Year: 1879




Whoever carefully examines the statistics


showing how the population of the United


States has grown of late years, must be


impressed with the rapidity with which


tbs Western States are outstripping the
Southern and Eastern. The rate of in
crease In some of the Southern and North
ern States is almost identical; for in
stance, the Southern State of Mississippi
and the Northern State of New Hamp-
shire are on . par in this respect, while
Alabama, one of the most backward Of
the former, States, is not much behind
Vermont, one Of the most enterprising of
the latter. If Texas be classed amsng the
Southern States, it may be regarded as an
exception, because it seems to exhibit as
rapid progress as any one in the West yet
when its size is taken into account there
is nothing very wonderful in it's develop
ment. Such States as Kansas and Illinois,
Colorado and Minnesota are really conspic-
uous in this rivalry, and they bid fair to
continue to be distinguished among the
others. It is with reference to these West
ern States that che words Of MIR. Whittier,
in his well-known verses ON the Western
Pioneers, are fraught with perfect truth,
for in them the pioneers are really advan-
cling like the first low wash of
waves where q human sea will soon break.
The progress westward is more significant
because it is emphatically q progress of
trained and seasoned men who have learn
ed what life Is in less congenial regions,
and who are well adapted for bearing with
and hardiheod the privations
lnseparable from q new sphere Of existence.
The fertile prairies of the great West are
as inviting to the farmer who tills the stub
born soil of New England as the virgin
land of the seaboard was to the first set
tiers in America. What proves most at
tractive to the European immigrant is not
the Western prairies, but the Rocky Noun
tain mines he presses on to q mining
camp. hoping to draw prize in the mi
ming lottery in preference to settling on
farm and earning comfortable subsist-
snce by agriculture. In consequence of
this, the absorptive power Of these regions
is greatly heightened. There is always
room for new corners, because the old ones
die off so quickly. A miners chances of
long life are far less than those of farm
Or, and it is unlikely that we shall see the
capacity of the West to sustain large
population fully tested until mining there
holds secondary rank among the induce.
ments to seek new homes. In any case the
citizens Of the United States will doubtless
have ample reason to congratulate each
other as the figures of every succeeding
,ansus are made public. They are certain
10 become as numerous as the most exact
ing among them might desire. We wit
aess their progress with satisfaction. AS
hey widen the circle of their nationality,
they at the same time enlarge the bounds |
Of our common race and of our mother |
tongue. M. de Candolle, the French stat
sticlan, estimates that century hence |
English will be the speech of $50, 600, 600 |
persons, German of 124, 900, 600 and French
Of SO, 900, 600. The figures are fanciful.
for it is hardly TO be expected that the in
crease of the speaking Of the English Ian
guage will be maintained at the same ratio
In the future as in the past. But the no.
tion nvolved IN the forecast is as gratify-
ing to citizen of the British Empire as it
Is to citizen of the North American Re-
public. 1t is asserted that trade follows
the flag. 1t is certain that ideas follow the
language, and the increase of tho English
speaking people implies the wider diffusion
Of the ideas of well-ordered freedom and
continual improvement. which are the
glory of our race and the source of its
and greatness.