The Red Cloud chief., 1885-04-24
P~ositiviss's Review OF Prcscne Co.'s
dislOna.

There Is everywhere a revival Of the
spirit Of national aggrandizement and
imperial ambition. Under the now
avowed head Of the great German DIG
tStor. the nations Of Europe are run
ming a race to extend their borders by
conquest and annexation among the
weak and uncivilized. There is to-day
a scramble for Africa, as there was for
merry q scramble for Asia; and the
scramble in Asia. or in P~olynesia. is
only less urgent for the moment. in that
the rivalry is just nov the keenest in
Africa. BIZ: in Asia. in Africa. in Poly
nesia, the strong nations Of Europe are
struggling TO found empires by vio.euce.
fraud, or aggression.
Three distinct wars are being waged
in the East. and in Africa alone our sol
diers and our Government are asserting
the rule Of tie sword in the North. on
the East. 10 the center. on the South,
and on the West at the same time. Five
years age we were told that for England
al least there was 10 be some !ull in this
career Of blood and ambition. II was
only, we see. a party CRY. a device to
upset q government. There has been
no lull. no pause 10 the scramble for
empire. The empire swells year by
year; tear by year fresh wars break
out; year by year the burden OF empire
increases whether Disraeli or Gladstone.
Liberal or Conservative, are the actual
wieldcrs OF power. The agents Of the
aggression. the critics, have changed
sides; the Jingoes Of yesterday are the
grumblers Of to-day, and the peaceful
patriots Of yesterday are the Jingoes Of
to-day.
The empire and its a~ppendages are
even vaster in 1885 than in 1890: its re-
s~ponsibilities are greater: its risks and
perplexities deeper; its enemies stronger
and more threatening. And in the
midst Of this crisis those who condemn
this policy are. fewer; their protests
come few and faint. The Christian
sects can see nothing unrighteous in MIR.
Gladstone; the Liberal caucuses stiHe
any murmur Of discomfort, and force
those who spoke out against Zulu.
Afghan, and Transvaal wars to justify,
by the tyrant's plea Of necessity. the
massacre of Egyptian fellahs and the
determination Of Arab patriots. Those
who mouthed most loudly about JingO-
ism are now the foremost in their APP
peals TO national vanity. And the par
asites of the parasites Of u great Lib
eral statesman a make such hubbnb
in his utter absence OF a policy that
they drive him by sheer clamor from
q adventure into another. For nearly
four years now we have continuously
protested against the policy pursued in
Egypt.
Year after year VIC have told MI.
Gladstone that it was blackening his
whole carecr and covering our country
with shame. There is a monotony
about our protests. But, when there is
a monotony in evil doing. there must
alike be mOnotOny in remOnstrancc.
We complain that the blood and treas
ure of this nation should be used in or
der TO flay the p%easantry of the Nile. in
the interest of Insurers and spectators.
We complain that We practically annex
q people whom we will not govern and
cannot benefit. We are boldly for what
in the slang Of the day is called :''scut-
Ting out of Egypt. We think the
rObber and the Oppressor should scUttle
as quickly as possible that he is GER
tain to scuttle some day. We complain
Of m%assacring an innocent Nople mere
~ to give our traders and money deal
ers larger or safer markets. We COM
plain Of all the campaigns AMI battles
as wanton. useless, and unjust massa-
ores. We especially condemn the war
- a., Go.la Nc A- 1910,
even in the avowal Of the very Ministers
who are urging it. The defender of
Khartoum was a man of heroic qualities
and beautiful nature; but the cause Of
civilization is not served by launching
among savageS a sort OF P~entateich
knight errsnt. And we seriously COM
plain that the policy Of q great country
in a great issue of right aud wrong
SHOULD be determined by schoolboy
shouting over the feats Of our English
Garibaldi.-Frct!crick Harrison. 10 the
Fortniyhtty Reriew.