Year: 1879

lEEolu tht lsohuoh AllnthsJ


Whoever carefully examines the statistics
showing how the population of the United
States has grown of late years, must be i'm
pressed with the rapidity with which the
Western States are outstripping the Southern
and Eastern. The rate of increase in some
of the Southern and Northern States is almost
identical for instance, the Southern State of
Mississippi and the Northern State of New
Hampshire are on a 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 among 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 in
to account. there is nothing very wonderful
in its development. Such states as Kansas
and Illinois, Colorado and Minnesota, are
really conspicuous in this rivalry, and they
bid fair to continue to be distinguished above
the others. II is with reference to these
Western States that the words of Mr.. Whittier,
in his well-kuown verses on the Western
pioneers, are fraught with perfect truth, for
in them the pioneers are really advancing
like the first low wash of waves where hu-
man sea will soon break The progress west
ward is more significant because il is emphat-
ically progress of trained and seasoned





congenial regions and who are well adapted
for bearing with equanmity and hardihood
the privatons inseparable from new sphere
of existence. The fertile prairies of the great
West are as inviting to the farmer who tills
the stubborn soil of New England as the vir-
gin land of the sea board was to tho first set
tiers in America. What proves most attract
i've to the European emigrant is not the West
ern prairies. but the Rocky Mountain mines
he presses on to II mining camp, hoping to
draw prize in the mining lottery, in prefer
ence to settling on farm and earning COM
Portable subsistence by agriculture. In con-
sequence of this, the absorptve power of
these regions is greatly heightened. There is
always room for new corners, because the
older hands die of quickly. A miners
chances for long life are far less than those of
q farmer and it is unlikely that we shall see
the capacity Of the West TO sustain n large
population fully tested till Iuiuiug holdn
secondary rank there among the inducements
to seek new homes. In any case the citizens
of the United States will doubtless have am
pie reason to congratulate each other as the
figures of every succeeding census are made
public. They are certain to become as num-
erous as the most eXactiug among them might
desire. We witness their progress with salts
faction As they widen the circle of their
nationality, they at the same time enlarge the
bounds of our common race and of our moth
er tongue. NJ. de Candolle, the French sta
tistican, estimates that century hence Eng
lish will bo the speech of SEQ, 600, 600 persons,
German of 124, OOO, 600 and French Of 60, OOO,-
900. The figures are fanciful, for it is hard
ly to be expected that the increase of the
English speaking population will be main
taned at the same ratio in the future as in
the past. But the notion involved in the fore
cast is as gratifying to a citizen of the British
empire as it is to n citizen of the North Amer
lean republic. 1t is asserted that trade fol
lows the flag. 1t is certain that ideas follow
the language, and the increase of the English
speaking people implies the wide diffusion Of
the ideas of well ll-ordered freedom and contin-
ual improvement. which are the glory of our
race, and the source of its prosperity and
greatness.