The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-12

are ever present and dominant. though
yelled by polite language and the deep
and intricate winding Of international
law. But those who guard their countries
interests are never deceived as to the is
sue and are never asleep. Under the vel
vet of formal and smiling diplomatic in
tercourse is the mailed hand ready for the
crisis if diplomacy should fail.
Thus the ancient contest has been hand
ed down through the generations, and is
finally be settled? History and logic per-
nit of fairly accurate predictions. For
many centuries the struggle over the
markets of Asia has been contest within
contest While armies were fighting,
land and ocean transportation were en-
gagged in rivalry. The camel caravan was
the sole means of bringing the riches of
India to European Asia till the famed
route. This discovery alone ASSUMED a
change in the worlds balance Of power,
for after a brief struggle it was apparent
that the caravan could not save the coun-
try that had its boundaries wholly inland.
1t became a contest between seaports.
Vessels carried all of the richest Oriental
commerce, and for a time the Venetians
enjoyed something Ike monopoly The
balance of the worlds power was located
in Southern Europe by virtue Of this
maritime supremacy, and of course dur
ing that period was in the hands of the
Latin race. But rival was slowly devel-
oping in Northern Europe. The Dutch
sailors were proving themselves more
venturesome and enterprising than their
brethren of other countries. The last
great war which occurred over the East
ern markets left the balance of power In
the hands of the sailors along the south
ern and western shores Of the North sea.
About that time came the adventures Of
Lord Give in India, which confirmed the
supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon.
1t is plain, therefore, that any effort to
change the present balance of power
OANOA
against the interest of the Anglo-Saxon.
Up to quite recently the railroad had not
been considered a factor. The defeat of
the camel had caused all important land
transportation between the East and the
West to cease. Now mark the signifi-
canoe Of the Trans-Sberian railroad.
Russia, an inland country, is virtually is
suing challenge to the maritime nations,
and Russia is no doubt dreaming of a
great railroad system that will spread out
like a fan and feed Germany, Austria,
France, Italy, and all the countries that
are either mostly inland or are overborne
by the great superiority Of the Distinctive
ly maritime powers. What does that
mean? The Latin and the Slav against
the Anglo-Saxon. and the locomotive
against the merchantmen. The locomo-
tive will do much better than the camel
did, but the geography Of the East places
it at a disadvantage in such a contest
with marine transportation. The latter
will win, or rather, retain it's lead. That
is what logic teaches. But logic does not
always keep the sword sheathed. and If
1t shall be drawn in the contest it viii be
the Anglo-Saxon against the rest of the
world. The former must retain the lead
or he will amount to nothing The bal
ance of power, If again changed. must
once more move westward, or it Will be
in the hands of the Slav and the Latin If
the Anglo-Saxon does not, by peaceful
means or otherwise, retain the mastery
of the Oriental markets he must be con-
tent with the crumbs given him by Russia
and Continental Europe. 1t Is plain that
the United States is deeply concerned and
must in the interest of self preservation
be at least a powerful moral force. 1t can
not consent to any arrangement that
would make any other race superior to
the Anglo-Saxon In the battle of life and
in material development, and this country
may yet have to take part in events that
will move the balance of the worlds
power westward across the Atlantic, and
plant it more firmly than ever in the
keeping of the Anglo-Saxon.