The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-17
Tendencies
and Strong Move
ments.
GREAT RELIGIOUS AWAKENING.
Watchword Of Our Time,
Says DR.. Conrad, is a
"Fair Chance"

In Old South church yesterday morn
ing Rev. DR.. A. q. Conrad delivered a
sermon on Some signs of the times"
taking for his text, Can We not discern
the signs of the times" Matt. 1873. He
said:
This is a period of striking tendencies
and strong movements. In the politi-
cal world there are tendencies which
are significant. On the whole the
omens are favorable. The attitude of
the most prominent nations toward
prominent political questions is impor-
tant. The passing of decayed nations
IS matter of profound significance.
EVERY important and prominent nation
OF the earth is presenting characteris-
tics of immense interest to the student
Of sociology and political economy.
Inc political conditions cannot be we'll
understood without a knowledge of the
worlds statistics. AT the conclusion of
Inc year 1895 many investigators gave
the results of painstaking inquiry
There was difference of between one
and two hundred million in the esti-
mates, even of experts, regarding the
worlds population. Won Firck thinks
the population is 1856, 700, 600 Another
makes it 1850, 100000. In Europe, 377.-
100000, in Asia 904, 600, 900, in Africa
100000, in America, Isl. 700. 900, in
Australia and Polynesia, 3, 700 900. Asia
mas more than half the entire pop
ulation of the globe America
has but one eleventh. Europe has one
fourth. Europe and America together
contain about one-third. Asiatic bar
harism represents the large part of the
world.
This is distinctively a political era,
In which the world is more highly and
more perfectly organized than ever be-
fore. There are 10 great states which
nave in them population of more than
3O,OO0,OO0 each The Chinese empire
has 4S0,000,00O, the British Empire 1885,
100000 the Russian empire 1856 000. 000
and the United States has more than
7O,OOO,O00. 1t is generally conceded
that Great Britain is the supreme
world-power but Great Britain has
100000 inhabitants in Europe and
291, 100000 in Asia. There are 10 states
with less than 80 and more than 10
millions inhabitants, and there are Of
states with less than 10 million each
containing total of 123,000,000.
China and Great Britain have con-
troll OF over half the worlds population
Add Russia to these and we find a
control of over 100000, 900 people.
OF every seven people in the world two
are Cinnamon, and of every nine peo-
pie two are under the control of the
British government In point of num-
bers the United States does not stand
so prominent. We have one in every
% of the total number on the globe
The Teutonic people are the dominant
~ fl1n avid Toll
naVia, Great Britain and the United
States represent the dominant infu-
ence on the earth. 1t is predicted that
the time is not far distant when there
Will be a tremendous contest for SUI
premacy between the Teuton and the
Slav, or between the Anglo-Saxon and
the Slav Russia represents the larg-
est portion of the Slavic races.
1t is worthy of note that the pro
gressive nations are Christian De-
caying nations are those who have not
read the signs of the times. who have
builded up walls to prevent the en-
croachment of the foreigner, and what
they designed for their protection has
resulted in their decay. A law in no
litical direction is that there must be
progress in order to live; retrogression
or stagnation simply means death. The
highly organized character of the
world at the present time makes posi-
BILE some political amalgamations
winch could not have been accom-
plished years ago. The more civilized
men become, the more humane they
are. Though we are seemingly but a
step removed from barbarism, yet the
progress is greater than may at first
appear.
Even the thought of international DO
litical cooperation has formerly been
entertained by only few enthusiasts,
while today it is coming to have very
general recognition by the enlightened
and educated people of all countries
There are inequalities and iniustices of
the most shameful kind in many of
the highly civilized nations. Tyranny
is not merely matter of history, but
the signs OF the times are in the ma
ture OF warning to any intolerance
or selfish imperialism Enlightened
people who have not been conscious of
their power will not submit to oppres-
sion without protest. A larger politi-
cal equality is sure to be experienced.
even where the monarchical form of
government obtains.
The cost of keeping the world at
peace or prepared for war is simply
tremendous. The work of the confer
ence at The Hague is a greater one
than most of us can at all con2re-
hand. The intolerable burden of ex-
pense which is resting upon most of
the nations of the globe makes it. per-
fectly clear that the popular vote
would be in favor of international ar
bitration. The stupendous folly of war
is coming to be appreciated. It's in
sanity, its absurdity find increasing
emphasis and exposition. The number
of men whose energies are turned
away from tndustrio pursuits is start
ling, and the expense battles human
appreciation and apprehension.
Russia stands with an army of 1872 S15
men and an annual expense of $3.50 O0O,-
COO. France follows with an army of
GIT 900 and an expenditure of $1S5, 00O,-
900; Germany, $1,000 men and $5S 000,-
900: Great Britain 39S, 200 men and SPOIL
100000; Italy, $4,000 men, $77 900, 0O0
Austria 367 900 men and 100000 000
Spain. 1873, 900 men, $S2,OOO,OOO and Unit
ed States, 10000 men. s3000O.000.