The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-15
GtRMAN COLON.zING.

Bismarck's decisive efforts to obtain
colonies, and his seizure of various
unoccupied spots in the world for that
purpose, has ex ,ited much attention
and some apprehension 1t has been
supposed that he may yet lay his
hands upon some place on the Ameri-
can continent, and as this would be
an invalion OF our Monroe doctrine
his colonial desires ara not without
interest for ourselves. What is Biz
marck's object in seeking to establish
German colonies? 1t is an old saying
that Great Britain has both colonies
and Colonists, FrarCs has Co'onies but
no colonists, and Germany has colon
lists but no colonies. The numerous
German emigrants seek homes in the
United $ a!es and elsewhere, and the
usual superstition is that Bismarck de.
sires 10 establish German colonies in
order that the emigrants of that coun-
try may still be retained under Ger
man authority. An article in the
Political Science Quarterly shows that
such is not the case. Bismarck's
policy, as frequently and for long
time back publicly announced,
is opposed TO German emigra-
tiol. His idea is that by
increasing the population OF the coun-
try, it's power and importance will in
crease in proportion. He finds that
the mass of emigrants come from
the agricultural population, the small
est proportion from the mercantile
and manufacturing. He therefore de-
sirss to increase manufactures and
trade, az they are favorable to dense
population. To colonize with view
TO aid emigration would be to obstruct
the object in view. Why does he then
establish colonies That they may
open markets for German products,
finding employment and wealth for
those at home. They are to be outly-
ing establishments engaged in finding
customers for German merchandise.
In speech before the Reichstag Bis
marck said he desired to found, not
provinces, but commercial enter
prises his object was not TO open new
countries where Germans might emf.
CRATE, but to establish entrepots for
German manufactures, and to insure
to these manufactures access to new
markets. 1t is not the external en-
pire he desires to extend by colo lies
and colonists, but to extend
German trade, and by means
OF an active commerce to
do away with the pressure that drives
so many German people to leave their
native land. Bismarck's idea is that
in proportion as the avenues of COM
MERGE are extended the people will
fad full employment at home, emil
grafton will decrease and the popula-
ton Of Germany increase, and thus
the Empire extend in resources, in
wealth, in power and in grandeur.
These facts materially modify the
view that has generally been taken OF
the German grasping for new terri
tory, and for more intimate national
relations with the world at large. Is
Bismarck's policy correct2 1t is in
genious, and the offspring of a pene-
trsting mind, but the principal OBJ,
struction to Gtrman prosperity is the
vast expense OF keeping up an i'm
mense army, which weighs upon
the people by its expense, and
decimates them by taking so large
proportion of the German
youth from the productive class, and
compelling that class to support them.
With numerous colonies, whatever
may be the object of establishing them,
Germany must have a large navy to
protect and defend them. With a navy
added to the present army, the burden
upon the German people would be
vastly increased. The expense would
be enormous and the number of non
producers to maintain multiplied.
Should any Of the spots Germany is
appIopriating prove favorable for set
uement, Bismarck's intentions will be
frustrated. German emigTants will
flock there, and as there would be no
new language TO be learned, emigra-
ton would be drawn from other lands
70 that.