01 EXPECTATIONS AND PREDICTIONS OF EMINENT MEN

It is but a little more than one hundred years since the nation known as “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” began to exist. A hundred years is not a long period in the history of nations. Let the eye run back upon the path of history, and mark the condition of nations when only a hundred years of age. Ancient Rome, the most notable of them all, when it had attained the age of a hundred years, was scarcely known outside the few provinces of Italy which composed its territory. Not so with this new empire of the West. Ere a hundred years had elapsed, its fame had encircled the earth, exciting the wonder and envy of the aged and stagnant kingdoms of other lands. It began with a few small settlements of earnest men, who, fleeing from the religious intolerance of the Old World, occupied a narrow area along our Atlantic coast. Now, a mighty nation, with a vast expanse of territory stretching from ocean to ocean, and from regions almost arctic on the north to regions as nearly torrid on the south, embracing more square leagues of habitable land than Rome ruled over in its palmiest days, after more than seven centuries of growth, here holds a position of independence and glory among the nations of the earth. ^{1In a speech at the “Centennial Dinner” at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, July 4, 1876, J.P. Thompson, LL. D., speaking of the United States, said: “They have proved the possibility of free, popular government upon a scale to which the Rome Republic of five hundred years was but a province.” —The United State as a Nation, p. 17.}MANA 13.1

And the sound of this new nation has gone into all the world. It has reached the toiling millions of Europe; and they are swarming to our shores to share its blessings. It has gone to the islands of the sea; and they have sent their living contributions to swell its busy populations. It has reached the Orient, and opened, as with a pass-word, the gates of nations long barred against intercourse with other powers; and China and Japan, turning from their beaten track of forty centuries, are looking with wonder at the prodigy arising across the Pacific to the east of them, and catching some of the impulse which this growing power is imparting to the nations of the earth.MANA 14.1

Precisely one hundred and nine years ago, with about three millions of people, the United States became an independent government. It has now a population of over fifty-five millions of people, and a territory of more than three and a half millions of square miles. Russia alone exceeds this nation in these particulars, having thirty millions more of people, and including the vast and dreary regions of Siberia, nearly five millions more square miles of territory. ^{2The area of the two countries is given in “Lippincott’s Gazetteer of the World,” as follows:—
United States, ................. 3,580,242 square miles.
Russia, ........................ 8,352,940 square miles.}MANA 14.2

Of all other nations on the globe whose laws are framed by legislative bodies elected by the people, Brazil, which has the largest territory, has but little more than three millions of square miles; and France, the most populous, has not by many millions so great a number of inhabitants as our country. So that in point of territory and population combined, it will be seen that the United States now stands at the head of the self-governing powers of the earth.MANA 15.1

Occupying a position altogether unique, this government excites equally the astonishment and the admiration of all beholders. The main features of its history are such as have had no parallel since the distinction of nations existed among men.MANA 15.2

1. No nation ever acquired so vast a territory in so quiet a manner.MANA 15.3

2. No nation ever rose to such greatness by means so peaceable.MANA 15.4

3. No nation ever advanced so rapidly in all that constitutes national strength and capital.MANA 15.5

4. No nation ever rose to such a pinnacle of power in a space of time so incredibly short.MANA 15.6

5. No nation in so limited a time has developed such unlimited resources.MANA 15.7

6. No nation has ever existed, the foundations of whose government were laid so broad and deep in the principles of justice, righteousness, and truth.MANA 15.8

7. No nation has ever existed in which men have been left so free to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences.MANA 15.9

8. In no nation and in no age of the world have the arts and sciences so flourished, so many improvements been made, and so great successes been achieved in the arts both of peace and war, as in our own country during the last fifty years.MANA 15.10

9. In no nation and in no age has the gospel found such freedom, and the churches of Christ had such liberty to enlarge their borders and develop their strength.MANA 16.1

10. No age of the world has seen such an immigration as that which is now pouring into our borders from all lands the millions who have long groaned under despotic governments, and who now turn to this broad territory of freedom as the avenue of hope, the Utopia of the nations.MANA 16.2

The most discerning minds have been intuitively impressed with the idea of the future greatness and power of this government. In view of the grand results developed and developing, the discovery of America by Columbus, not four hundred years ago, is set down as “the greatest event of all secular history.”MANA 16.3

The progress of empire to this land was long ago expected.MANA 16.4

Sir Thomas Browne, in 1682 predicted the growth of a power here which would rival the European kingdoms in strength and prowess.MANA 16.5

In Burnaby’s “Travels through the Middle Settlements of North America in 1759 and 1760,” published in 1775, is expressed this sentiment:—MANA 16.6

“An idea, strange as it is visionary, has entered into the minds of the generality of mankind, that empire is traveling westward; and every one is looking forward with eager and impatient expectation to that destined moment when America is to give the law to the rest of the world.”MANA 16.7

John Adams, Oct. 12, 1775, wrote:—MANA 16.8

“Soon after the Reformation, a few people came over into this New World for conscience’s sake. Perhaps this apparently trivial incident may transfer the great seat of empire to America.”MANA 16.9

On the day after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, he wrote:—MANA 17.1

“Yesterday the greatest question was decided which was ever debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was, nor will be, decided among men.”MANA 17.2

