The San Francisco call., 1898-08-15
STUDIES OF THE FUTURE.

l / ! magazines and reviews for the month the two most notable are: The Spanish War and the Equilibrium of the World" by Brooks Adams in the Forum, and Distant Possessions-The Parting of the ways" by Andrew Carnegie in the North Ameri- can Review. The conclusions of the two are diametrically opposed and the methods of reasoning are widely diverse. Both, however, give expression to the sincere thoughts of able men, and deserv- ing of much more consideration than is usually given to the feeting literature of monthly publications. Mr. Adams declares there are dominating the world two great forces whose impulses have started movements that may be interfered with to some tent but cannot be checked turned aside by states men. One of these is causing steady drift of com mercial and industrial empire westward. The other IS forcing the peoples of the world into larger combinations As result of the first the United States will find itself eventually the of the busi- ness of the globe and intimately concerned in the affairs of all nations As result of the second there will be some form of coalition between the British and the Americans made necessary resist the pow erful combinations building up in Continental Europe.
 Arguing from these propositions MT. Adams strongly urges the annexation of the Philippines at this time, in order that may have point from which protect growing commercial interests in the Orient, and he also advocates Anglo Saxon coalition. Should such alliance be brought about, he says: Probably human society would then be absolutely dominated by vast combination of peo- pes whose right wing would rest upon the British isles whose left would overhang the middle provinces of China, whose center would approach the Pacific, and who would encompass the Indian Ocean as though 1t lake, much as the Romans en- compassed the Mediterranean
 Against the conclusions of this growing prophecy of the future MT. Carnegie sets the reasoning of a practical man of business dealing with the problem from the standpoint of American interests as they exist to-day. He points out that Europe is at this time an armed camp, not because the home terri tory of any nation IS threatened with invasion but because of aggressions made by all in Africa and in Asia. If we annex the Philippines into any sort of coalition with Great Britain will involve the republic in wars, the end of which can foresee, and the results of which certainly will not tend to the maintenance of republican form of government and democratic institutions
 Moreover, MT. Carnegie points out that distant possessions a source of weakness rather than of strength even to Great Britain We with our vast and rich territory at home, have nothing to gain by them but much to lose by of the cost of gov erning and defending them. We have continent to populate and develop Within the limits of our con tnental domain safe from foreign attack, and while retain that position can play com mandng part in the world without seeking the alli- ance of any other power.
 When the excitement of the war is over the people
 like MT. Adams who eager for coalition with Great Britain and the entrance of this country into the scramble for possessions in the Orient, will have chance to take second thought of the issue When they do the intelligent among them will surely perceive the wisdom of the reasoning of Mir Carnegie. Judged from the standpoint of American interests the true policy of the nation to-day is the same as it has been in the past, to preserve curity on this hemisphere safe from any danger of complications that may involve in European strife and war