The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-06-19
EXPANSION AND CIVILIZATION.

All live nations expand or col
onize. The Phoenicians were the
first colonizers and Rome had her
first hard fight outside of Italy with
the colonists of the Phoenicians.
When Rome grew beyond her
limited territory she commenced
to colonize and gained the worlds
dominion. In the middle ages the
Mohammedans especially theMoors
were the colonizers and brought
even part OF Europe under control.
With the beginning of modern
history the nations of Europe, one
after another, commenced the pro-
cess of expansion. Spain, Portu-
gal and the Netherlands were per-
haps first in the race. Spain tend
ed westward and occupied a large
portion of the western continent
while Portugal and the Neither
lands went eastward and establish
ed their colonies in Africa and
Asia. Even now these two powers
retain the remnant of these early
colonies. Portugal retains the re-
glon about Delagoa Bay on the
west coast of Africa and of their
East India settlements a few of
which Goa is the most important.
In the Atlantic the Azores. Ma
delra and a few other islands are
still Portuguese. Holland has a
magnificent property for CONNER
cial purposes in the Emeda Is
lands. She has a small colony re-
naming of Guiana In the western
hemisphere.
France has been rather unfort,l-
nate in her attempts of colonial
ton until lately. Her American
colonies with the exception of a
few of the West India Islands have
been either sold as the Louisiana
purchase or been lost in war as
Canada, Of late she has success
fully attempted to settle portions
OF Africa but her requirements
there have not been successful in a
financial way. The great coloni.
zor OF the present time is England.
Her efforts in this direction NAV
be consideredlas commencing I'M
der Elizabeth about the seven
teenth or the close of the sixteenth
century. Wherever there was a
chance she has at once taken pos
session either because no one else
had occupied or she has conquered
the former possession. If we think
of the vast domain now controlled
by the English people we wonder
at the magnitude of her posses
sions. Three immense territories.
each vastly larger than the origina.
United Kingdom own the queen as
their mistress. Canada, East In.
dia, and the Australian confedera
ton are only a portion of her great
possessions. If she succeeds il
conquering the Beers, another one
of these vast territories will be
added to her.
Germany and Italy have of late
commenced to seek outside en-.
largement but have not been very
successful so far in gaining much
territory.
Austria, owing to her limited
coast line and mixed population,
has not made any effort to expand.
Russia has plenty of territory in
! this portion of the world which is
conceded to her and does not a,
present seek outside territory.
Naturally we inquire what are
the motives causing nations te
seek outside territory. The hrsr
/ is undoubtedly room for theil
crowded population. Great Bri.
tain has only a little more thar
twice the area of Iowa and would
not be able to support her popula-
ton with the usual increase fol
half a century. The same cause
has led other nations to expand
and colonize. Of course such
colonization will only be reason
! L - :.