America’s Place in the New Century
Professor Molden of Vienna, in the Allgemeine Zeitung, predicts the factors in the world's history in the present century, just beginning, and has this to say of America, according to the translation in the Literary Digest:— “Her two most powerful forces in the new century will be Russia and the North American Republic, and, to a great extent, the fate of the English Empire will depend on what these countries do, or do not do. Of these two colossal empires, the American Republic occupies a favored position. In population it does not indeed equal Russia; but it surpasses that country in energy and practical intelligence, and is the superior of all other nations numerically, having more than forty per cent. more inhabitants than Germany, and a still greater lead over England.” He goes on to speak of America's immense resources, of her isolated position, of the fact that she needs no standing army; and he concludes that America will soon be a formidable antagonist to even Britain on the seas, and that before long; and also that America is bound to possess Canada. He believes that America, Germany, and England should unite. The nations now fear America; but O, how much greater good could she do if she had remained aloof from the great world of politics and war, and held true to her original ideals! As she pursued her arts and occupations of peace, with freedom for all and malice toward none, she would have led the world toward those ideals. Now she is glorifying greed and gold.