The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-14
r1rr hnour coroNrEs.
Answers 10 q Fev Questions Submitted by
q Run Correspondent.

Vl0Wb eNDTbbbBu III tu6 h0NbbHbotS NN
subject Of colonies. and on the Philippines In
particular. submitted a list Of questions to
a travelled merchant and observer OF things
political. which we're answered In the order In
which he presented them:
What right have strong nations to appro-
pirate the lands OF aboriginal peoples?"
The right that the human race has to turn
the resources OF the earth to the best account
for its subsistence and we'll being. To deny this
right would be TO say that the domain OF the
United States. capable Of supporting several
hundred millions OF people, should have been
left to. the exclusive occupancy OF a few hun
dred thousand savaRes. This right gives no
warrant for ill-treatinR the aborigines and
involves the duty OF promoting their develop
ment and welfare"
Have not the peoples whose lands have
been appropriated been cruelty treatedT'
in particular cases. yes on the whole. no. A
colonial policy that e~xterminates the natives.
grinds the colony to all the home treasury
and disreRards the colonial interests Is n blight
and a curse. In the long run It falls. rs In
Spain, once the leading colonial power"
Have the peoples coming under the con-
troll Of strong nations been benefited by the
changer"
Certainly. II they are misRoverned
they are not benefited any moro than the
ICbtIlb vi NV hClhou 'oh" p'SeoON w
n corrupt and tyrapnous Government. But
bad govern ment is not the rule among colonial
powers. Denmark safeguards her Eskimos In
Greenland in all ways, and they are increasing
in number and have an unfailing market for
their oil and furs. England did not seize
Upper Burmah till the atrocities OF Thebaw
became uncomfortable. Now there 10 security
for life. dacoity has been suppressed. there
are railroads and steamboats,, moro work for
the people and more outlets for their products.
Certain evils and some injustice have marked
the partition OF Africa among the European
powers. but. on the whole. the evil this parti-
ton has wrought is but n drop in the bucket
in comparison with the good It is doing. H.
Illustrations of the improved condition Of peo-
pies who have been brought.under good colo
NAL rule might he given by the column.
Look ut Tunis. for instance. Before France
established her protectorate n few years ago
her did not exceed $4.5O0.000 a
year. In 1896 It had risen to S16.4 O5 900. In
ten years over $40. OO0.O 0 have beon spent In
building railroads and highways and improv-
ing harbors. and large areas. hitherto untitled.
are now raising cereals and olives"
do colonizinR nations admit the peoples
whom they brine under their flag to a fair share
in their own Government
Yes. II they are capable OF self-govera-
ment. It is the essence Of modern colo
nial policy to give full SCOPE TO al! The
native intelligence and ability In the de-
~velopment OF the colony. Native governments
are continued so far as they are worthy and
helpful. In Africa, Java, India, and other
lands native chiefp and princes remain in local
control II 1t Is in them to assist in the progress
Of the country. In many instances their sons
have been taken to Europe to be educated at
the expensebf the State. The fact that even
araN ~ %tz III a. - - A.
tives are regarded is shown by the signing Of
over 1000 treaties with native chiefs during
the partition OF Africa: and these chiefs have
been maintained IN their authority IL they
have deserved to be thus trusted"
D not white governments err In trying to
enforce their institutions. habits and ways Of
thinking upon black or yellow races?"
They are not doing this. AS a rule. they in
terfere with no mans religion. customs or local
government. but they will oppose any influence
which they deem harmful to their scheme of
development. France is Roman Catholic. but
she treats Protestant missionaries and con-
verts In Tonkin or the French Congo no better
and no worse than she treats Roman Catholics
or Buddhists. The British are raising money
to start a M~ohammedan college at Omdurman
because It is believed that an institution Of
learning which does not oppose the prevailing
RELIGIOUS sentiment will do most good there"
What are the special advantages OF pos
sessing colonies?"
Nations seek new colonies for the pur-
pose Of assuring new sources of raw ma
terial. special privileges for their traders
and. above all. new markets for their
productions. Several OF the largest nations
must have greater outlets for their surplus
products or their people at home will suffer.
Usually. but not always. the mother country
has a larger part Of the external trade Of her
colonies than any other nation. The value of
the imports into Cape Colony in 1895 from
Great Britain was nine times that Of the
United States. which stood second on the list.
The external trade Of Tunis with France in
the same year was five times as great as with
any other country. midas trade with Great
Britain is very nearly as large as her CON-
meIce with all other nations"
If colonies are n good thing to have. why
has the United States waited 80 long before
seeking to acquire them?'
I'VE have not sought to acquire them
now. Tho opportunity and duty OF be-
coming a colonial power have come to
us through circumstances we did not in
vite. 1t happens that this opportunity and
duty confront us at the very time when we are
beginning to manufacture a great deal mora
than We can consume. and we must compete
in the worlds markets with other manufuc-
turers or suffer. Self-interest. II no other mo.
tive. should prompt us to assume the RESPONSE
billties thrust upon US. with full faith in our
intention and ability to discharge them in such
a manner as TO benefit these new peoples as
we'll as ourselves. We have higher obliga-
tions In the matter than self interest imposes,
but merely from that standpoint we should be
very foolish not to plant both feet on the want
age ground offered to us in the Orient, the
very threshold OF the home OF one-third OF the
worlds population. who are opening their
doors wider and wider to foreign
We desire and need our full share OF it,"
Fruit-GrOwing In Canada.
From The Montreal Herald.