The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-11-02
THE TEMPTATION OF THOR.

One of the most important questions
 which will occupy the attention of l Christendom in the near future, it is
 safe to predict is the relation of Flu
 ropean nations to South America and
 incidentally the application of the Mon-
 roe Doctrine. Recently numerous ar- | ticles upon this question have appeared
 in European magazines and newspapers
 and it has been predicted that the | United States and Germany will finally l drift into war If we undertake to apply 1 the Monroe Doctrine so as to exclude | Germany from South American affairs | or colonization. AS the island of Great | Britain began to be overcrowded col onies were established in various parts of the earth so that when the English | man left home to seek his fortune he would still be British subject and un- der the protection of the British flag. In this way the British Empire grew, and as it expanded the markets for the factories at home were enlarged and extended. Without her colonies, Eng land o-day, because of the small size of the Island of Great Britain, would
 probably be a third class power in stead of the mistress of the seas and
 the greatest commercial nation the
 world has ever seen.
 Germany is becoming overcrowded
 and many Germans have left their
 homes but ther were no German col-
 onies in which they could settle, and so
 millions of the most valuable citizens of
 the Fatherland have renounced their
 allegiance and become citizens of the
 United States. Many also have gone
 to South America, and it has been said
 that the home government has it's eye
 upon these with a desire to regain
 them by annexing the country in which
 they have settled. This country is one
 of the southern states of Brazil and some of the countries around the Rio de la Plata. If Germany should under
 take some kind of intervention in South American affairs with view to gaining colonies and making markets, would it
 be at the expense of war with the
 United States? That is the question which will be answered in time.
 Europe has long viewed the magnifi- cent resources of South America with covetous eyes It is contended In the magazine articles spoken of that these resources cannot be developed unless ther are stable governments; that the United States must either establish and maintain such governments or stand aside and permit European powers to do so; and it is believed by some that the tremendous outlay for warships which Germany proposes to make has some relation to a design to try con- clusions upon this subject. It may be that the invasion of the Eastern Hemis- | phere by the United States will compel | us either to accede to European inter- vention In South America or to fight l for what is usually supposed to be the | Monroe Doctrine.
 Another view to take of the question | is, Would not the United States share with other countries in the benefits which would come from the develop ment of South America? As the wealth and population of Canada increase the increases. And it is just as large In all probability as 1t would be were Canada entirely independent of Great Britain.
 It is not surprising that the over- crowded countries of Europe should east covetous eyes upon South America. That vast continent only needs some kind of settled government to become the home of a great population and the scene of great wealth. producing indus ries A vast territory inland is as un- 1nown as the deepest jungles of dark est Africa. The whole extent of the continent is about double that of Flu 'ope. It lies entirely within the tenn oerate and torrid zone, and nearly the whole surface is habitable and produc- i've. Brazil alone is almost IS large as Europe and has natural wealth of for ,sts, mines and soil almost unrivaled oy any country. It has a population of about 18,000O00, including Indians and negroes, and Is capable of supporting a population greater than that of Europe, which is nearly 400000000. It has with n it's boundaries 30,000 miles of naviga- ,le rivers, affording natural avenues of rade unrivaled in any other land.
 The vast extent of other countries of South America Is scarcely appreciated. l 7enezuela, for instance, has an area of nearly 1000 square miles-five times he size of Italy and four times the size if Prussia. Its population, including