New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-18
w cOVOTFST OF SOUTH AMERICA.


If the German Emperors dream OF tine
American peril be dismissed as 1t well may
be. as baseless and fantastic. there yet remains
a European utterance against the future peace
Of the Western Hemisphere less tneatricai put
all the more serious. That Is the declaration
that one of these days the overcrowded nations
of the Old World will demand some place 1or
overflow, and will, en- masse. attempt the con-
quest of the South American republics mat
design is cherished not merely by autocrauc
scveregns and reckless adventures put py
some of the sanest minds in the most conserva-
tive nations of Europe Some time ago Ihe
London Spectator" was quoted as voicing it in
10 uncertain tone; not for the British people, OF
course who have ample other room FOR expan-
sion. but for their less fortunate continental
neighbOrs. That judicialminded journal no"
repeats it, in still more specific FORM Inc Ter
man Emperor is jealous of Great Brtain's colo
NAL expansion. Why should he not, IT Is asRed'
gain like advantages himself by colonizlng,
conquering and annexing Southern Brazil :
This same suggestion has been made elsewhere,
and is beyond question seriously considered. IL
may be worthy of consideration here.
For it is impossible to resist the conviction
that European Powers are largely moved to
South American States. If the latter were still
Spanish provinces. the sovereignty OF SPAN
would he respected If Brazil were still under
n RrapanZa Emperor. there would be no talk
of spoliating it for Europes benefit. But they
are all republics, and republicanism is Of all
things most hateful TO the military autOcracies
of Europe. In making the conquest of Brazil,
therefore. Germany would be gaining great
a.
ing an obnoxious thing. No wonder the scheme
is tempting But the consideration that makes
IL so to European monarchists will assuredly
not commend il to the favor Of the United
States.
The most temperate and thoughtful advocates
of such a scheme of conquest argue that the
rich expanses of South America are practically
living waste, that they are and will remain unim-
proved by the present prOprietors, and that II
is neither reasonable nor humane to expect Eu-
ropean nations to remain cooped up and over
crowded while the world offers so vast oppor-
tunities for their material betterment. Apart
from the intrinsic immortality Of the last sug-
gestion, it may he fatty stated that the two
former arc untrue The lands of South America
are not lying waste. nor will they in future be
unimprovcd by their lawful owners. The vari'
Gus nations Of that continent are growing In
numbers, enterprise, wealth and all the ele-
ments of greatness, at a creditable rate and at
rate fairly commensurate with that of any In
the world outside Of the ADglo-Saxon race
Brazil. for example, had in 1872 population
Of something over 100000. In 1890 she had
more than 100000; and Of the increase no,
more than 100000 can be credited to immigra
ton. leaving a native increase Of nearly 20 pei
cent In eighteen years. Where Is the European
natien that surpasses or begins to equal, that
record? Or let us take Argentina. She had
only 10000 inhabitants IN 1869, but in 1879
she had 3.95O.OOO. She has received more mmi
grants than any other South American country
but reckoning them at the highest possible esti
mate. 1OOO.OOO. the increase of the native popu
iation has still been creditabe-more than ="
per cent in twenty-six years. Or If, again, We
turn to State to which immigration has DeeI
least numerous and In which natural condi
tons are by no means most favorable, we nno
that Colombia had 2,950,OO0 inhabitants In 1917