The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-08
From the New York Herald.

panSlOn terms which many seem TO
think are exclusive to this country. But
a glance at events now transpiring in
other parts Of the world shows that
American expansion is only an Incl
dent in the world movement of en-
pire building.
As If by coincidence recent events in
different parts of the world have con-
tributed simultaneously to this empire
movement. These arc:
l. The South African war and it's eff
feet on the three great empires of
Africa-French, British and German.
?. The breakup of China and the
mapping of spheres" for new empire.
3. The Philippine war and it's effect
on the American possessions in the
Pacific.
4. The Venezuela award. ex-
tending the British empire in South
America.
>. American authority in Cuba. Puer-
to Rico, Hawaii and the proposed par
tition of Samoa.
BRITISH DOMAIN.
Roughly estimated, the British en-
pirc in Africa embraces 1900, 600 square
niles a region equal in extent to all
that portion of the United States east
of the Rockies. This includes the white
mans country of South Africa, with
its high table lands its diamonds and
It's gold; British Central Africa, or
| Rhodesia; British East Africa stretch
ing from the Indian ocean to Lake Vic
toria. and having within its borders
Uganda, "the pearl of Africa" discov-
cred by Henry NJ. Stanley, and now
fast developing into a prosperous and
modern community, with merchant and
( warships aiding its commerce on the
lake and railroads connecting it with
the ocean and the interior.
On the west coast is the Niger terri
| tory, holding the mouth of the great
waterway of Western Africa, under the
control of the British Royal Niger
/ company, having such absolute sway
/ that it makes war and peace, concludes
/ treaties with the natives and exercises
| all the attributes of sovereignty under
/ the protecting care of Great Britain.
/ Then there are the minor colonies, the
I Cold Coast Sierra Leone, scarcely
worth speaking of, as they are relics Of
/ past greatness during the slave trade
days.
1t Is in East Africa. however. from
/ the Cape up to the Mediterranean, that
. one sees the present imperial sway Of
the BrtOn, as well as the potential i'm
/ pOrtance of this new empire. 1t eX-
tends practically in an unbrOken sweep
from the northernmOst to the southern
/ most points of the continent. Egypt
continues to be nominally Independent.
: although under the protection of the
British flag with British officials di-
. recting Egyptian finances and British
officers leading Egyptian armies. Es-
sentially, therefore, Egypt is TO be re-
garded as a British sphere of influence,
and with Kitchener at Khartoum it
will he only a short time before Egypt
lost colonies in the SOudan will he
brought back To her and to the Brit
ish sphere of influence. The area of
Egypt and the Soudan was not in
cluded in the 100000 square miles
given as the British empire in Africa,
and If these dependencies are added.
the total is brought up to almost g.
600, 900 square miles, equal to the area
of the United States, not including
Alaska.
UNIFYING TENDENCIES.
A glance at the British possessions
in Africa show how strong the i'm
pulsc of British statesmen have been
to knit together this African empire
into one homogeneous whole instead
of detached parts, Each part is reach
ing out to it's neighbors. This has been
going on until the chance of Cairo
to the Cape" route, entirely under
British control, is no longer q dream,
Already the railroad is up to Bulu-
wayo, 1,200 miles from the Cape, while
from the north Kitchener has pushed
the railroad even farther. The Nile
and the lakes give added means OF
transportation. At present there Is
a gap of less than 800 miles in the
connection of British Central Africa
ana British East Africa, and with this
gap filled the rule of the British en-
pire viii, in fact reach from Cairo tC
the Cape 1t will be from GERMANY
or from the Congo Free State that this
gap will be made up, either by cesslor
or lease.
Considering the steady development
of this new empire in Africa and the
manifold benefits springing from it, il
would seem to be a part of this gen
eral plan that the Transvaal and the
Orange Free state should be absorbed
by the larger power, But 1T may be
that these communities will show 4
Spartan fortitudc and courage which
will resist this hitherto Irresistible tidt
of empire.
FRENCH EFFORTS.
The French explorers and statesmen
seem to have chosen Western Africa
as their field of influence, as Britain
has chosen Eastern Africa. The tota
French possessions, free from con
, troversy and dispute with other pow
; ers, now reach the enormous area o
, 100000 square miles. This includes
, the iiOurishing colony of Algeria, OF
the north, which, like Cape Colony a
| the other extremity of the continent
t is naturally adapted as a home 70
| . the white man, South of this is tina
vast sweep of country once known a
] the Desert Of Saraha, and still referre,
- TO with dersion by Lord Salisbury a
=. every light soil"
Q But France has found unknown
?. wealth i'm these sands. Already a rail
Y road has crossed Algeria and is push
Q ing into this former desert for the pur
: pose Of opening up the whole wester
!, section and bringing forth its laten
!, riches, South of the desert Franc