Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-10-14
SMALL NATIONS ECLIPSED.
But In Their Eclipse Lies Their Sc
curity Against Absorption.

curity Against Absorption.
The aspiration with which the queen
regent Of Holland closes the proclama-
tion in which she announces the acces-
sion of her daughter TO royal powers.
that Holland may become great in ev-
erytbing In which a small nation can
be great" is evidence that she realizes
that this is an age in which little coun-
tries will do very we'll if they do not
become less. This is an age of consoliiI Ia
tion Of power by the expansion Of terri
tory. Small nations, those with popu-
lation of few millions, that yet retain
their independence owe retention more
to good fortune than to their ability in
arms. The chief element Of this good
fortune is the rivalry among the larger
nations that would absorb them and the
determination of each of the great
powers that the others shall make no
acquisition that shall upset the balance
Of power. For this reason such small
countries as Switzerland, Belgium, Hol-
land, Portugal and Greece are allowed
TO continue on the map. Germany would
like to absorb Holland, but that would
not be tolerated by England.
France has long cast hungry eyes on
Belgium, but Germany vetoes the full
fillment of French desires, and England
would not be Indifferent We all recall
how Bismarck used to dangle before the
eyes Of Napoleon III the suggestion that
some day or other, as the reward for
his nutrality during Prussia's progress
in ACKNOWLEDGMENT, slice of Belgium
might be given to France. Switzerland
is surrounded by covetous neighbors
Italy would like the Swiss cantOns
France would be pleased to rectify her
frontier at the Swiss expense. Germany
has q similar wish, but Austria would
not consent to partition of Switzerland
that did not give her predominance, and
against all this the other would be par
titioners would be up in arms. Portugal
is protected by British friendship, which
takes care to make a good thing fo1 it
self ont Of the old time relationship.
These small nations all live quite
comfortably in their isolation from
great interests, but the day is past when
they can expand their territories or re-
peat the great deeds Of their prime
Switzerland lives on the summer Wis
itors, and what Portugal lives on is
mainly memory, a drowsy little power
in a corner by herself Holland still has
a great colonial empire, with native
population Of more than 30, 600, coo,
and does a snug business, accumulates
money and is in every way a most re-
spectacle little country, only asking to
be let alone. Neither by land or sea is
Holland formidable power. Her Amy
is very small, as must be the case with
a country whose population is about
5000, 600, mostly burghers Of the most
unmilitary taste. The Dutch navy is
likewise small, and the carrying trade
Of Holland is but the shadow Of what
it once was.
The Hollanders are a stout hearted
race, but in these days the battle is
with the strong, who have good or
ganization. That Holland may long
continue to dream beside her canals in
peace is the wish Of her people, who,
h viewer, are rather disquieted at seeing
the great scepter pass into the hands OF
a young girl. They realize that ambi-
tious neighboring nations may aspire to
control Holland by dynastic alliance
and are naturally anxious that the
queens choice Of husband shall not
fall upon prince whose kinsmen may
or can make him the agent Of a scheme
to subvert the independence of the
kingdom. Holland is a constitutional
kingdom, where the people are the
source Of power, but even in such a
country the queens husband may exert
an influence which the laws are power
less 10 defeat. Boston Transcript