The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
PREDICTED OUR GLORIES.
OUR NATIONAL GREATNESS As SEEN
Nv PROPHETIC EYES.
The Rev. DIR. 7. j. shRhan Collects Note
worthy Predictions by Statesmen aud
Others of the Great Things in store for

| the Rev. Thomas j Shahan, ID. d., presented
| compilation OF extracts, with deductions and
observations Of his own, from prophetic utterances
| OF past times picturing the glorious career which
| this country is steadily working out for itself
| The paper has been reprinted at Washington
ct n brochure with the title The United States
in European Prophecy" DR. Shnhan opens
| with the observation;
| "a sense Of destiny is one II the strongest psy.
| Geological factors Of history. Prophecy, which il
often faith eloquent, not only impcls men and ma
| tons; ii also sustains The apocalyptic litera-
| tire Of the Jews, the Sibyllinc oraCles the fiery
| menaccs OF the Christian martyrs had their part
| in weakening the Roman vigor, greater than the
visions and prophecies of the dervishes in wrestling
| the Soudan from European control"
DR.. Shahan says that there ARE today few
lines OF national development, actual prospec-
tive that do not to have suggested themselves
| 10 the observing mind at home and abroad be-
fore the opening of this century. That America
would be day the rival Of Europe in trade
and industry seems TO have suggested itself very
early" CUwlcy said that tho cocoa palm alone
would enrich the New World Sir Thomas
Browne was satisfied that the balance OF trade
would one day pass across the Atlantic. Sheridan
told the Commons that America hourly
clearing the paths of unbounded opulence" Sir
Josiah Childs. brewer. OF Southwark whom
Disraeli spoke Of as II true phisophc prcdictor in
II New Discourse of Trade" 1883 said that the
King had no American plantation So apt for the
building OF ships as New England nor none
compnrably so qualified for breeding Of seamen,
not only by reason OF the natural industry Of
the people, but principally by reason Of their
cod and mackerel fisheries" A contemporary
| observed:
so that II should 20 N cultivate among
them the art Of navigation and teach them TO
| have a naval force, they may set up for them
selves and make the greater part Of our West India
| trade preCarious"
| John Adams at Worcester in 1855 said that
| the mastery Of the could not fail to fall to
| America in the contingency Of the conquest Of
| Canada by England. Should this be the case
since We have, may say. all the naval stores OF
the nations in our hands il will be easy to obtain
the mastery OF the seas and then the united forces
Of Europe will not be able to subdue us. The only
way to keep us from setting up for ourselves is to
| dsunite us"
Thomas Pownall, Governor at different times
Of Massachusetts, Bay New Jersey and South
| Carolina in Memorial TO the Sovereigns of
| Europe G7S0). wrote
| THE (greaD Lakes appear TO be the avenue
| the centre OF a dominion whose influence by an
infinite number Of rivers creeks and streams ex-
tends itself through all and every part OF the con-
| tinent, supported by the commune alton of and
| alliance with the waters Of the Mississippi North
| America is become a new primary planet in the
system OF the world, which, while it takes its own
course must have effect the orbit OF every other
| planet and shift the common centre OF gravity Of
| the whole system of the European world. She Is
mistress of her own future, knows that she is so,
| and will actuate that power which she feels she
| hath. as to establish her own system and TO
| change the system Of Europe"
Pownall already forestalls the desire Of W ash
| ington.' DR.. Shahan says that America shall
avoid all 'entangng alliances with European
powers other than commercial 1t Is his belief
| however, that one day there will be rejuncture
| by alliance with England, because of the manifold
similarity OF living and thinking, manners and
| fashions language and old habits of national
love"
Cowley addressing the New World sang:
Long rolling years 81 al late bring on the times.
| Europe. the worlds most noble part shall fail
| Upon her banished gods and virtue call
| At once shall her distracted o 'om bar
totloyn an So to be rI GIed tT,n by you
Wit, learning. virtue. discipline Of war,
| Shall for protection - your world repair
| And AZ a long illuslTous empire there "
Golden in 1910 said Race, religion Ian
guage and tradition are becoming bonds of union
|
John Bright at Birmingham in 1862 is quoted:
81 have a far other and far brighter vision be-
| fore my gaze 1t may be but vision, but will
| cherish it. / vast confederation stretch
ing from the frozen North in unbrokcn line to the
| glowing South, and from the wild pillows OF the
| Atlantic westward to the calmer waters OF the
| Pacific MAN, and see one people and
| one law and one language, and one faith and over
all that wide continent the home Of freedom and
tho refuge for the oppressed Of every race and Of
| every cline"
| In Burnaby's Travels Through the Middle
| Settlements of North America in 1859 and l76O" is
| written An idea, strange as it is visionary has
entered into the minds Of the generality Of man
| kind. that empire is travelling westward: and
| every one is looking forward with eager and inn
| patient expectation TO that destined moment hen
America is to give the law to the rest of the world
| The Able Gregoire. following in one or two
points upon Champlain, wrote in 1908;
| When an energetic and powerful nation, TO
which everything presages high desunies, stretch
| ing It's arms upon the two oceans Atlantic and
| Pacific shall direct its vessels from one % the
| other by an abridged route,-it may be in cutting
the Isthmus of Panama: it may DO in forming a
canal communicating. az has been proposed by
the River ST. John and the Lake Of Nicarag
1t will change the face of the commercial world and
the face of empires Who knows il America will
not then ayenge the outragcs she has received
and II our old Europe, placed in the rank of a
| subaltern, will not become a colony OF the New
| World?"
! Hume wrote TO Gibbon in 1867.
our solid and unceasng establishments In
America where sc need less dread the foundations
| Of barbarans, promise II superior stability and du
ration to the English language"
John Adams wrote from London in 1880.
English is destined to BE- in the next and sue
cceding centuries more generally the language OF
the world than Latin was in the past Of French in
| the present age. The reason Of this is Obvious
| because the increasing population OF America,
and their universal connection and correspond
ence with all nations will, aided by the influence
Of Engl land in the world, whether great or small
force their language into general Use. in spite OF
all the obstacles that may be thrown in their way,
| il any such there should be-
Quite in line with this prophecy" DR.. Shahau
remarks, "is the admission Of the German phil,
ologist Grimm, that this language seems chosen,
like its people, to rule in future times In a still