Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-17
COLONIES and THEIR PEOPLE
England's Example and United States
Policy Contrasted Together.
COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL CONQUEST
How the British Empire Has Becn
Built Up ana why This Nation
Should Avoid the Policy
of Expansion.

With a good attendance present the Young
Mems History club found the occasion Of Its
second meeting at the CASTELAR, Street Pres
byterian church a very instructive one on
governmental policy from two points OF
view. widely different though not neces-
sarily opposed.
The topic for the evening was the Eng
lish Colonies" This was discussed at length
In an interesting paper by Prof. John Cor.
don OF the Presbyterian theological semi
nary and 1t natul ally suggested the talk
which followed from Edward Rosewater,
who had been invited to give his we'll known
views on the expansion craze which has
come over this country since the war with
Spain Mr.. Rosewater exposed the fallacies
of the imperialistc proposition.
The main idea Of Prof. Gordon's paper
was to show the classification Of the English
colonies under the three heads Of re-
sponsible, irresponsible and crown colonies
and the diverse methods by which England
governs her colonies. But there was an un-
derlying thought that her colonial expansion
had been due to conquest both CONNER
clally and politically. He also reviewed the
Spanish colonization Of Mexico. Central and
South America and her West Indian possess
sions. In connection with this came a res
tion Of North America and the expansion OF
this nation from the thirteen original At
lantic colonies to the Mexican gulf and the
Pacific ocean. In the growth OF this country
the expansion over contiguous territory had
been either by conquest or by purchase.
England's present colonies In Canada, the
west indies, Australasia, Africa and India
mad large share of attention. The taking
OF Australia had demonstrated a principle
OF taking possession Of territory not owned
by any other power, but in the cases of
Canada and Africa the former was ceded by
France and the latter started with the sez-
ure OF the Cape Of Good Hope while Hol-
land was at the mercy of Napoleons army.
India the Most Fascinating.
India Prof. Gordon considered the most
fascinating study Of all colonization move
ments. 1t began in 1000 with the incorpora-
tion OF the East India company, a company
OF merchants with only $150,00O or 100000,
yet 1t had resulted in appropriating the ter
ritory OF millions OF people. India was thus
annexed, first commercially and second
politically.
In the diverse methods by which England
governs her colonies Prof. Gordon noted
that French law obtains in Quebec. Dutch
law In Guiana, the Koran is the law book
OF the Straits settlement and In some parts
OF India the laws of Names are followed
while the responsible colonies, as he called
them, have practically self f-government. the
crown colonies are under form of absolute
despotism, being governed absolutely by
omclals sent from England. India, az an
appanage or the English crown, comes most
closely to the crown colony method.
Mr.. Rosewater said he would simply at
lt,,.v
sion idea. Primarily. it was understood
that the expansion policy had generally been
that OF conquest. afterward making the
conquered people adapt themselves to IN.
new order of things, as had been the policies
OF Rome, Assyria. Egypt, and all the ancient
empires. More recently, ne observed the
Idea had come to be the unloading Of un.
desirable people, such as offenders against
No laws and political disturbers, onto new
.rritory, just as England has done with
australia, as Russia is still doing with
Siberia and France with DEVILS island. hs
edded with fine sarcasm. But the main
purpose now Is to acquire q field for an
oVernow OF thrifty people, secure the com
merce OF the colonies and make them bear
part OF the burden Of government The
responsible colonies Of the English system
ne considered s.L-ewhat analogous to our
territories. Englands chief purpose in
the thirteen original colonies on
this continent was to create a source of in |
come and help in time Of war. Exploitation |
was the real object. |
Plan that IL Distasteful.
But when we come to the irresponsible |
or the crown colonies" said Mr.. Rosewater,
I'VE dnd that class Of colonies most dis. |
tasteful to us. Under our form of govern
ment every citizen is a sovereign. We never |
can have subjects. There 10 where the |
broad line Of distinction is to be drawn" !
He argued that such colonies are made to |
bear fiscal and military duties without en-
joying representation In government.
A strong point made by Mr.. Rosewater |
was that the responsible colonies OF England |
are mostly In the temperate zones, while |
the other classes were in the tropics, where |
the people are slightly above slaves. Spain's |
colonization Of America had been based upon |
the divine rights of popes and kings and |
built up on slavery. Its great object was
to plunder the people. though they carried |
the banner OF Christianity. The trouble