The herald., 1898-09-11
MR.. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN


met. is in this country. ostensibly and
perhaps wholly to pay visit to the fam
! ily of his wife, who was Miss Endicott
of Massachusetts. daughter OF Mr..
! Cleveland's first secretary of war. Mr.
Chamberlain holds a high position and
has large influence in the present Brit
ish government
1t is significant that he talks with
considerable freedom, as is evinced in
i recent interview. Mr.. Chamberlain
not long ago startled Europe by the
bold announcement that he favored an
Anglo American alliance. In his re-
! cent interview he declares that the re-
! lations between the two countries can
be as comprehensive and close as the
American people will have them. His
frankness is also signalized by his state
ment that a treaty has recently been
signed between Great Britain and Ger
many, but although he did not state the
terms, he left the right to infer that the
the entente cordiale.
His opinion that we should retain the
Philippines may be regarded as a reflex
of British feeling, and as put forward
to induce this country to be in position
to aid Great Britain in her imbroglio
over Asiatic affairs with her European
rivals. The conflict there is CONNER
cial, and territorial aggrandzemen is
Incidental. He discusses our trade pol
icy at home, and indicates that it would
b. unfortunate should we extend that
policy to our dependencies or colonies.
Great Britain is the advocate of open
markets, and it would be pleasant if the
relations between the two countries
should be carried to the extent of con-
currence upon that proposition.
Mr.. Chamberlain thinks it would be
a good thing for us should we enter upon
a career of colonization; that it would
operate as a stimulant to our people
and would not draw attention from in
ternal affairs. He cites the experiences
of his own country to prove the bene-
fetal effect of the colonization policy.
Countries surcharged with popula-
tion and cities which have become con-
gested are forced to colonize. The Gre
clan cities and Rome sent out colonies
repeatedly, but never with favorab BILE
effect upon themselves, beyond tempo
rary relief from want and starvation.
Spain and Graf Britain have been the
great colonizers of modern times Span
ish colonzing has been unfortunate for
the people of her dependencies, and final
ly for Spain herself. French colonial
ton has been of comparatively little ad-
vantage. Great Britain has made more
out of it than any other nation, and the
results in her case would have been as
unfortunate as those to Spain, had she
not been taught a lesson of wisdom by
the Revolutionary war and the achiev-
ing of our independence.
Conquest and colonization are two
different things. India cannot be said
to be British colony; on the contrary
it has ever been held as a subjugated
country, and the same is true Of parts
Of South Africa. The advantages Great
Britain has received from what Mr..
Chamberlain calls colonization, have
been from commerce, which has beer
forced upon her dependencies. The In
f1uence of her colonizng enterprises has
been to impregnate the British mind with
the idea that money getting through
trade is the highest achievement of
people.
1t must be understood that we cannot
govern dependencies as Great Britain
has and can. Our system is different.
The British constitution is elastic, hardly
more than the will of the commoners.
Our constitution is a written compact,
an inelastic instrument. a law of con-
gress of a general nature applies to
every country under our flag, and par
ticularly is this true in regard to crimes.
revenue and commercial regulations.
We have a defined method for estab-
fishing local governments, and the same
general principles must apply in all
.ssss.
Emigration and colonization are by
no means the same. Especially from
Germany, Norway, Ireland and Sweden
there have been immense migrations.
but none Of them are colonizing coun-
tries, though Germany has colonized to
some extent, but never with marked
success. We have no need to colonize.
for the unoccupied territory within our
continental domain is very large, and
will give scope for display of the en-
ergies of our people for d century. This
country is far from being surcharged
with people, and danger from starva-
ton and want is in the distance, so far
as our ability to produce is concerned.
Should we retain the Philippines, neither
they. Cuba, Hawaii nor Porto Rico will
be colories; they will be territories first
and states some time in the future, and
must and will be governed under con-
stitutional principles.
Mr. Chamberlain's remarks about the
Philippines and coloniza ton may not
have any influence upon the action of
our government in making the final
treaty with Spain, but it would not be
unnatural that he intended it should.