New-York tribune., 1907-09-27
ABANDONING COLONIES.

Uncle Sam would be violating no precedent by
abandoning the possession of the Philippines though
& is doubtful whether Nhe American people would
derive any political economic advantage from
his Difference 10 the arguments which now be-
ing forced upon him by certain section of the
American and foreign press in favor of such a
move. England has repeatedly abandoned colonial
dependencies in which she had este blished he- hold
and at one time owned both the Philippines and
Cuba In the eighteenth century the British. just
as the Americans more than hundred years later
sank the Spanish fieer of the coast of the Philip
pines. drove the Spanards out of the island. and
inaugurated like this country the work of reforma-
ton that was double the commercial value OF
the archipelago. The British government found
however. that Il impossible attract emil
grants thither from England owing to the distance
and 10 tbs unhealthy character of the climate and
eventually John Bull became discouraged with
the enterprise which he had undertaken that he
sold the islands to Spain for a Of 100000
which / need scarcely say has been paid to
this day. England likewise conquered Cuba, and
took possession Of the island in 1862. losing some
three thousand under the walls OF Havana
during the five weeks siege of that place and
spending considerable amount of money in reor
ganZing the administration of the island. Two
years later some weak kneed politicians III England
obtained its restoration to Spain without any COM
pensation whatsoever.
At the beginning of the last century England took
Java, and indeed all OF the Dutch East Indies and
long enough. indeed. 10 become convinced of their
immense wealth-and economic and commercial pos
sibiites-restored them to Holland in 1916. again
without receiving any quid pro quo.
1t took the English long time to decide whether
they wanted Guiana For thrice they took
# from the Dutch and then gave it back 10 them.
and finally in 1915 gave them what has since come
be regarded as the richest portion of the colony.
retaining the improbable moiety thereof.
Elba. Corsica and MinOrca have all belonged to
England and been given up by her.
The Ionian Islands. after being held by England
for half century, ultimately presented Gn
1850 by her the Kingdom Of Greece. and there is
no doubt but what. if certain English politicians
had their way. Gibraltar which is the key 10 the
Mediterranean. would have been restored Spain.
Even the great Pitt disposed 10 abandon II
and prevented from doing by popular
outcry, and years ago the English Nine
teenth Century Review placed lasting record
less than distinct offers the part of Eng
land TO give up Gibraltar to Spain. the last occa-
sion being in 17s5 when Lord Shelburne during the
negotiations that preceded the treaty of Versailles
rendered Gibraltar in exchange for Porto Rico and
Trinidad Spain was not willing make the
rifice of any part OF her West Indian ossessons,
and consequently the negotiations fell through
II is this readiness of England in the past
render colonies in Difference 10 The demands OF
ephemeral political factions at home that has
trbuted more than anything else 10 encourage for
eigners IN the belief that she may be eventually
disposed TO withdraw from Egypt. and which like
wise constitutes basis for the attempt now in
progress 10 induce the United States to withdraw
from the Philippines
MAROUISE DE FoNTENOY.