DYING NATIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6552, 1 August 1899, Page 3

DYING NATIONS.

A nation only lives a feAV thousand years. Look at the great nations of 4000 years ago. Egypt, Yucatan, Mexico, Peru, Assyria are all dead and buried. Cliina is only staying alive to save funeral expenses. The next generation of nations included Rome and Greece, and these are like galvanised ghosts. The third generation, the Turks, Moors, Spaniards, Moguls, Dutch and Scandinavians are alive, but have lost their power. "From tins you will see that the nations in hot countries die, and stay dead. The nations of cold countries rise, become great, fall, lose their outlying dominions, and yet stay alive. That is because the land does not lapse into jungle, like Ceylon and Yucatan, or change into desert like Assyria and Egypt, but remains fertile, providing plenty of food. Now, to apply these facts. Great Britain, the United States, Russia and Germany are gaining in population, wealth and power ; but the British Empire is extending more rapidly than any one of them. Compare her with France for instance. A couple of centuries ago, Avhen France owned most of North America, and was founding a vast empire in India, Paris was bigger than London, and Avas the capital of the civilised Avorld. To-day Paris lias 2;5QO,000 people, and is the capital of the arts and fashion. But London has 5,000,000 souls, and has taken the place of Paris as metropolis of the AVOrld. The British Empire is growing, and it -will keep on groAving, along the lines of least resistance. At tbe present rate, the Avhole land surface of the planet will be absorbed by the year 2349 A.D. But as Greater Britain grows it comes into closer contact -with the boundaries of the United States, Russia and Germany. Even if we could, we have no wish to swallow these or any other de- . cently governed countries. . The United States, Russia, Germany and Japan are playing the same game. The British Empire is nearly as large as the four combined. As England does not Avish to conquer the Avell-governed countries, fche area open to annexation may be diminished by half. In that case, all bhe world *will be properly governed by the year 2012 A.D. So, in 113 years from the present time, the British Empire^must stop spreading for lack of room on '•he planet. Even then it Avill grow in wealth and population, bufc, meanAVlule these little islands are getting very old. Sooner or later we may feel the weakness of age, and be no longer able to fight for our possessions ; our colonies may cut adrift from us ; the conquered countries, like India, may revolt. If all this, should happen, as politicians of a pessimistic temperament are already predicting, it would only be a case of history repeating itself. How long will that be? Well," Rome rose in 400 years, as Aye did,' and took 1000 years to decline. Our Empire is infinitely greater, stronger and more loyal than the Roman. Suppose Aye say 1500 years before the Little England party -wins a general election, and little England is a second-class Power, as xhe was in ihe days of Henry VIH. ?