The San Francisco call., 1898-11-09
DANGERS OF IMPERIALISM.

n apparently we'll informed writer in the Fort / \ nightly Review says that the tendency among \ the weaker nations of Europe to get rid of their colonies is caused by general belief among them that such possessions are expensive luxury He declares that the real subject matter of the Dea goa Bay negotiations between Germany and Great Britain was the relinquisnent of all the possessions of Portugal in African territory covering area ot 100000 square miles. The Portuguese Government is now practically bankrupt, and it obtain the money to pay the damages resulting from the Dea- goa Bay arbitration only by selling its African pos sessions
 Great Britain and Germany" says the writer re- erred to- have become joint heirs to the estates ot the Portuguese crown in Africa, and while undertak
 ing the reversion in common, they have prudently provided against any cashing of interests when the time arrives for entering upon their heritage And he adds that the Anglo-German agreement covers right to pre-empt the various Portuguese colonies with the purchase money assigned to each.
 The same writer declares that the loss of the Span ish colonies through the late with the United States has produced decided sense of relet III Spain There is strong demand for cutting down the expenses of the army and navy, and the business men of the kingdom, say nothing ot the privileged classes are looking forward with hope to the time when the country will be free from the enormous drain which has heretofore crippled the home lie also notes ldCt lIIdl Italy is much gratifed having got out of her disastrous African colonial venture with clear skin, and he doubts very much whether either of these countries will ever again aspire to colonial empire.
 All this is very interesting when considered ih
 connection with the acquisition by the United States of Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines Spain, with a complete colonial system of government has made an abject failure in carrying the affairs of those islands. Yet the people of the United States with out experience or qualification, and with idea whatever of the work before then have entered gaiy upon the solution of the great problem. Nobody seems entertain any other idea of the business than that we shall make brilliant in governing these subject countries the population of which is utterly incapable of governing itself
 It would seem that at the present moment there is great need in this country of political party which will set its face strongly against the imperial or panson policy. The fact is colonial enterprises de- pend for success upon a thorough naval and civic ganization. Great Britain has such organization and she has therefore made tolerabe of the business But in a country like the United States where government is conducted solely by consent of the governed, and where fap-doodle politics and ofice-seeking are leading industries colonial ex- pansion is bound to prove failure According to the writer in the Fortnghtly, Spain IS glad to get rid of her colonies. Perhaps before we have had Cuba Porto Rico and the Philippines many years shall cede them with equal relief But in the meantime great deal of discredtable and hu1nliatng history will have been made