Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-10-29
SMALL NATIONS ECLlPSED.
sut In Their Eclipse Lies Their Sc
curitN Aissinst AbsorptiOn.


curity Against Absorption.
Tho aspiration with which tho queen
regent of Holland closes the proclama-
ton in which she announces the Access
sion of hen. daughter to royal powers,
that Holland "may Locomo great i'll ev-
erything in which q small nation can
be great, - is evidence that she realizes
that this is an age in which little coun-
tries will do very well if they do not
become less. This is an age OF consollda-
ton of power by the expansion of terri :
tory. Small nations, those with q 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 tho 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 arc 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
ewes 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 oantons.
France would be pleased to rectify her
frontier at the Swiss expense. Germany
has 4 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 good thing for it
self out of the old time relationship.
These small nations al live quito
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, drowsy little power
in corner by herself. Holland still has
6 great colonial empire, with native
population of more than so, 600, 600,
and does Il snug business, accumulates
money and is in every way most re-
spectacle little country, only asking to
be let alone. Neither by land or sea is
Holland Il formidable power. Her amy
is very SMALL as must be the case with
country whose population is about
5000, 600, mostly bur9hcrs 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 arc {. stout hearted
race, but in these days the battle is
with the strong, who have Il good or
ganization. That Holland may long
continue to dream beside her canals il
peace is the wish of her people, who
h viewer, are rather disquieted at seeing
the great scepter pass into the hands OF
young girl. They realize that ambi-
tious neighhorirg nations may aspire &c
control Holland by dyaastic alliance
and arc naturally anxious that the
qneen's choice Of q husband shall not
fall upon prince whose kinsmen may
CT can make him the agent of a scheme
to subvert the independence of the
Kingdom Holland is constitutional
kingdom, where the people are the
source of power, but even in such &
country the queens husband may exert
an influence which the laws are power
less to defeat. Boston Transcript.