The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-05

year, Germany, at the end OF eighteen years
will have a navy superior to that OF France.
unless the latter country should make
equivalent additions, which she can scarcely
afford to do. II to the German feet, thus
augmented, were to be annexed that
which Holland already possesses, and which
Is capable Of great expansion, Germany
would pass, at bound, to the second place
among seq powers.
In the second place, through a dynastic
union with the Netherlands, the German
| Empire would instantly acquire q great
and opulent colonial empire. In respect OF
area, indeed, tho French colonies much
exceed the Dutch but, as regards popula-
ton, actual value and prospective capabili-
ties, they are immeasuraby inferior. The
possessions OF Holland In tho East indies
comprise 600, 900 square miles, including
not only the great islands Of Java,
Sumatra and Celebes, but largo part OF
Borneo, the western part ofNew Guinea, the
smaller Sunda Islands and the Moluccas.
Their present population does not fall
short OF thirty millions, moro than two
thirds OF whom are In Java alone. II the
administrative methods followed 30 sue
cessfully In the last-named island were to
be applied to all the Dutch East Indies,
these would easily sustain hundred
millions Of inhabitants. In Batavia
the Germans would secure colonial
insular metropolis with which in
that quarter OF tho globe Singapore
and Manila alone are comparable. Nor Ia
II only In the Far East that Germany
would profit through the practical annex
alton OF the Netherlands. BY the acquisi-
tlon OF Surnam. or Dutch Guiana, she
would gain a foothold in South America
with elastic boundary claims against
Brazil, while Curacao and its dependencies
would give her coigns OF vantage In the
Caribbean.
Not few Dutch patriots no doubt, would
dislike 10 see their countrys national
existence merged in that Of the German
Empire. just as many sturdy Scotchmen
opposed the union OF their country with
England in the early years OF the eight
eenth century. No ScotChman would now
deny, however. that his country has bene-
fitted by the change. and 1t Is equally GER
tain that Holland, constituting. as she
would, the principal maritime factor OF
''lll'h'lat'u ptIInNhy, Noulu eIt'T upon
n new and illustrlous career. Thus, and
thus only. can tho Hollanders acquire
once more n potential voice in the councils
Of the world They must clearly recognize.
for Instance. that had the matrimonial
alliance said to be contemplated taken place
six months ago, British statesmen would
have thought twice before offending Dutch
sensihillties by entering upon a contest
with the Bocr republics in South Africa. The
influence which Holland exercised two hun
drei years ago could he instantly regaincd
through a dynastic union with Prussia,
even although she retained her political
Independence, "a Scotland insisted upon
doing FOR upward OF century after the
accession Of her JAMES VI. to the English
throne. Aside moreover, from the natural
desr" To play again u great role In history,
the Hollandcrs might be impclled toward
an intimate connection with the German
Empire hy the strongest Of ethnic syinpa-
thies, because their nearest kinsmen are
those natives OF Lower Germany who spelk
dialects OF the Patt D"utsch.
On the whole, we can see no reason why
far-sightcd Hollandnrs, dissatisfied with
the cfaccment to which their country has
long been subjected. should take umhrage
at the report that their young Queen
WfLHELNISA, during her recent visit to
Berlin, looked with favor upon the sug-
gestion Of marriage TO the eldest son OF
the Emperor William III.