The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-01
LOOKING AHEAD.

From Letter by Francis wayland Glen
In the New York Sun.
The Western Hemisphere, including the
iH'ands adjacent thereto upon the east
and west, which belong to It, as satel-
| lites belong to planet has an area ot
more than 100000 square miles, equal
| to four times the area of Europe AT the
close OF the present century the popula-
tion of the hemisphere will exceed 1885,
| 100000. The population of Europe at that
| time will be nearly, or quite 4OO,OW,oW.
| If this hemisphere had the same number
| of inhabitants per square mile as Europe
| now has, the total population would be
| 1900 900, ,0O0-equal to the entire popula-
| ton of the earth at the present time. The
opportunities for growth and develop
| ment in the Americas, it will be seen ut
| a glance, are practically unlimited.
The majority party in the republic in
| national convention assembled at st.
| Louis in June last declared in plain
| terms in favor of the withdrawal of all
| European powers from this hemisphere
and for the political union of the United
| States Canada and Newfoundland, or, in
! other words, the creation of continental
| republic extending from Newfoundland
to Vancouver and from the Gulf of Mex
! leo to the Arctic sea--in short, for con-
| tinental union. This Is not by any
means a new departure or policy. The
! Continental congress at its first session
| in 1776 sent Benjamin Franklin, John
| Carroll and Samuel Chase to Quebec to
| urge the Canadian people to cast in their
| lot with their own continent and form
| continental republic The st. Louis con
vention, therefore, only reafiirmed the
| policy of the founders of this republic.
| The object of such union is to add TO
the influence, prestige and power of gov
| erninent by the people, to reduce the per
| capita cost of government and defence,
| and to remove from this continent as
! nearly as possible all conflicting and dis
turbng elements and political issues.
When our forefathers proposed to unite
| the whole continent under one repub-
lican administration the entire popula-
| ton did not exceed 100000 and steam
and electricity as forces to be directed
and controlled by man for his service
were comparatively unknown Had the
mission of Franklin, Carroll and Chase
| been successful the northern half or
this continent would have been devel-
| oped in the same manner as the south
ern half has been, and the republic there
| by greatly strengthened. The union
| which was formed by our forefathers has
proved to be a source of strength in
| fuence and power, but never a source of
| weakness. 1t gave the new nation credit,
invited immigration, settlement, develop
ment and capital British America re-
mained until 1867 divided into seven in
| dependent states or provinces, and the
result is that the population and wealth
of the United States is fourteen times
| that of Canada.
The province of Quebec has an area
| of 27,OO0 square miles In 1881 1t had
population of 5000. It's present popu-
lation does not exceed 100000 1t com
mands the mouth the St. Lawrence
river, the natural outlet and inlet of the
commerce of the entire northwest of
Canada and the United States. The ell
mate is healthful, the soil fertile, the
fisheries of the province of great value,
| and it's mineral and timber resources are
| unsurpassed. Massachusetts has an area
of 5000 square miles. In 1880 1t had ap opu-
| lation of 6lO 900. 1t will be observed that
Quebec is twenty times larger than
| the state of Massachusetts,; nevertheless
the true value of the property of the
state is nearly as great as that OF the
| whole dominion. New York has an area
| of A. 900 square miles. The population In
1880 was 1873, 900. The present population
of the state is 6,S27 $50, or nearly 100000
more than the population of the domin-
ion. The true value of the property OF
| New York greatly exceeds the value Of
the property of the whole dominion. Illi-
nois has an area of 81, 900 square miles. Its
population in 1880 was $4,000. In 1896
it was 1900, equal to that of Canada
Iowa has an area of $1,000 square miles
In 1910 it had population of $4,000. IN
1896 the population was 2,O5S, 900. Cali
fornia has an area of 15S 900 square miles
In 1850 the population was $1,000. In 1896
it was 100000. Minnesota has an area
of S1,00 square miles. In 1850 the popula-
tion did not exceed 5000. In 1896 1t was
1,574OOO, or 74,OOO greater than the pro-
vince of Quebec. These facts indicate
the value of the union formed in lI16 in
promoting the settlement. development
and creation of wealth within this repub-
lie. The wisdom of our forefathers in
proposing union to the Canadians in T16
has been vindicated, and the folly of the
Canadians in refusing to accept the over
lures made to them has been proved and
| established.
If political union has proved a great
blessing in North America, why should It
not also prove blessing in Central and
South America. The population of the
| United States, Canada, Newfoundland,
Hawaii, and the West Indies in 1900 will
| exceed S0,00O 900. If the increase In popu-
laton is 20 per cent. for each ten years,
in 1850 the population will be 200, 900, 900.
The population Of Mexico, Guatemala,
| Honduras, Nicaragua, Salvador and
| COSTA MICA III lSUO Will IlOt De ICES lhoii
$1,000, 600. If the increase in the popula-
tion of these six republics increases at
the rate of 20 per cent. for each decade,
their population in 1850 will be AZ, OOO, 900.
Will not the best interests OF the people
of Mexico and Central America be pro-
NOTED by political union? The popula-
tion of the ten republics which now occu-
py and control South America is 4O,0OO,OO0.
If the increase is 20 per cent. for each
decade of years, the population In 1850
will be 100000 900. VIII not their political
union give stability to government by the
people in South America and invite immi-
grafton, development and capital far
more rapidly than if they continue as
now, separate and Independent republics
Including San Domingo, Hayu and
Hawaii, there are twenty republics at the
present time in the Western Hemisphere.
VIII it not give influence, prestige and
power to government by the people
throughout the world if they are reduced
by voluntary political union to three?
And is it not a wise policy for this, the
representative republic of the world, by
honorable peaceful and lawful means to
urge the union as above proposed?
BETRAYED BY A QUESTION.
When Senator Harris was last at Nash
ville Tenn, he fell into the company OF
Of ha at with whom