The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-25

eiiiiih VIC dIc likely 10 nave a lew SOlQleTS
in Africa outside of Egypt. AS soon as the
Cape-Cairo line is finished we can send
troops from Uganda to Cairo by the Nile
Railway. Indeed, the Uganda Railway road
is serviceable even now as we have steam
ers on the Victoria Nyanza and Chartum."
The writer was unable to persuade the
military and naval gentlemen to enlighten
him as to the manner in which Madeira,
province of Portugal, might possibly be an
nexed.
Would England care to revive the politi-
cal storm occasioned by her attempt at
purchasing Delagoa bay? Or is she wait
| ing for an opportunity to seize the islands
at the first outbreak Of hostilties?
While at present leading British states
men may be undecided as to the wisdom Of
the first the latter eventuality will most
| certainly be resorted to in an emergency.
| Indeed, the seizure by England of the Ma
deira group in case of war would have to
be regarded as an act of self-preservation
for Great Britain burst not allow her sea
route to India to be menaced, and Mr..
Bowles, having Indirectly advanced the Ma
deira idea, bids fair to be hailed as the ma
| TONS savior some fine day.
WILL BE NO RESISTANCE.
Resistance? There can be none as far as
| Portugal is concerned and the kingdom is
too dependent upon England in a financial
| sense to think of organizing resistance by
! alliance. For Great Britain is Portugal's
oldest and most generous market. There
might have been a chance Of an alliance
between Portugal and Spain-when Spain
| had a navy. With her navy battered into
scarf pins, chains and watch cases by the
| victorious Americans, Spain is only good
| for playing Frances servant by keeping
| up the Algesiras establishment, while Por-
| tugal is drawn more closely to England
| than ever before.
| Still, that the Lisbon government would
dare bargain with Great Britain for the
| cession of the Madeira group is more than
doubtful; such an undertaking might result
| in the immediate downfall of the monarchy
| which, as everybody knows, is none too Sc
cure anyhow. OF course. Portugal wants
| money, and wants it badly, but, as 1 take
| 1T, the first two lines of the statements of
the saying, 1--WE have the ships, we have
| the men, We have the money, too" are the
| more important items. Madeira will GER
tainly be English some day, but at the cost
of war. Great Britain will take the islands
the moment Russia France, both,
force her to reach out for them to secure
her Indian empire When that will be no
one knows. London thinks ii may be to-
morrow, or in a year or two or in ten
years.
| Meanwhile France, Germany and Italy
| allow Spain to play the part of the most
| favored nation in Morocco. Shrewd poll
| ticians here see a decided connection be-
| tween this unwcnted generosity and the
vulnerability of Gibraltar. If Spain estab-
| fishes herself more firmly i'm Africa-so
much the worse for the rock" and the
sooner may Great Britain feel called upon
| to seize the Madeiras. German strategists
are of opinion that the United States
should be asked to join the other great
powers in preventing England from acquir-
| ing the Madeiras either by peaceful ne
| gotiation. by an act of war They argue
| that the passing of these islanus to British
possession would affect the balance of DOW
| er in Europe, it guarantees England's
dominion of the sea-
| But the Monroe doctrine provides that
the United States shall keep out of Euro
pean quarrels,' suggested the writer
1.-THE Monroe doctrine. and always the
| Monroe doctrine" cried the gentleman
from Prussia, lit forbids our progress on
the American continent and, at the same
| time strengthens our bitterest antagonist
| in Europe"
| My British friends smiled and said the
Monroe doctrine was a good thing that
should be invented If the fifth President of
| the United States had not thought of IL
some eighty years ago.
Won BRUCHHAUSEN.