CHAPTER XXI.

THE AMERICA OF THE FUTURE.

In its most essential features American history has been a record of successes. Its struggle has been constantly embarrassed by a rapid growth that added new elements to be moulded and harmonized before the old elements had been fully mastered; but with the heavier task came increasing strength. American progress has been through difficulties; but difficulties well borne are lessons well learned; and the country has never been so patient, so wise, so strong and united as at the close of its first hundred years of successful combat with obstacles. Its future is full of promise.

The only afflictions the Western Continent had suffered that were almost purely evil, and that in a high degree, had risen from the efforts of European governments to establish their own arbitrary, restrictive and selfish systems of state and class policy in their colonies. Under those systems, wherever established, the virgin wealth that could be immediately realized was wasted, and the fountains of prosperity flowed but languidly or were dried up altogether; the natives suffered immense and cruel injustice, revolting to humanity; and the European settlers under such forms of government lost the progressive tendencies which their several nationalities still showed at home and became degenerate. During the first quarter of the nineteenth century, however, most of these European colonies, inspired by the example of the United States, declared their independence and asked its recognition as self-governing republics. Soon after the Constitution of the United States had gone into successful operation the republican government was solicited to interfere in favor of freedom in Europe. This it refused to do,

and established the precedent of non-interference, as a government, with the quarrels and contests of others. It would be at peace with all the world so long as its interests and dignity were not attacked. On the other hand, it offered a refuge to all who chose to come to it, and citizenship on the most reasonable terms.

Its war with England, closing in 1815, had been chiefly caused by its determination to protect these adopted citizens when claimed by the governments to which they formerly owed allegiance, and it now determined that, while it adhered to its policy of non-intervention with the internal affairs of Europe, the various governments on that side the Atlantic should not extend their possessions in America. The SpanishAmerican republics were recognized and America was henceforth devoted to freedom.

This principle of American policy was distinctly set forth by President Monroe, in 1822, and received the popular name of the Monroe Doctrine." The United States Congress virtually ratified it by the act of recognizing the South American republics as, by right, free from European control.

This was the only overt act of defiance of the absolutism and ambition of foreign nations; to a certain extent it placed itself as a defender in front of the new republics and reserved the New World to Americans, or, at least, to such institutions as actual residents in it should determine to establish. It was a proud position to take, for it proclaimed itself the leader and champion of a third part of the earth. The fruit of the Monroe Doctrine, supported as it was by the development and growth in power of the Great Republic, was to encourage the freedom of American nations, to quicken the spread of its own principles from the Polar Sea to Cape Horn, and to maintain the tendency of all the dawning nationalities toward democracy. The abolition of slavery and the rapid movement given to industrial activities by its vast railroad system made it the center of influences much more powerful in acquiring

real eminence as a leader in the two Americas than any possible conquests by war or skill in diplomacy.

Its influence on England was probably considerable, leading her to treat her remaining American colonies with wise liberality, and they soon obtained all the real liberties possessed in the United States. The difficulty of constructing, and especially of maintaining, true republics in the Spanish American States was nearly as great as it could be. They had not the original base of character on which the discipline of poverty and labor reacted so happily in the thirteen English colonies and in the Valley of the Mississippi; they had no previous gradual training in self-government; the rule must long be that of a comparatively small class of whites of European descent. But for the success and example of the United States they would probably have failed. It did not interfere with them directly, but it had itself a success so shining that it encouraged them and the Monroe Doctrine was a virtual protection against European intrigues and attacks. Under the shadow of the Great Republic their democratic institutions maintained themselves, notwithstanding the efforts of innumerable private ambitions breaking out in revolutionary attempts. A true conception of republican liberty gradually spread among the people and ever larger numbers became enlightened and capable of working wisely for the common good. Thus the Monroe Doctrine was fruitful of good in the two Americas.

From this historical growth of republicanism, and from the impulse toward prosperity given by the wide-reaching influence of its industries and great development, the country seated in the Mississippi Valley, to a certain degree, unified the growth and interests of both North and South America. This was in a remote and preliminary way until the lower Valley was relieved of its embarrassing labor system. This feature was strengthened materially, after that event, by increasing moral influence, by greater industrial influence, and by

multiplied commercial relations; but its full significance is to be developed in the future. Harmony of institutions, variety of products and boundless natural resources in almost every part of both North and South America will make their future relations extremely valuable. The capital and enterprise of the prosperous Republic of the North will send the pulses of her own energy, in constantly more powerful waves, through the whole length of her own continent. The same thrift and wisely ordered activity will be constantly encouraged. The Gulf of Mexico will begin, by and by, to assume its proper position as the highway of the most active commerce. and lead to the closest relations of interest.

But the Valley is much more the uniting bond and the ruling center of North America. While the work of general settlement within it and the United States at large continues, and until development has tolerably filled all the channels of trade, the relations of the two branches of the Anglo-Saxon race in North America may be comparatively few. The rich soil and many advantages of the Valley and of the mines and valleys of the Pacific Slope and Rocky Mountains now draw a large proportion of settlers because the immediate future is better assured by the growing wealth and activity about them; but later all the available parts of British America will be filled. The extension of the Valley in a continental trough northward and the common interests that must multiply on each side of the lakes will unite the two peoples in a very close industrial union. It will not be essential that they should merge together in a political union. They will each be enlightened enough to harmonize their common interests and permit natural relations a suitable play on the basis of mutual political independence if that should be the preference of the people of either.

British Columbia and the States of the Pacific coast will sustain similar close relations. The most of Mexico is a continuation of the high broken plateau which is so wide

COMMON INTERESTS WILL HARMONIZE ACTION.

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and rich in the United States, and is, in Mexico, endowed with more or less of the resources of the tropics. The extreme activities and large population that will soon cover the Rocky Mountain region in the United States will communicate its character to Mexico and overflow into it, as the activities of the Valley will flow into, influence and develop Central America. The restless habits of its people, the growing wealth and centralizing influence of the Valley will consolidate North America by making it the focus and heart of the whole. The political relations must depend largely on those of interest but may not necessarily require consolidation by annexing these outlying portions.

For the time has come, or is about to dawn, when reason and interest will unite men as accidental circumstances have heretofore separated them. Nations have thought more of the narrow relations and bonds which have originated common languages and united them under separate governments than of the wider one of a common humanity; but these restricted views will disappear as relations become universal and interests draw them all closer together. The prices of produce and merchandize in London and New York are of the deepest interest to a large part of the world, for the income and general welfare of large classes are deeply affected by each of them somewhere. This community of interest and mutual interlocking of business, on a range as wide as the globe, has but lately assumed large proportions; but it will rapidly grow. This intimate interdependence is still more important within the limits of the United States and among the different sections of the country than any where else; soon it will be the most important point that enters into the consideration of general business and will continually render the different countries of America of the utmost interest to each other.

No point will become so important as that of harmonizing interests. Individual prosperity will depend more and more