The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-17
The Pros and Cons
Hbouf Colonies
From the New York Sun.

n young man, perplexed by the con-
IM fcting views expressed in the
I'm newspapers on the subject of col
! j7l onies, and on the Philippines in
particular, submitted list of
questions TO travelled merchant and
observer of things political, which We're
| answered in the order in which he pre-
| sented them
what right have strong nations to
appropriate the lands of aboriginal peo-
| peS?"
THE right that the human race has to
turn the resources of the earth to the
best account for its subsistence and well
being. To deny this right would be to
| say that the domain Of the United States,
| capable of supporting several hundreu
| millions of people, should have been
| left to the exclusive occupancy of a few
| hundred thousand savages. This right
| gives no warrant for ill-treating the
| aborigines and involves the duty OF pro-
| noting their development and welfare
Have not the peoples whose lands
have been appropriated been cruelty
| treated?'
"In particular cases, yes; on the whole,
| no. A colonial policy that eXtermnates
| the natives, grinds the colony to fill
| the home treasury and disregards the
| colonial interests is a blight and curse.
In the long run it fails, as in Spain, once
the leading colonial power"
Have the peoples coming under tho
| control of strong nations been benefited
by the changer"
Certainly. If they are misgOvcrned
| they are not benefited any more than
! the people of Turkey are helped and
| blessed by a corrupt and tyrannOus gov
| crnment. But bad government Is not the
rule among colonial powers. Denmark
| safeguards her Eslijmos in Greenland in
all ways and they are increasing in
number and have an unfailing market
Tor their oil ana furs. England did not
, seize | ppeT BImal TIL the atrocities
of Thebaw became uncomfortable. Now
/ there is security for life, dacotty has
| been suppressed, there are railroads and
| steamboats,, moro work for the people
and more outlets for their products. Ger
tain evils and some injustice have mark
cd the partition Of Africa among tho
| European powers. but, on the whole. tho
evil this partition has wrought is but 4
drop in the bucket in comparison with
the good it is doing. Illustrations of the
improved condition Of people who have
been brought under good colonial rule
might be given by the column. Look at
Tunis for instance Before France cs-
tablished her lrOtectorate a few years
ago her commerce did not exceed 81 800, %
OUO a year. In 1855 it had risen to Sl6,-
$4,000. In ten years over $GO,0o,0OoO have
been spent in building railroads and
highways and improving harbors, and
large areas, hitherto untitled, are now
raising cereals and olives"
do colOnizing nations admit the poo-
pies whom they bring under their nag
10 fair share In their own govern
menL?"
yes, If they are capable of self-govern-
| meut. It is the essence OF modern colo
NAL policy to give fun scope to all the
native intelligence and ability in the de-
Velopment of the colony. Native gov
ernmcuts are continued so far as they
are worthy and helpful. In Africa, Java,
, India, and other lands native chiefs and
princes remain in local control If ii is
in them 10 assist in the progress of the
country. In many instances their sons
have been taken to Europe TO be educated
at the expense of the state The fact
that even among barbarous tribes the
rights of the natives 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 If they
have deserved TO be thus trusted"
do not white governments err in try
! ing to enforce their institutions, habits
and ways of thinking upon black or YET
low races?'
"They are not doing this. As rule
they interfere with no mans religion
customs or local government, but they
will oppose any influence which they
velopment. France is Roman Catholic
! but she treats Protestant missionaries
Congo no better and no worse
than she treats Roman Catholic:
or Buddhists. The British are rails
ing money TO start Moham
medan college at Omdurman because il
is believed that an institution of learn
, ing which does not oppose the prevailing
religious sentiment will do most gooC
there"
, what are the special advantages q
possessing colonies?"
Nations seek now colonies for the pur
pose of assuring new sources of raw ma
p terial, special privileges for their trad
ers and, above all, new markets for theil
productions. Several of the largest ma
= tions must have greater outlets for theil
surplus products or their people at homt
, will suffer. Usually, but not always the
mother country has larger part of th'
external trade of her colonies than any
| other nation. The Value of the imnortl