The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-24
Living and DYING Nations.

(From Lord sallsbury's SPECIFY
You may roughly divide the nations OF
the world as the living and the dying.
on one side you have great countries OF
enormous power. growing I'm power every
year. growing in wealth, grow
ing IN dominion. growing in the periec-
ton OF their organization; railways nave
given to them the power 10 concentrate
upon any one point the whole military
force Of their population, and 10 assemble
armies OF the magnitude and power never
dreamed of In the generations that have
gone by; and science has placed In tho
hands Of those armies weapons ever
growing In their efficacy Of destruction,
and. therefore. adding to the power
foarfuly 90 the power-of those who have
the opportunity Of using them. BY the
side Of these splendid organizations OF
which nothing seems 90 diminish the
force, and which present rival claims
which the future may only be able by
a bloody arbitrament 20 adjust there are
a number Of communities which ! can
only describe as dying. though the epith-
e. applies 20 them. OF course. I'm very
different degrees, and with a very diff
ferent amount OF certain application.
They are mainly communities that are
not Christian. but I regret TO say that Is
not exclusively the case. And In these
States Reorganization and decay are adj
Vancing almost as fast as concentration
and increasing power are advancing IN
the living nations that stand opposite
them. Decade after decade they are
weaker, poorer. and less provided with
leading men or Institutions In whom they
can trust. apparently drawing nearer and
ncarr TO their fate. and yet clinging with
f1nrF
have not. In them misgovernment Is
not only not cured but is constantly on
tho increase. The society. and official
society-the administration, is a mass Of
corruption, so that there is no firm ground
on which any hope of reform or restora-
ton could be based, and In their various
degrees they are presenting a terrible
picture TO the more enlightened portion
OF the world. a picture which unf0rtu-
natoly the increase In the means OF our
Information and communication draws
with hrighter-I should say darker-and
more conspicuous lneaments, fin tho facd
OF the eyes Of all nations. and appeals
10 their feelings as we'll as 20 their in
torests. How long this state Of things
is likely TO go on. Of course, 1 do not
attempt to prophecy
All / can indicate is that that process
IS proceeding. that the weak states are
becoming weaker. and the strong states
arc becoming stronger. 1t needs me 10
enter into no detail. and 20 attempt no
specially Of prophecy 10 point out to you
what the inevitable result Of that COM
bined process mnst be. For one reason
or for another-from the necessities OF
politics or under the pretonse of philan-
thropy-for one reason of another the
living nations will gradually encroach on
the territory Of the dying and the seeds
and causes of conflict among civilized ma
lions Will speedily appear. OF course. IL
OF the living nations will be allowed to
have tho profitable monopoly of curing or
cutting up these unfortunate patients
and the controversy as to who shall have
the privilege Of doing so, and In what
manner he shall do it-these things may
introduce causes Of fatal differences be-
tween the great nations whose armies
stand opposite threatening each other
These are the dangers / think. which
threaten as IN the period that is coming
on. 10 is a period which will tax our res
oluti0n, our tenacity. and imperial in
stincts to the utmost. Undoubtedly we
shall not allow England 10 be AZ a disad-
vantage in any Encouragement that may
take place. on the other hand. we shall
not be jealous If desolation and steriity
is removed by the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of a
rival IN regions 20 which our arms cam
not extend.