Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-23

what country, the revenue Will not suf-
Ter; and, in proportion as the price of
sugar is diminished, the consumption.
and, consequently. the revenue must in
crease But the West Indian trade ar
lords extensive employment to British
shippers and seamen. What more than
any equally extensive trade with any
other part of the world? The more ac-
tive our trade the more demand there
VIII be for shipping and seamen, and
every one who has learnt the alphabet
OF political economy knows that trade
Is active in proportion only as it Is free.
There are some who assert that. in
military and political point of view,
the West Indies are Of great import
ance to this country. This Is u COM
mon, put monstrous misrepreSenta-
tion. we venture to say. that Colonial
empire has been one of the greatest
curses OF modern Europe. What nation
mas 1t ever strengthened? What nation
mas II ever enriched? What have been
It's fruits? Wars Of frequent occur
renee ana Immense cost, fettered trade.
lavish expenditure, clashing jurisdic-
ton, corruption in government, and in
ulgence among the people. What have
mexico and Peru done for Spain, the
i5razlls for Portugal, Batavia for Hol-
iand! Or. If the experience of others
is lost upon us. shall we not profit by
our own? What have we not sacri-
need TO our infatuated passion for
transatlantic dominion? This it Is that
mas so often led us to risk our own
smiling gardens and dear firesidc, for
some snowy desert or infectious morass
on the other side of the globe: this in
spireu us with the project OF conquer
ing America in Germany; this induced
us TO resign all the advantages or our
lnsular situation-to embroil ourselves
III IN me intrigues. and fight the battles
OF halt the Contipent-to form coali-
tons which were Instantly broken and
10 give subsidies. which were never
earned: this gave birth to the fratri-
cldal war against American liberty.
with all It's disgraccful defeats, and all
It's barren victories, Nnd all the mas
sacres of the Indian hatchct. and all
the bloody contracts of the Hessian
slaushter-house; this 1t was which in
the war against the French republic
induced us to send thousands and tens
OF thousands of our bravest troops to
die In West Indian hospitals. while the
armies OF our enemies were pouring
over the Rhine and the Alps. When a
colonial acquisition has been in pros
pect' we have thought no expenditure
eXtraVagant no interference periIOuS
Gold has been to us as dust. and blood
as water. Shall we never learn wis
dom? Shall we never cease to prose.
cute pursuit wilder than the widest
cream OF alchemy. With all the crcduli-
~ and all the profuson of Sir Epicure
Mammon?
Those who maintain that settle
ments so remote conduce to the mill
tary or maritime power of nations. nv
IN the face of history. The colonies of
spain were far more extensive and
populous than ours. Has Spain. nj onv
Time within the last two centuries. been
a match for England either by land or
Dy sea! FIFTY years ago our colonial
dominions In America were far larger
ana more prosperous than those which
we at present possess. Have we since
that time experienced any decay i'm our
poi,lcal influence, in our opulence, or
In our security? Or shall we saw tba,
virginia was Il less valuable possession
man Jamaica. or Massachusetts than
Barbadocs?"
MARSHALL, r. PETEpSoN