New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-08
would be large fund OF experience to draw
coyoUEST IND COLONIZATION.

one of tile most cratic tendencies OF the time.
In Tuns, in the Senegal country and at the
mouth of the Congo, in Madagascar, in AMMAN
and Tonouin, and in the New Hebrdes agents OF
the Government are actively at work and con-
quests that are often as useless as they are
hazardous are entered upon without fore
thought and without reason. The Spanlards
and Portuguese navigatOrs made their voyages
of discovery in the true spirit OF maritime ad-
venture. The Dutch merchants sent out their
sbips for the extension of commerce. Inc
English begin with trading post and end with
Crown colony, their commercial empire being
grounded upon the principle that new settle
ments must be made self-snpporting and profit
able before the responsibility for protecting
them is deliberately assumed by the Govern
ment. The French alone act without premcdl-
tation. Their prestige has been impaired In
Europe and they are striving to regain it In
quarter where activity will be safe and con-
quests easy and cheap. They dispatch neet
of gunboats to Madagascar, or send out Few
companies of marines TO the Congo, or incur
the risks of formidable war with China by
precipitate action in Tonquin, or raise the trl-
color in the volcanic island clusters of the
South Seas, without surveying the ground In
advance and ascertaining whether self-sup-
porting colonies can be founded. Their aim
seems to be to make a snowy series OF con-
quests in different quarters OF the globe They
assume that colonies will follow conques rs, and
that in this way commercial empire that Will
rival that of Great Britain will be Immediately
established They forget that commercial
empire implies something in which they have
always shown themselves to be defcient-an
Unborn capacity for colonization.
This expansive tendency is evinced by oil the
great States in Europe. Russia has extended
its conquests in Central Asia as far as the
Chinese border and the confines of Merv and
Herat. and is silently preparing to resume Its
march in Armenia. Austria-Hungary, having
absorbed Bosnia and the Herzegovina, ex-
poets to be allowed to occupy Constantinope
when the Ottoman Empire breaks up. Italy.
cheated out of share in Tunis, covets Tiipoll
and is planning colonial ventures In Asia and
Africa. Even the staid German Fatherland is
casting about for trading stations In the South
Seas. With England annexation has become
an impulse too strong To be resisted even 10y
statesmen whose attention is cngrossed with
the issues of domestic legislation. The Gov
eminent, which began with eyacuating Canda-
har, giving uD the Transvaal, and restoring
Cctewayo to the throne, has practically made
England wholly responsible for the adn;inistra-
ton of Egypt, and sanctioned large acccssions
of territory III North Borneo, Bechuana Land
and the Sherhro coast in West Africa Traders
are constantly finding new markets OF the ends
of the EARTH and settlers are penetrating fur
ats on he AZ
and wherever they 20 the honor of the British
flag is at stake and the responsibilities of en-
pire are increased. With France this longing
for external expansion may be wanton lust OF
territory, but with England it is the restless
spirit of colonization that is ever pressing for
ward.
In every sea nation seems TO vie with nation
in tins search for commercial dependencies.
The west coast of Africa. blistering under
torrld sun, is now parcelled out among half
dozen European Powers, and the lower reaches
of the great rivers are traversed by trading
steamers. long Gordon OF civilized settle
ments has been drawn around the dense mass
of ignorance aud barbarism of tho Dark Con-
tinent The Asian hives OF population are
watched and managed by European keepers
Even n long way of in the South Seas every
important group Of islands is under the pro-
tectorate OF a naval Power. 1t is tendency
of European civilization ard some great force
seems to be operating rs to Work out great
results through the Anglo-Saxon race For the
English people pre- -eminently IN Europe have
that capacity for colonization which renders
the acquisition of native States and the con-
troll of barbarous communities permanent
and positive advantage to civilization.