Wilmington Journal

THE PROGRESSIVE NATIONS.

The English and French journals are of the opinion that we have territory enough. The Journal des Debats says of the American Republic, "it is ten times the extent of our France, which, nevertheless, is a very fine empire." It thinks that of the political balance of the world, the conquest of Mexico by the United States may create eventual dangers which, though distant, it will not be superfluous to guard against. Yet there are dangers near at hand which awaken the apprehensions of those who are sticklers for the balance of power.- The progress of Russia excites alarm. "Europe watches with care," says the paper we have quoted, "a great empire which occupies in the East and in the North an immense surface covered with a population of sixty two millions, double that of Austria, and quadruple that of Prussia, and cannot help being filled with the contemplation of another colossus which may occupy the whole space of the isthmus of Panama, from the mouths of the St. Lawrence to the Columbia River in Oregon--thus acquiring the disposal of the most productive cultivable lands, and the richest mines of the earth, and extremely redoubtable at sea." Between the American Eagle, on the one hand, and the Russian Bear, on the other, there is a fluttering in the dove-cotes an uneasy restlessness in the bee-hives. The Eagle will swoop and Bruin love honey. Russia, with her immense territory, stretching from the Arctic circle to the shores of the Black Sea, and embracing all Northern Asia, filled with the crude elements of power, is rapidly advancing in civilization and in the development of her resources. That Scythian region, which ere now has poured forth its hordes of invaders upon Southern Europe, is pregnant with a new race of destroyers. But when they go forth again it will not be as rude barbarians, nomadic tribes, wandering without aim and at random, as an organized host, in all the panoply of war, and directed by the energy of a single mind, the force of a single will. The rough Tartar will change his shaggy dress of skins for the regimental uniform. Instead of the Parthian arrow there will be artillery and musketry. the bayonet and the hussar's sabre. If France is concerned about the balance of power in America she may find more cause of concern in that particular nearer home. The Cossacks have been in Paris; they will know how to find their way again to the vineyards of Burgundy and Champagne. As to the United States and Russia, however opposite they may be in respect to their several principles of government, there is a wonderful similarity in the progressiveness of the two. Undoubtedly they are both destined to play important parts in the world's future history.