New-York tribune., 1918-01-22
Germany Must Not Regain Colonies
Her Imperial Military Aims Would Press Back Into Sooogey Tribes Sow
Emerging Into the Light
Bu the Reu. William S. Rainsford

, aimed not at competition hut at mastery, how
are those peoples who have occupied African
lands long before Germany entered on her
lately acquired territories likely to view such
a situation?
In Africa, as a coonizer, Germany's policy
has been clear as the day She has beaten
to the earth all native tribes she has pre-
pared herself "to rush" her neighbors terri
tory. Yet these are not her chief offence
against the peace of the great African land
and against those who have chosen it for
their home. That offence lies in her deliber-
pte and declared intention to do in Africa
what Englishlnan, Boer, Frcnchman, Belgian
and Portuguese have SO far not only re-
Trained from doing, but have pledged them
selves for Afrca's advantage never to do, and
that is this: Germany has proceed her intention
of building mr IN Central Ifri~a military
state. If SUCH a crime against human
ity were to be allowed, then must we bid
goodby to peace and progress and quiet in
that unfortunate and blood-soaked land. The
work of countless missionaries and civil SER
wants would be undone, and the savage in
stincts of tribes who are just beginning to
know the blessings Of peaceful industry
would be stirred and stimulated.
Englands Peaceable Policy
can claim some first hand knowledge
of the conditions obtaining among these peo-
Piles. l know that sometimes the condition
of the native races in equatorial Africa
leaves much to be accomplished. Belgian rule
in the Congo has beer bad. Portuguese rule
Of the large and potentially rich possessions
of that country has been unintelligent and
selfish. But all the same, no who has
travelled in the country (and have spent
the best part of three years in it, lived among
its tribes and marched, with their assistance,
several thousand mles) can be for a moment
doubtful of the immense advance made and
the good already done largely owing to Eng
lands peacaable policy of occupation and
civil rule. There has b. en- little trace of mill
tarism in Epgand's rule. Up to 1914 she had
for instance, in oil her immense East African
territory just two battalions of native infan-
try and one battery of artillery. She was
wholly unprepared for war. Her colonization
was absolutely pacific Where climatic con-
dltlons we're favorable TO European settle
ment the country was being rapidly taken up.
W here the climate was unfavorable as in the
r'ch Uganda region, the tribes were encour-
aged to practise better agricultural work by
capable civil servants and by large number
OF missionaries (several of them American
ny the way), men and women devoted, and
not only devoted, but wise and farseeing
In their methods any who ever left home
and comfort to live lonely lives of hardship
for the sake of their fellow men,
Such men and such measures soon worked
wonders among the natives. Slavery stopped
(And, be it remembered, the slave trade had
Hourlshed in East Africa since Solomon's time
or before.) lnter-tribal war came almost to
an end. Cattle stealing and throat cutting
became unpopular. The settlers were finding
out very quickly that if they were to sue
ceed IN maintaining themselves they could
only do so by engaging the friendly coopera-
tlon of the black people living at their door
The tragedies that too often have marked the
entrance of the white man into an unoccupied
or half-occupied region have in British ter
rltory been almost unknown.
may seem to be drawing too rosy pict-
ure, but know we'll that the men of the
African Inland Mission (its headquarters are
IN Phlladephia) would indorse every word
say admit that in Portuguese and Belgian
territories native labor has been forced and
the natives at times very cruelty treated. bur
there can be no doubt that England. setting
as she has q fine example of fairness and hu.
manity, was lifting to a higher plane the
whole standard Of native administration on
the continent
Bat let me stress the point Africa's one
chahce Tor betterment is peace. Ages of
'nter-trloal war have left their mark on the