Westward the Star of Empire [pp. 125-136]

DE BOW'S REVIEW.
ESTABLISHED JANUARY, 1846.
AUGUST, 1859.
VOL. XXVII., O. S.] ENLARGED SERIES. [VOL. II., No. 2, N. S.
ART. I.-WESTWARD THE STAR OF EMPIRE.
THE GREAT WESTERN VALLEY-ITS GROWTH OF POPULATION;
AND OF CITIES.
THE westward movement of the Caucasian branch of the,
human family from the high plains of Asia, first over Europe,
and thence, with swelling tide, pouring its multitudes into
the New World, is the grandest phenomenon of history. What
American can contemplate its results, as displayed before him,
and as promised in the proximate future, without an emotion
of pride and exultation?
Our nation has the great middle region of the best continent
of the world, and our people are descendants from the most
vigorous races. Western Europe, over-peopled, sends us her
most energetic sons and daughters in numbers augmenting
with each succeeding decade. Asia is beginning to send forth
a portion of her large surplus population to our shores. Though
of inferior race, the Eastern Asiatics are industrious and in.
genious cultivators and artizans. A large influx of these
laborers, though it may lower the average character of our
people, will, it is hoped, in a greater degree elevate theirs; and
thus, while adding to the wealth and power of a nation, do
something toward the general amelioration of the race. While,
then, we contemplate with patriotic pride the position which,
as a nation, we hold in the world's affairs, may we not indulge
in pleasant anticipations of the near approach of the timne, when
the commercial and social heart of our Empire will occupy
its natural place as the heart of the continent, near the centra
of its natural capabilities?
VOL. II.-NO. II.
I