Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-04
THE AFRICAN LAND GRAB IN A NEW
LIGHT.

The shortage of crops in Great Britain
this year will inevitably have an APP
preciating effect upon the prices OF
breadstuffs, and the low rate of wheat
quotations now prevailing in this coun-
try are not likely to continue if the
European crop reports are verified by
the results of the harvest. The Glasgow
Herald has published letter on 'Great
Britain's Wheat Supply" probably the
work of a specialist, which reckons the
British production of wheat at $780,
600 quarters, "while he places the re-
quired import at about $4,000, 900 quar-
ters. After tabulating the wheat ex-
ports and imports of the world, he calls
attention to the fact that the United
Kingdom requires nearly one-half of the
total export, of which Russia furnishes
about one-third. He argues that in case
of war between Russia and Great
Britain the former power could easily and
effectively run her antagonist short of
breadstuffs by simply prohibiting her
own exports. In such case he predicts
that within three days wheat would
double in value, while in three months
this country would be suffering from
actual dearth. But as is forcibly pointed
out in this letter, there are other catas-
trophies than war which might cause
the same result or thereabouts. The
harvests, for instance, of Russia and
Eastern Europe, are more precarious
than those of Great Britain and Western
Europe, on account probably of the
more rapid and sudden changes OF tenn
perature to which they are exposed, but
if such a mischance as an entirely def
cient Russian crop were to occur. it is
not certain that the United States would
be able to make good the want
The frequent shortness of crops in
Europe and the dependence of the over
populated portions of it upon the United
States and Russia for the staff of life,
have doubtless had very material in
fuence upon the land-grabbing policy
of Great Britain and Germany in Africa.
The long-sighted statesmen of those
countries are anxious doubtless to be
relieved of their dependence upon the
United States and Russia for the bread
stuffs they must needs have when there
is shortage in their own cereal crops.
India has done great deal to relieve
England in this respect, but so far the
ryots have not been equal to fill up the
great and increasing gap between the
supply and demand of Great Britain.
The partition between the two western
powers of great portion of Africa will,
it is doubtless believed, afford them re-
lief from this dependence in the near
future. Almost illimitable stretches OF
new land will fall into their hands. 1t
makes no difference to these wholesale
grabbers that the territory does not be-
long to them. They want it; they have
the power to take it, and they seize it
Not only do they appropriate the land
but they take possession of the inhabi
tants thereof, and these they will soon
find way of putting to use in cultivat
ing the soil they have stolen for thei
own benefit. They have seen what j,
valuable and docile laborer the negr,
has made when transplanted to othe
countries, and they very reasonably con
clude that he can be made to be equally
docile and laborious in his own country
under such regulations and rules as the,
know we'll how to place in operation owe
him.
Thus the chances are that the Russian
farmer and the American wheat-growe1
will soon be brought into competition
with the uncivilized negroes OF Africa, a
they have already been forced to com
pete with the rice-fed, low-paid ryots 0
: India Those who have looked upon thi
} stupendous African land steal with in
difference may see in these reasonabl
forecasts something for serious rehec
ton. If they thought it was no busi
) ness of theirs how far the greedy Euro
pean powers might go in their absorp
ton of African territory they will on
, day find out how greatly and gravel.
they were mistaken