Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-01
GOBBLlNG The GLOBE,
LITTLE GROUND LEFT FOR THE MA
TIoNS TO DEvoUR.


The change in ownership of several
large slices of land on the globe, as a re-
suit of the Spanish war, makes 1t inter-
csting to take a blrdseye squint at the
earth and see what a precious small frac-
ton of 1t Is not covered by somebody's
mortgage, says the New York Mail and
Express. BY long odds the most stipend
GUS acquisition, at one fell swoop, came
when the discoveries of Columbus vested
the title deeds to the new world in Spain
Gradually, by wrts of ejectment, based
on revolution, all this superb domain has
passed out her hands, till, at the end OF
four centuries, Spain now finds herself
driven, bag and baggage, from her vener-
able possessions In America
Next in point of magnitude was the
English conquest OF India, Australia, New
Zealand and British North America.
Good government In all these vast re-
gons has rendered to quiet title so far
that Cousin Bull may be looked upon as
their permanent landlord. Russias alb
sorpton of Siberia the Dutch acquisition
In the East Indies and the territorial
seizures OF Germany and France left but
little of the earth's surface in the open
market.
About a generation ago, after series
Of discoveries in Africa, the powers OPEN
cd their eyes TO the wisdom of slicing up
the Dark Continent. Within a single gem
Grafton. and chiefly within the past de-
cadc that vast area has been practically
gobbled. Nearly the whole of South Africa
and huge part of North Africa have
witnessed a rapidlty OF conquest compar-
able only to that OF the Spanish captains
after the discovery of the New World, but
IL has not, like the latter, been attended
by bloodshed, rapine and widespread ruin.
II was "a commercial grab, pure and
simple. wit, the phlanthropic annex cal
led tho destruction of the slave trade
that oldest and direst plague-spot OF the
continent.
PARTITION OF AFRICA.
1t had, perforce, to be conducted on
very different principles from the Spanish
seizures IN America, because there were
too many strong powers who wanted a
piece of the African pork, and no single
orgre would he allowed to swallow 1t all.
So they resorted to diplomacy. All the
powers were called to the inquest and
each had his surgeon on hand with his
knife. Tho autopsy was managed on bust
ness principles by the conventions entered
into by Great Britain with France, Ger
many, Italy and Portugal during tho
years 1904. They called it ''delmiting the
present and future spheres of action
and the results were reasonably final. Ex-
tent of the territories assigned to each of
the contracting powers was definitely set
| tied by those important international trea-
| ties OF course, the natives had no vote.
| 1t was division without representation.
There was ono snaC, however, and
| they've not got it out of the channel yet.
Tho Germans introduced a diplomatic
novelty called "Hinterand." 1t means
backlands, or the regions extending inland
! from any strip of occupied seaboard,
much like the common law claim that a
man who owns property, owns to the Sky
--"usque ad coelum.' The first clash un-
der the theory came when Portugal ran
/ her claims inland till they butted into a
choice reservation OF John Bull. This was
amicahly settled by a compromise, but
| there has been continual friction ever
since over his Hinterland principle be-
the central Soudan and the South African
matinee.
| In this way Africa, which, fifty years
ago. was largely the property of corfiding
| black cannihalS without wardrobes, Is
now actually occupied or administered by
! the powers, or claimed as under their pro-
lection, or within their respective spheres
OF influence, Large sections of the pro-
tcctod lands are really administered" by
! trading companies which enjoy almost
! sovereign rights and are responsible &c
the homo governments. Other regions
! such as the Cape and Natal, constitute
self-governing colonies, in the enjoyment
OF representative institutions, while
others are Crown colonies. The vast
Kongo basin has hitherto been admins.
tered under International guarantees by
the King of the Bclgians.