The herald., 1897-02-20
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. vVv TTiVI
( HOW NATIONS HAVE !
STOLEN THE EARTH :
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Among the arts Wnlcn nave peen ce-
veloped and possibly perfected in the
latest centuries is that of annexation
the science by which nations extend
their boundaries and add actually or ap-
parently to their duminions. We are
prone to speak of the Greeks under AL
exander ard the 'oid Romans" s"-though
in many ways they are still alive-as
being great masters of the schemes 1or
accommodating territory; yet when they
had passed from their possessions there
were long ages when are art seemed
lost; when bloody and endless wars
were fought for some petty dukedom or
earldom which changed hands hall a
dozen times in the course OF century.
The "Holy Roman Empire" of later
years bore no comparison in area to
the empire of the Caesars.
With the discovery of the Americas
began the idea of acquiring by Euro
pean powers great domains In the New
World by merely claiming possession.
La Sale expected to hold great snare
of the North American continent Dy
the simple ceremony of raising a cross
on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico ana
making proclamation in the name or the
most high ard mighty Louis, the four
teenth of that name. The great lend
grabbers in North America were Great
Britain. France and Spain, and, In South
America, Spain and Portugal. In time
Great Britain ousted France from a
portion of the continent. and France sold
the rest to the United States, and spain
fell back into Mexico, to lose 1t by reyo-
luton. In South America, both Spain
and Portugal lost their hold by revolu-
tions India, which France intended to
divide with Great Britain, or perhaps
acquire in it's entirety, was lost to that
power, Great Britain succeeding.
At the beginning 1t looked as If Great
Britain was decidedly in the lead In the
land-grabbing business. and within tbs
century the old industry has been re-
vived ard very largely in the continent
of Africa. Since 1854 the British empire
has added to its vast area 2,600,O00 square
miles-a domair equal, II is calculated,
to a dozen German empires, or more
than the whole of the Russian empire.
Germany, since the same year has
laid claim to nearly 200, 900 square miles
in Africa and half of New Guinea, and
has multiplied her area more than SIX
times. France has laid claim to the
desert Of Sahara, great region in the
Congo country absorbed half of Ton
quin and Siam and annexed Madagascar.
Italy and Spain have both "staked OUT
extensive possessions in Africa. Great
Britain, by direct military movement Is
in possession in Egypt, and through
their character but really armed and
aggressive, like their prototype, the
East India company may be said to De
acquiring dominion in Africa every year.
John Company" goes ahead and John
Bull follows.
| 1t may be that all this is in accordance
! with the ancient prophecy to the effect
| that the righteous shall Inherit earth.
An interesting question arises as to how
| the righteous propose to divide. In old
| times the British might be depended up
| on to drive out the Spanish and French,
| or, in lieu of that accomplishment, the
| Spanish colonists could be safely relied
| on to shake off the authority of the
| mother country. The modern situation
! Is different. The Germans, should they
! choose to stay. will not be driven off by
anybody. In the DOMAIN of trade Great
| Britain is likely to maintain superiority.
! Starting In with beads, rum and old
| muskets, Great Britain stands the best
I chance to hold the trade" Of Africa.
These modern land grabs, while possi-
| bly, accompanied by much of oppression
| and injustice, have not been accomplish
| ed with the bloodshed and loss of life
| that accompanied the wars of old. Nil
| lions of acres have been acquired with
| out q shot being fired. The more un-
| civilized tribes are likely TO vanish be-
| fore the spread of what it is customary tt
call peaceful colonization" The mora
| Intelligent may survive and mingle theil
| blood with that of their conQuerors. Az
! Africa that is not Africa and yet moi
Europe Will be the result.-Kansas City
| Star.