The San Francisco call., 1904-02-17
RAILWAYS AND WORLD POLITICS.

X ting war with Japan is generally spoken of
another march of imperial ambition not essen
TALLY dissimilar to the cOnquests OF former So
the annexation of the Dutch republics in South
Africa to the British empire has been looked upon i'm
pera aggression like view will be taken of the expan
sion of the German colonial system in Africa
becomes sufficiently aggressive attract public atten
tion and occasion comment
Such views of the progress of the white mans con-
quest in time. however. wholly correct 1t
not imperialism, but railway construction, that has
the marching aggressively in all parts Of
the world in these later years Britain would have
coveted the Transvaa. Orange Free State,
had Cecil Rhodes pushed his railway enterprises to
the north and projected the famous line from the Cape
to Cairo Russia would now be Tightening her grip
upon Manchuria, defiance of the powers and in viola
ton of solemn treaties, had she first constructed
railway Siberia What she is seeking is not
much military conquest commercial port neces-
sary the best OF her great transcontnenal line
The important part that railways playing in
the world should be overlooked for clear under
standing of it is essential right view of the
of to-day and the possibilities of future 1t is
to be borne in mind that the Siberian road and the
Cape Cairo road not the only enterprises OF
the kind under way There several other roads
hardly whose construction may force issue
OF battle in future just the Siberian road is forcing
battle now
OF the new lines that are almost certain to have po
perhaps the notable is the line that is be
structed under German control from the Bosphorus
the Gulf of Persia down the valley OF the Euphrates
or of the Tgris considerable part of the line is al
ready and concessions for the whole route
far lies through the Turkish empire, have been
obtained The of will need outlet the
sea, and the only outlet possible must be found some
where the Persian Gulf 1t happens that both Russia
and Great Britain keeny interested in the gulf ports
Russia has railway lines tending to the in that
ter while Great Britain will watch with little jealousy
the establishment in those OF able to
maintain there naval force strong enough threaten
the route between India and the Suez Canal.
Another line that carries with it OF is
the projected extension of the British Indo Burmah
Railway head of navigation the Yangtse Kiang
The road if completed would open up middle China to
British trade through India It's construction, however
would compel the establishment of some form OF British
control over the terminal China, and consequence
Britain would probably find herself compelled to
play role similar that being enacted by the Rus
slams in Manchura.
Finally it is to be borne mind that there lines
which sooner or later must be constructed in
hemisphere that will be very apt to involve issues
The much line connecting the railway systems
of South America with may some day be under
taken and then will arise the question of maintaining
peace along the route Another element of danger lies
in the fact that Brazil already
large and will demand railways the
tinent Such lines will be likely disturb the existing
order of things and lead international disputes so
that in the new as we'll the old world there are pos
sibties of railway looming up the future as
far as human foresight reach
In short the twentieth century likely be century
of wars caused mainly by the extension of industrial and
commercial enterprises Railway influences will be felt
in international we'll in domestic politics. and the
railway protector will be potent in conquest as any OF
the military adventurers of the past