Washington sentinel., 1900-09-29
German Expansion

German Expansion,
There seems to be a singular
fatality about all German colonial
ventures and ambitions, so far as
they have gone. The empire now
pays a matter Of sixteen and one
hall millions OF marks per year
towards the support OF the German
colonies, while the total export |
and import trade of Germany with |
all the colonies combined does not
nearly figure up 70 that. The lat
estacquisitions, viz, the Carolines,
Mariannes and Palao Islands, will
considerably increase the expense
account, as shown by the bills pre-
pared for the Reichstag, without
adding appreciably to the income
column. In tact, German experts
have stated that these newest pos
sessions are practically worthless.
From year to year the German
colonies have asked for bigger
sums out Of the empires treasury,
and despite the warnings OF the
LIBERAL wing in the Reichstag,
these sums have invariably been
granted. From the official statis
tics, however, It will be seen that
England has a much larger trade
with the German colonies than
has the home country The Brit
ish trade with the most Important
and the largest OF the German col
onies, German East Africa, last
year was treble that with Ger
MANY.
Moreover, this colony lies within
the tropical belt and is uninhabit-
able Tor Germans. The German
officials, even, though their salary
is about four times that at home
and their life there an easy one,
either die from fevers within year
or two, or else return on sick leave
with shattered health. It is worse
in the Cameroons, Togo, and in
the Polynesian possessions, and in
German Southwest Africa, the
only colony where a longer or
perhaps even a lifelong residence
is possible for Germans, there are
other drawbacks, such as the ster-
lie soil, the lack Of water, etc. So
that it is not too much to say that
all the German colonies, though
in point OF size they cover six times
the territory Of the empire itself,
are burden and are likely to re.
main so. Climatic objections,
which are the most serious in the
case, cannot be overcome by any
amount Of eloquence or enthusiasm.
Besides, as time goes on new
troubles arise. The beri beri fever
is now endemic in the Western
African possessions Of Germany,
and famine and native revolts have
become regular features Of the
eastern side, while the majority Of
the companies formed for the eco-
nomic exploitation Of these colo
MES settle with their creditors alter
few years existence. A compu-
tation recently made put the losses
sustained by German capitalists,
large and small, in such patriotic
colonial ventures during the past
FIVE years at the sum OF 1876 900, q.
600 marks. In a word, Germany
has not made a success Of her col
onies thus tar in any sense Of the
word, either financially or politi-
cally, or in the matter of prestige.
But there is there, and has been for
ten years past, perfect colonial
or expansiOnist craze, in many re-
spects analogous to the one now
raging in the United States, and
this form ofnational insanity seems
to be rather in the ascendant than
on the wane. The Emperor is on
the side OF these enthusiasts, and
that, with the enormous influence
he exerts on national sentiment,
accounts for much. Then, too,
the fat colonial offices-mere copy
ing clerks receiving what would
be in Berlin a princely salary, and
former corporals and sergeants in
the German army holding import.
ant posts-explaIn some OF the
facts. The whole mater, includ.
ing the system that mas grown out
Of it so quickly, is to be thor
oughlY gone into at the coming
session oi the Reichstag, and the
anti-colonials, with Eugene Rich
ter at their head, will make a strong
stand IN favor Of Withholding the
annual emoluments, or at least
cutting them down.