The New York herald., 1874-08-27
Gsrmany's Colonial Policy.

between Spain and Germany in reference to
the cession Of Porto Rico has produced some
notable diplomatic peculiarities. In the Ian
guage OF the Courts general denial has been
set up in behalf of Germany, purporting also
to prove that the latter Power has not now
and never has entertained any serious thoughts
concerning the acquisition of colonial posses
sions. The very idea Is secuted as preposter-
ous The Prince Chancellor. we are told, has
enough to do to watch the schoolteachers and
clergymen of Alsace and Lorraine, who will per-
sist in denying the right Of the victors to levy
excessive taxation, and if this acquired terri
tory near home requires SO much solicitude
and constant attention how much greater
would be the difficulties Of governing q
distant colony. And yet amid all these
statements touching the disinterestedness
of Germany. her resolution to remain
within the prescribed limits of Fatherland,
her desire to consummate the work OF unfit
cation aud settle down to an era of internal
reform and peaceful progress, comes the un-
guarded confession that she was but recently
bargaining for the island Of St. Domingo
fact known to the American Commissioners
and duly reported to the various Powers by
the State Department. And we think We can
show from purely commercial view why she
desired colonial possessions, Notwithstanding
the Wholesale system of denying and prevari-
cation adopted by the diplomats to hide the
truth in this relation.
Scarcely had the bloody quarrel over the
Schleswig- -Holstein spoils between Prussia and
Austria been settled on the field of Sadowa
when the then Prime Minister of Prussia COM
the great question of emigration, which
had begun to assume alarming proportions.
Thousands of mechanics and laborers released
from service in the army until further notice,
with oil the horrors Of swift but terrible bat
ties fresh in their memories, and conscious
that no considerations within their reach could
prevent their being compelled to undergo
similar military service in the future as often
as ambition or diplomatic pique should en-
broil Prussia in war, left their workshops and
farms and departed, mostly for the United
States At this time it was rumored
made to secure more remunerative labor
for the people; that if the cotton and wool and
silk manufactures could be supplied with the
raw material direct there would be additional
inducements to the operatives to remain
at homo, while the country would be
the gamer by just SO much profit as
the amount annually paid to England
and other countries through whom the sup
plies were then principally derived.
1t was stated that the government had already
called for reports from different quarters of
the globe, wherever they had representatives,
and notably in South America, which state
ment was apparently borne out by the subse-
quent Appearance OF lengthy and exhaustive
articles in several leading German news
papers, including the Augemeine Zeitung, Of
Augsburg and the Voss Gazette of Berlin,
concerning the most available points for the
investment of German capital, the cost of pro.
ducing the articles most desired and giving
other valuable information. We remember
some striking points in an article of this kind
in the latter journal, which was said to have
been sent through the government Offices in
Wilhelmstrasse. The article was apparently
intended to reflect seriously upon the Peruvian
authorities for their brutal treatment of the
coolies, but was in reality plea for the
founding of German colonies in South America.
'We see, said the writer, 'in the splendid
countries Of South America but discord and
mismanagement the penalties OF corruption
in the slave trade curse their fruitfu! soil,
which, by comprehensive cultivation, good
command the attention Of the commercial
world. The raw products Of North America
are now being worked at home to large ex-
tent, and similar remark applies to Austria
liza. Let England and Germany, for their
own advantage, raise South America to their
level. We want more food, more grain, more
fruits, more meat, as well as more wool, more
cotton, raw silk aud other material for manu-
facture and export. But where is this ad-
ditional cotton, coffee, tobacco, sugar, tea and
| raw silk TO come from?" The writer then
proposed grand scheme for the acquisit on
and colonization of all available tracts of
country in Brazil, Peru and other countries
in Central and South America. The propo-
sition included the guarantee of the respective
governments that the land should be practi-
caly given to the colonists forever and secured
by regularly executed grants, postal rights
and safe transportation inland included the
cost to the government or private corporations
of sending out ten thousand settlers, their
maintenance, and the first years implements
and seed for cultivating the land, the building
of villages, towns, market places, slaughter
houses, churches, educational establishments,
hospitals, the erection Of cotton ma rts, pack
| of steamship lines, the making of roads and
| drainage and irrigation. Provision was also
made for the regular incorporation of the
towns, the free election Of officials, police