The San Francisco call., 1898-06-29
WORDS OF WARNING.


 N expressions of British sentiment favorable to D American annexation of the Philippine Islands and other colonies of Spain that it is worth while direct attention certain words of warning from the same source. Colonial possessions are viewed by all Engshmen as desirable, and some of the sin cerest friends of the United States that country citing the experience of the British empire itself a proof that will upon hazard and uncertain Ii we follow her lead a model instead of profting by it as warning.
 Henry Labouchere describes the result of colonial expansion upon British politics in these words: We used to glory that we were a military nation We have drifted into the position of nation with larger armaments than any other No matter what spend on armaments we are called to spend more We hold larger portion of the globe than any other nation. So absorbing becomes earth hunger when indulged, that we are every year adding new territories to empire. And what is the result? All domestic reforms are put aside as unworthy to oc cupy our imperial minds. If poor man asks for bread he is told oyfuly with the comforting reflection that he is citizen of extensive and banding empire"
 The truth of these words will be questioned by any one familiar with the course of British politics Again and again MT. Gladstone in the course of his illustrious career thwarted in his efforts complish great reform at home by the interer- ence of foreign complications arising from some Of the wide scattered colonies of the empire At this very time Great Britain leaves her people half edu- cated and serious local evils unremeded because so much of her attention, her wealth and her energies required to maintain her prestige in Asia and Africa
 It is in this generation only tha. the wiser class of British patriots have been averse to colonial ex panson. Nor have the objections to the expansive been nded +Ie ;n+arf of that policy with home reforms It has been pointed out in times past that colonial possessions of the em- pire have not only prevented the workingman at home from getting a crust of bread, but have been actually cause of military weakness, the nation
 In his essay the West Indies, Macaulay says: There some who assert that in a military and naval point of view the West Indies are of great inn portance to this country This is common but monstrous misrepresentation. We venture to say that colonial empire has been one of the greatest curses of modern Europe" After referring to the disastrous experience of Spain and Holland and Por tugal with their colonies, he adds "If the experi- ence of others is lost upon us shall not profit by own? What have we not sacrificed to our in- fatuated passion for trans Atlantic dominion This inspired with the project of conquer ing America. This induced us to resign all the ad vantages of our insular situaon-to embro ourselves in the ntrgues and fight the battles of half the conti nent-to form coalitions which were instantly broken and to give subsidies which were never earned
 Shall we learn wisdom2 Shall we never cease to prosecute pursuit wilder than the widest dreams of alchemy with all the credulity and all the profusion of Sir Epicure Mammoth"
 Certain British jingoes engaged in this pursuit would be glad to have America embark with them and help them fight their battles. They urge us to an alliance and to the annexation of Hawaii the Phil ippines and everything in sight. That course would mean our embodiment in all European wars here after, and the sacrifice of all home reforms to imperial policies It would be to bring upon America all the disasters which, according to Labouchere and Ma caulay, have already befallen Great Britain