The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-01

in the international empire OF the Pacific.
Down IN the East Indies Is the system of
compulsory cultivation and perpetual lease
practiced by the Dutch as a means Of con-
trolling and making useful the more or
less unintelligent natives. In Sarawak the
native is under the voluntary domination
of white ra5ah. In the Fills and New
Zealand a nominal and active government
is conducted by civilized electors. aided
by native chieftains of limited power. In
Samoa Is, or has been, the tripartite SUI
zerainty OF Germany. France and Eng
land In New Guinea a territorial area IS
divided among three nations. In the New
Hebrides is neither local kingship nor
chieftainship nor European dominance,
and yet there is European suZerainty
shared in by three powers, and in the
Solomon islands, where savages still sur
vive. there is the like situation. In New
Caledonia is a remnant of the convict Pc
riod OF Australia, where the population is
gradually being made M OF ex-criminals
On parole and where the unparalleled resi-
dents when they talk of employing help,
remark. nonchalantly: "Je prefere Tas-
sassin.' In Tonag is a native. a black
king And in Hawaii is the spirit of re-
publican annexation.
What such a confusion Of affairs may
develop into is a matter beyond coniec-
ture. Prior to the entrance Of Uncle Sam
into the empire by the acquisition Of Ha-
wall Guam and the Philippines. affairs
seemed to be proceeding peacefully
enough Each nation. or each independent
group of islands, wrestled with its own
problems and laid its own plans without
throwing purposes or struggles into the
face of others. The only rumor of i'm
pending disputes emanated from Samoa,
where the difficulties We're long since adj
justed in the tripartite convention. form
of settlement which had previously been
Guinea the Hebrides and the Solomon ISL
ands. But as German aggressiveness
and German determination TO expand
trade caused the trouble in Samoa, so the
question of harhors and trade dominance
gradually asserted itself. only waiting for
the Spanish war TO bring II TO issue.
Americas difficulties with Spain chang
ed the question of trade dominance for the
moment TO the question of naval position.
and the nations began a struggle for naval
and coaling stations. When the United
States, hitherto the most peaceful Of all
nations, jumped into the arena and acouir-
ed authority and the direction Of COM
merce by military force. the other nations
had no alternative but to scramble for
strategic posts. A period of Notifications.
mercantile diplomacy and remodelng of
tariff sheets and of political relations thus
set In, whose importance cannot easily be
measured.
When Uncle Sam took Manila Emperor
William wanted-and now has--the Caro-
lines. When Uncle Sam began to talk of
his cables to Guam and Manila, France
made talk of independent wires to all her
colonies. Then the British scheme for
cable connection between the Australian
federation and the extreme end of British
North American possessions received an
extraordinary impetus.
To protect his route to Manila I-ncIe
Sam wanted naval station at Guam: he
revived his claim to Midway. and he
planned deliberately for protection to Ha
wall Then he went in for the Nicaragua
canal. that he might transmit his ships the
more easily from New York to defend his
new dependencies. Britain far sighted
and masterfu! has required the United
states TO pledge the neutrality of the
canal. and thus has opened the way for
the nations of the earth TO enjoy common
facilities with the United States for reach
ing their dependencies. Since Uncle sam
may not fortify the canal. Germany ana
England and France and Holland are
brought almost as near to their pacIn,
possessions as is the United States The
United states is placed directly In the
path between the nations of Eurone and
the nations of Europe as they are renaated
on the continent of Asia and in the waters
OF the Pacific. II is impossible not To see
that Uncle Sam is in the cauldron
Double. double toll and troub,e
fTe burn and cauldron bubble :"