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Story
June 21, 1912
The Pascoag Herald
Pascoag, Burrillville, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
In 1827, German poet Goethe prophesied U.S. westward expansion to the Pacific, the necessity of a transcontinental passage like the Panama Canal, and desired projects including a Danube-Rhine junction and the Suez Canal.
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FORESAW THE FUTURE.
Remarkable Prophecy That Was Made by Goethe In 1827.
In the American Magazine there is reproduced an extract from a conversation held in 1827 by Goethe, the great German poet, and a friend of his, in which Goethe made the following extraordinary prophecies:
"It may be foreseen that the United States, with its decided predilection to the west, will in thirty or forty years have occupied and peopled the large tract of land beyond the Rocky mountains. It may, furthermore, be foreseen that along the whole coast of the Pacific ocean, where nature has already formed the most capacious and secure harbors, important commercial towns will gradually arise for the furtherance of a great intercourse between China and the East Indies and the United States. In such a case it would not only be desirable, but almost necessary, that a more rapid communication should be maintained between the eastern and western shores of North America, both by merchant ships and men of war, than has hitherto been possible with the tedious, disagreeable and expensive voyage around Cape Horn. I therefore repeat that it is absolutely indispensable for the United States to effect a passage from the Mexican gulf to the Pacific ocean, and I am certain they will do it.
"Would that I might live to see it! But I shall not. I should like to see another thing—a junction of the Danube and the Rhine. But this undertaking is so gigantic that I have doubts of its completion, particularly when I consider our German resources. And, lastly, I should wish to see England in possession of a canal through the isthmus of Suez.
"Would I could live to see these three great works! It would be well worth the trouble to last some fifty years more for the very purpose."
Remarkable Prophecy That Was Made by Goethe In 1827.
In the American Magazine there is reproduced an extract from a conversation held in 1827 by Goethe, the great German poet, and a friend of his, in which Goethe made the following extraordinary prophecies:
"It may be foreseen that the United States, with its decided predilection to the west, will in thirty or forty years have occupied and peopled the large tract of land beyond the Rocky mountains. It may, furthermore, be foreseen that along the whole coast of the Pacific ocean, where nature has already formed the most capacious and secure harbors, important commercial towns will gradually arise for the furtherance of a great intercourse between China and the East Indies and the United States. In such a case it would not only be desirable, but almost necessary, that a more rapid communication should be maintained between the eastern and western shores of North America, both by merchant ships and men of war, than has hitherto been possible with the tedious, disagreeable and expensive voyage around Cape Horn. I therefore repeat that it is absolutely indispensable for the United States to effect a passage from the Mexican gulf to the Pacific ocean, and I am certain they will do it.
"Would that I might live to see it! But I shall not. I should like to see another thing—a junction of the Danube and the Rhine. But this undertaking is so gigantic that I have doubts of its completion, particularly when I consider our German resources. And, lastly, I should wish to see England in possession of a canal through the isthmus of Suez.
"Would I could live to see these three great works! It would be well worth the trouble to last some fifty years more for the very purpose."
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Curiosity
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Exploration
Fate Providence
What keywords are associated?
Goethe Prophecy
Us Westward Expansion
Pacific Commerce
Panama Canal
Suez Canal
Danube Rhine Junction
What entities or persons were involved?
Goethe
Story Details
Key Persons
Goethe
Event Date
1827
Story Details
In 1827, Goethe prophesied that the United States would expand westward beyond the Rocky Mountains, develop commercial towns along the Pacific coast for trade with China and East Indies, and construct a passage from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. He also expressed wishes to see a junction of the Danube and Rhine rivers and a Suez canal under English possession.