Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-18
PROPHESIED OUR GROWTH.
Thomas Pownall in 1880 Wrote Fore
cast of America

In the month Of January, 1880 Thomas
Pownall, member Of the British Par
lament, who had seen civil service in
various parts Of the American colonies
(now the United States) and who was
also familiar with the course OF the war
(which at that moment really seemed
TO be going against the Amerlcansl
wrote a memorial about America addressed
10 the sovereigns of Europe. Though this
memorial can be found at length IN the
pages Of Bancroft Volume v, Page 335),
the prophecies in il are so striking, the
anticipation OF the America that was TO be
SO elairvoyant, that it Is interesting 70
quote il:
''The system" wrote Pownall, of es-
tablishing colonies in various climates
70 create monopoly Of the peculiar
product Of their labor is ut an end. The
spirit Of commerce hath become pre-
dominant A great and powerful empire
founded in nature and growing INTO an
independent organized being, has taken
it's equal station upon earth. ! see the SIN
rising in the West. The Independence OF
America is fixed as fate She s mistress Of
her own fortune; knows that she is 90;
and will establish her own system and
change the system Of Europe.
fIn this New World growth is founded
the civilizing activity OF the human race
We see all the inhabitants not only free,
but allowing a universal naturalization.
In a country like this, where every man
has the full and free exertion of his powers,
an unabated application and perpetual
struggle sharpen the wits and give con-
stant training to the mind. In this wilder
ness Of woods the settlers try new expert
ments, and the advantage OF their dis
coveries and their own. One sees them
laboring after the plough, as though they
had not an idea beyond the ground they
dwell upon: yet is their mind all the while
enlarging its powers, and their spirit
rises as their improvements advance.
This is no fancy drawing OF what may be
il is an exact portrait OF what actually
exists Many real philosopher, politi
clan. q warrior, emerges out of this wilder
ness, as the seed rises out Of the ground
where il hath lain buried for its season.
I'm agriculture, in mechanic handi-
crafts, the New World hath been led to
MANY improvements of implements,
tools and machines, leading Experience
by the hand 10 many new invention.
The settlers find fragments OF time IN
which thew make most OF the articles OF
personal wear and household use for
home consumption. Here no laws frame
conditions on which man IS 70 exeT-
else this or that trade. Here are no OPP
pressing obstructing dead-dolng laws.
The moment that the progress of civil
ization is ripe for it, manufacturers will
grow and increase with astonishing ex-
uberancy
THE same ingenuity is excited in
shipbuilding; their commerce hath been
striking deep root The nature Of the
coast and the winds renders marine
navigation a perpetual moving inter
course and the nature OF the rivers
renders inland navigation but further
process of that communion; all which
becomes, as it were, one vital prmcl-
pie of hfe, extended through one or
ganized being, one nation. VIII that
most enterprising spirit be stopped at
Cape Horn, or not pass the Cape OF
Good Hope? Before long they will be
found trading in the South Sea, in the
Spice Islands and in China.
This fostering happiness IN North
America doth produce progressive pop
ulations. They have increased nearly
the double in eighteen years. BY con-
slant inter-communlon. America will
every day approach nearer and nearer
TO Europe; unless the great potentates
of Europe can station cherubim at every
avenue with flaming sword that turns
every way, TO prevent mans quitting
this Old World. multitudes of their peo-
pie many of the most useful, enterpris-
ing spirits, will emigrate to the new one.
Much of the active property will go there
also.
THE new empire of America is like a
giant ready to run its course. The fos-
iering care with which the nations of
Europe will nurse it insures its eStab-
lishmeny beyond all doubt or danger"
Set this fine anticipation of America
future glory and influence, much of
which has been realized already and
some more of which may be in process
of realization, over against the gloomy
prophecy of De Tocqucville, which came
much later-in 1895, in which early ruin
and disaster were predicted for the
American democracy. Nomad in
Elau4 an FIra