"Yesterday the greatest question was decided which ever was debated
in America, and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided
among men."
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:--
"I will wager in favor of America."
Adam Smith of Scotland, in 1776, predicted the transfer of empire to
America.
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:--
"North America has advanced, and is every day advancing, to growth
of state, with a steady and continually accelerating motion, of
which there never has yet been any example in Europe."