The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1911-04-06

perlicial estimate would easily mako
the loss at ten million. placing the
population OF 1910 at 1ol.972 2G6-or
about 100000 less than Lincoln's
actual count
The next and last president to show
definite interest In the population
problem was William Mckinley. His
remarks on the subject are historical,
since he was the first Of our chief ex-
ecutives 10 estimate the equation OF
population on the basis OF the mean
ing OF the signature OF the nation, or
the great seal Of the United States.
In 1899, just prior to the census of
guest OF Chicago. He was called upon
to respond to the toast, The Great
Seal Of the United States" and spoke
In part, MS follows:
"On the reverse side OF the great
seal OF the United States authorized
BY congress June 20. 1882, and adopt
ed as the seal Of the United States OF
America after it's formation under the
federal constitution, is pyramid,
sgnifying strength and duration"
Having described the meanings OF
the additional emblem, the president
continued:
In peace we have been signally
blessed, and our progress has gone on
unchecked and ever increasing IN the
Intervening years In boundlcss
wealth of soil and mine and timber
nature has favored us. while all races
Of men Of every nationality and eli
mate have contributed their good
blood TO make the nation what II is.
From 3,92O,214 in 1890, our population
has grown to upward Of G2,G0O, 600 IN
1890, and our estimated population TO-
day made by the governors OF the
states is s7.sO3.231.
I'VE have grown from 10 states to
45. We have annexed every variety Of
territory, from the coral reefs and
cocoanut groves OF Key West to the
icy regions OF northern Alaska"
After dwelling on the immensely OF
the population and its future destiny,
he concluded:
After 1913 years the pyramid stands
unbrolSon. II has had some severe
shocks. but II remains immovable. II
had endured the storms OF war, only
to be stronger. II stands hrmer and
gives greater promise of duration than
when the fathers made 1t the symbol
of their faith"
President Mckinley was correct In
stating that the founders OF our ma
ton adopted the design of an unfn.
ished pyramid, over which was placed
tho eye OF Providence, and beneath It
the date 177G, with later motto set.
ting forth the idea OF new order Of
things" But he omitted to mention
tlat the reverse or pyramid side Of
the great seal was never engraved,
and never employed as part OF the
signature OF the nation. Such Is the
case. however. and therefore the unfn-
ished pyramid is an unknown factor in
heraldIc Americana.
The forefathers intended this device
TO mean that not any generation OF
Americans would see the apex or
crest of population--that It woul1 go
on to eternity, and the cope-stoncs Of
our populations strength and repub-
lican triumphs be placed by divine
and not human hands. 1t was grand
symbolic conception. but eagerness to
possess seal, and slowness in hav-
ing It executed. changed our national
signature from a seal enpendant to
seal enplacard, thus robblng later gen
erations OF splendid emblem OF pow
er and numerical greatness.
Nothing illustrates the magnificent
march of western civilization better
than the discussion in congress imme-
diately following the census of 1880,
and the said discussion also portrays
the progress In transportation, as well
as tho western spread Of population.
At that date Mr.. Smyth of Virginia,