In 1776, Galiani, a Neapolitan, predicted the gradual decay of European institutions, to renew themselves in America. In 1778, in reference to the question as to which was to be the ruling power in the world, Europe or America, he said, —MANA 17.3

“I will wager in favor of America.”MANA 17.4

Adam Smith, of Scotland, in 1776 predicted the transfer of empire of America.MANA 17.5

Governor Pownal, an English statesman, in 1780, while our Revolution was in progress, predicted that this country would become independent, and that a civilizing activity, beyond what Europe could ever know, would animate it; and that its commercial and naval power would be found in every quarter of the globe. Again he said:—MANA 17.6

“North America has advanced, and is every day advancing, to growth of state, with a steady and continually accelerating motion, of which there has never yet been any example in Europe.”MANA 17.7

David Hartley wrote from England in 1777:—MANA 17.8

“At sea, which has hitherto been our prerogative element, they [the United States] rise against us at a stupendous rate; and if we cannot return to our old mutual hospitalities toward each other, a very few years will show us a most formidable hostile marine, ready to join hands with any of our enemies.”MANA 17.9

Count d’Aranda, one of the first of Spanish statesmen, in 1783 thus wrote of this Republic:—MANA 17.10

“This Federal Republic was born a pygmy, so to speak. It required the support and forces of two powers as great as Spain andMANA 17.11

France in order to attain independence. A day will come when it will be a giant, even a colossus, formidable in these countries.” ^{1These quotations are from an article by Hon. Charles Sumner, entitled “Prophetic Voices about America,” published in the Atlantic Monthly of September, 1867}MANA 18.1

Sir Thomas Browne, referred to above, in 1684 published certain “Miscellany Tracts,” one of which, entitled “The Prophecy,” is the one which contains his reflections on the rise and progress of America. Dr. Johnson says of it: “Browne plainly discovers his expectation to be the same with that entertained lately with more confidence by Dr. Berkeley that ‘America will be the seat of the fifth empire.’” It is in verse, and the lines relating to America are:— “When New England shall trouble New Spain, When America shall cease to send out its treasure, But employ it at home in American pleasure; When the new world shall the old invade, Nor count them their lords, but their fellows in trade.” —Duyckinck’s American Literature, vol. 1., p. 179.MANA 18.2

In 1773 the Bishop of St. Asaph (Wales) before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, said:—MANA 18.3

The colonies of North America have not only taken roots and acquired strength, but seem hastening, with an accelerated progress, to such a powerful state as may introduce a new and important change in human affairs.” —Id.MANA 18.4

The transfer of religion to this land, and its revival here, was also expected. George Herbert in a poem entitle “The Church Militant,” published in 1633, said:—MANA 18.5

“Religion stands on tiptoe in our land,
Ready to pass to the American Strand.” —Id.”

Of these prophecies, some are now wholly fulfilled, and the remainder far on the road to fulfillment. This infant of yesterday stands forth to-day a giant, vigorous, active, and courageous, and accepts with dignity its manifest destiny at the head of powers and civilizations.MANA 18.6

A question of thrilling interest now arises. This government has received recognition at the hands of men sufficient to satisfy any ambition. Does the God of heaven also recognize it, and has he spoken concerning it? In other words, does the prophetic pen, which has so fully delineated the rise and progress of all the other great nations of the earth, pass this one by unnoticed? What are the probabilities in this matter? As the student of prophecy, in common with all mankind, looks with wonder upon the unparalleled rise and progress of this nation, he cannot repress the conviction that the hand of Providence has been at work in this quiet but mighty revolution. And this conviction he shares in common with others.MANA 19.1

Governor Pownal, from whom a quotation has already been presented, speaking of the establishment of this country as a free and sovereign power, calls it—MANA 19.2

“A revolution that has stranger marks of divine interposition, superseding the ordinary course of human affairs, than any other event which this world has experienced.”MANA 19.3

De Tocqueville, a French writer, speaking of our separation from England, says:—MANA 19.4

It might seem their folly, but was really their fate; or, rather, the providence of God, who has doubtless a work for them to do in which the massive materiality of the English character would have been too ponderous a dead weight upon their progress.”MANA 19.5

Geo. Alfred Townsend, speaking of the misfortunes that have attended the other governments on this continent (New World and Old, p. 635), says:—MANA 19.6

“The history of the United States was separated by a beneficent Providence far from the wild and cruel history of the rest of the continent.”MANA 20.1

Again he says:—MANA 20.2

“This hemisphere was laid away for no one race.”MANA 20.3

Mr. J.M. Foster, in a Sermon before the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, O., Nov. 30, 1882, bore the following explicit testimony to the fact that the hand of Providence has been remarkably displayed in the establishment of this government:—MANA 20.4

“Let us look at the history of our own nation. The Mediator long ages ago prepared this land as the home of civil and religious liberty. He made it a land flowing with milk and honey. He stored our mountains with coal, and iron, and copper, and silver, and gold. He prepared our fountains of oil, planted our forests, leveled our plains, enriched our valleys and beautified them with lakes and rivers. He guided the Mayflower over the sea, so that the Pilgrim Fathers landed safely on Plymouth Rock. He directed the course of our civilization, so that we have become a great nation.”MANA 20.5

PICTURE.