Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-02-13
WARS OF CONQUEST.
HOW MUCH ALLOY Is THERE IN
THE BLESSINGS THEY BRING?

Especial Correspondence.1
The greatest events which mark the
history of the world are the conquests.
From the savage onslaughts of one bar
barrie tribe over another to the recent
"opening up Of new markets" in India
and central Africa the greatest impor-
tance always attaches itself to such
movements. Perhaps it has been neces-
sary to the progress of the human race
that the countries occupied by people Of
simple habits, few wants and inoffensiye
dispositions should pass into the hands Of
more aggressive and enterprising beings.
Certainly the prominence given in his
torical writings to every victorious in
vasion, the unquestioning acceptance Of
every subjugation, shows that the ma,
jority of people think SO.
Civilized races seem to claim the right,
without the trouble Of discussion, to
overrun so called barbarous countries,
the excuse being that they bring bless
ings with them which otherwise the
heathens never would enjoy. Alas, that
the enforcement of these blessings on
unwilling natives should be attended
with such horrors!
Who that has read thoughtfully the
history of the early settlement of Amer
lea has not found himself wondering If
it is all worth what it has cost? The con-
quest Of Mexico, which displaced a simple
but intelligent race for bloodthirsty
one, is but one long narration of terrible
deeds and great injustioes. The hideous
story of Englands occupancy of India is
well known. The sufferings of soldiers
and pioneers can never be told. The cruel
ties perpetrated upon the natives who
objected to being civilized and blessed
after modern British methods can never
be fully described.
Recently England has carried her fa-
vorite work into central Africa with
rather dismal results. A British COM
mercial company has for two or three
years been trying to develop the coun-
trys resources, but the difficulties in the
way-and they are mostly raised by ma
tives rebelling against the company's au-
thority-are so great that 1t has decided
to abandon the field, leaving the colo
nists to the mercy of the incensed ma
tives. Newspapers generally are claim
ing that the English government should
now step in and continue the work the
private enterprise failed to accomplish
for these reasons Many comparatively
poor people have put their little savings
into the scheme and will lose all if
Uganda be abandoned.
The pioneers, if deserted, will be exter-
minated or at best suffer greatly, and all
because the prospect of opening up new
markets for British productions is too
important to be given up lightly. 1t is
urged again that 1t would be great In
justice to working classes if the new
field fails to be developed, as their chances
for work depends upon the sale of their
products, and that 1t would be an act
of cowardice and bad faith toward all
those who have joined in the enterprise
either with money or labor.
This all sounds philanthropic and
reasonable, but there is another way of
looking at these apparent facts. 1t is
admitted that the Inhabitants of Uganda
were living harmoniously and peace
ably before they were intruded upon at
all. To be sure, they did not build rail
roads, cities, manufactures, churches or
saloons, nor did they cultivate the ground
scientifically. They knew little Of art,
literature or philosophy, but they seemed
to have what they wanted, and none Of
them suffered from destitution while
others reveled in luxury. They were
born on the land, and if there is such
thing as an 'inalienable right" they had
the right to live on 1t and enjoy its pos
session undisturbed as long as they did
not interfere with others rights. Why
should a new condition be forced upon
them, however strong the arguments in
favor Of said new condition. 1t is poor
er claim to say that conquest is in the
interests of the working classes.
Poorly fed and poorly clothed toilers
must see only fine sarcasm in the argu-
ment that they need new markets for
their productions. They can easily con-
sumo the good things they produce with
comfort and benefit to themselves if the
industrial systems allowed them the
means Of doing so rational and satisfac-
tory thing. If economists who have
their welfare 30 closely at heart would,
instead of forcing labor's products onto
people who have never learned to need
them, devise some means by which pro-
ducers could equitably exchange their
own goods, they would soon see there
was no great stress for new markets aft
er ALL
1nvasions and conquests in the past
may have been essential. We cannot
see why progress should follow such
cruel lines any more than we can see
why suffering always precedes great ex-
cellence. But admit that these things
have been necessary. Certainly now an
enlightened civilization might find some
better way of pepetuating itself than by
forcible invasion and cruel subjugation.
Whatever Of good there Is in civilization
would naturally, though it might be
slowly, creep into the darkest and far
thermost corners of the earth, whatever
of bad might be lost on the way, if force
and tyranny could be eliminated from
all pioneer movements