The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-24
THE FRUIT OF HONORABLE
DIPLOMACY.

Sir Robert Grinen. the eminent English
statistician, recently gave figures showing
the comparative growth of population of
the nations which occupy foremost rank
in the modern world. During the past CEN
tury the population Of the United States
has increased from 100000 to 7e.eOo. 600;
that of the English-speaking part of the
British empire from 100000 TO 5000, 900:
that Of Germany from 100000 to 55,0o0.O00;
that of France from 100000 to 4o.0OO.O 900:
that Of Russia from 100000 to 135, c0, O0.
Russia, however, does not stand for nearly
as much in the economic progress of the
world as its numbers would indicate.
Whatever economic Importance it may
nave pertains rather to the far East than
to the arena Of the worlds activity.
II was not necessary that Sir Robert
should inform Europe that during the next
century the United States will show a
much more rapid increase of population
than Europe, since every intelligent man
who reads such figures as he presents
must know that this country will outstrip
all other nations which now dominate the
worlds affairs. France, because OF its bur-
den Of public debt and its standstill in pop
~ulation, cannot be counted as a controlling
element In the future. Great Britain and
Germany must be, yet it counts against
them at the outset that neither of them
can feed the population il now has and that
each must look to the United States as the
most reliable source from which TO derive
the food they cannot produce. Unless these
nations obtain colonies which can give
them food. the greater their growth here
after the greater their dependence upon
the United States.
While il is true that nearly all OF the
lands which can be cultivated under pres
ent conditions are occupied, the time APP
pears to be near when areas within the
boundaries of the United States as large as
empires in Europe may be made habit
able. The gradual bringing to the uses Of
mankind the millions of acres of arid lands
will open a field for the expansion of popu-
lation where no European nation can have
a square mile of territory for increasing
numbers Already their rulers and states
Llicl JUS SCC ludI OSlOIC tHc IIiiuulC VI liz
twentieth century shall nave been reached
the population of the United States will be
greater than that of both Great Britain and
Germany. Furthermore, they must see that
every million added to their population
must increase their depedence Upon us,
since with our superior systems of bringing
the products of the interior of the country
to the coast the United States will con-
tinue to furnish the greater part of the
food that the countries named must pur-
chase from other nations.
In view of our present ~ascendency over
European nations and of the certainty
that it will increase with the years. it is
not surprising that persons and papers in
Europe should express anxiety and a little
i'll will when they comprehend the inevi-
table. On the other hand, it is a high trib-
ute TO the confidence which the rulers and
governments of European nations have in
the United States that they do not unite
in some plan 10 check the growing power
or the United States. Individuals and
newspapers express alarm in view of our
power as an industrial competitor, but no
| ruler or responsible statesman in Europe
has expressed the least solicitude lest the
United States use its growing power TO
curtaiI the trade or influence or to usurp
authority over any other nation. Any one
of them would prefer that the United
States should hold the Philippines or con-
struct the isthmian canal than that any
1 o4To. U-nro1oo, M ebot.1d H0Il ~
construct. This is because European rulers
have faith in the integrity and good will
Of the United States, and, as Secretary
Hay declared the other day, the golden rule
! is ol1r nnlicv in dinlnmacv-