The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-30
BIGEL0W'S
LECTURE:
AT BROWN

Mr. Poultney Bigelow spoke last night
on the subject Can Tropical Colonial
ton Become a Blessing TO the White
Man and His Family2" He opened his
address by saying that he had been dis
tressed upon being told that he had be-
come unpopular in Providence. He was
grieved because he felt that Providence
would influence other sections OF the
country. He referred to his recent aetieH
I'm placing $1,000 in the hands OF the editor
OF the Courier Journal, saying that II his
statements In regard TO the Panama canal
should not prove upon an examination to
be essentially true he was willing the
editor should do as he pleased with the
money. He said he had no axe to grind
and simply reported what he had OBJ
served.
lie continued in part saying that in a
study OF tropical colonization very little
could be gained from statistics. What
information there was could only be gath
cred from the Oldest inhabitants OF the
place Commissions have to be sent out
10 investigate conditions and the official
reports are stifr and cumbersome. The
modern steamship lines and domestic con-
veniences make IL a comparatively easy
thing to keep in touch with the tropics.
Almost all islands have mountains for
refuge from the dampness and hot
weather Jamaica and Hong Kong are
examples OF up-to-date colonies. The
sanitary conditions have been improved
by draining off the swamps and putting
up dykes. Durham In 30 years has
changed from n pest hole TO a wholesome
colonial town.
Again II makes a difference who owns
the place Delago bsy. a Portuguese
colony is a fever-stricken place fatal TO
the traveller. while Java Is healthy.
In dealing with this question the gov
eminent must prepare the way for the
white woman. A man cannot be ex-
pected to break family ties and so
amongst n strange people with strange
religion and suspicious manners. The
average Oriental mind Is subtle and
foreigner Is looked upon with suspicion.
In any part OF the world the frankness
and intelligence OF the white man can
match the duplicity OF the native. We
easily take the lead. We do not realize
how strong we are until we get away
from politics and home. At home we
don't get a chance TO see our own
worth, which is shown in some OF the
great phianthropic. work now being car
ried on, notably, walker in Nicaragua. We
must liberalize tariff and laws that make
us afraid TO meet competition or the
world. Then the way must be prepared for
an American fafnlly. we OOn ike 10 tnlnk
OF sending our young men out TO be for
gotten I'm tropics and mix with native
families II will not pay TO maintain the
control OF those islands at expense OF
lowering our level We must exercise our
power through church and press 10 get
congress TO prepare the way for white
married life, a good example is the Brit
ish colonies.
The French haven't gone out independ-
entity yet They do not like 20 colonize.
The people have their home and hate TO
leave IL. The Dutch have done much but
at the expense OF their own blood. The
young mon have intermarried and mixed
families are a result.
ThS Germans have only commenced At
present they show lack OF tact. They dist
courage their colonists by trying 10 make
them give up their language and religion.
Their officials are severe Their mission
aries have influence. II the officials
treat the natives generously and act In
diligently they have no trouble.
Our colonial ideal must be in preparing
young men for the service as II they
were entering West Point. Sanitary con-
dltions must be provided and he must he
station as his home The English have
had 90 go through long years OF disap-
pointment before they adopted this sys-
tenn In Colonial expansion l speak as an
imperialist. we have an empire. as practi-
cal people let us take facts as they are
and raise up class OF young men who
shall make the tropics an honorable
American home.