thirty-fve years ago scarcely any negroes were
| in school, in some States II was penal o1ence
! to teach them. Now nearly as large a percentage
Of them as of the whites enrolled at school,
! and while from 1877 10 1889 the white enrolment
| Increased 20 per cent, the negro enrolment IN
creased 113 per cent. Literature is becoming ui-
fused and influential among them, and their re-
ligious condition Is steadily improving. The
social and political outlook is, however to Mr..
Bryce less promising. He does not look Tor
anything like social interminglng OF the races on
equal terms and he is convinced that Tor poNticai
purposes this is bound to remain white mans
country" These two phases-which are the seri-
GUS ones-of the problem he discusses at length
and with impartial fairness. and comes TO these
conclusions:
l. The negro will stay In North America.
q He will stay locally intermixed with the
white population.
g. He will stay socially distinct, as an alien
| element unabsorbed and undesirable.
His position may. however change from What
It is now. Two changes in particular seem prob
able: to-,
! the lower and hotter regions along the coasts OF
/ the Atlantic and the Gulf II Mexico. whether
in the more northerly States, such as Maryiahd
and Missouri he will decrease. may be doubt
full But II is certainly in those souherly regions
that his chief future increase may be expected
| In other words he will be relatively smaller,
and probably much smaller element than AT
present in the whole population north OF latitude
| 36 degrees and relatively larger one south OF
latitude 80 degrees and east OF longitude ~ de-
grees west.
This change will have both Its good and its evil
side 1t may involve less frequent occasions Tor
collision between the two races. and may ais
pose the negroes where they are comparatively
| few to acquesce less reluctantly In white pre-
dominance. But IL will afford scantier oppor-
tunities for the gradual elevation OF the race In
| the districts where they are most numerous.
| Contact with the whites Is the chief condition
! for the progress OF the negro. Where he Is $50
| lated or where he greatly outnumbers the
whites his advance will be retarded. although
! nothing has yet occurred to Justify the fear that
! ne will even along the Gulf coast, or In the sea
islands Of Carolina. sink TO the level OF the
| Haytan.
Another chapter Of present interest is that on
our foreign policy and future territorial ex-
pansion 1t is written largely from British
point Of view as. for example, where the author
argues against the construction OF a powerful