'THere i auch of the "art of putting things," to ase the well-known phrase of the 'Country Parson,' more important than that of giving a thing good name. In this no small amount of ingenuity and discrimination is clearly necessary; for the essential principle of euch nomenclature ie to combine unimpeachable accuracy with a fair sound, and to ignore all those conditions which are calculated to throw a different and less favourable light upon the transrotion that it is sought to describe. Muob attention is required to these particulars at the present moment in Europe, where some of the Great Powers are engaged in cuter. prises which certainly need all the shelter and apology that oan be afforded by a good name, No word implying the remotest sense a breach of either the Highth or the Tenth Commandment la admissible in diplomatic parlance, and thus it la that some such smooth phrase as "a spirited Colonial policy is employed to describe ats which would otherwise rau a risk of being classed by a severe moralist in a less agreeably-sounding category. But by whatever name the course of action now being pursued by France and Germany may be most correctly designated, there can be little doubt that both these Powers, rivals in Europe, are emulating each other in a policy of B annexation beyond the sens. We have seen enough lately of the colonizing efforts of France. She has made ber. self mistress of Tonquin, where ber fature colonists will, we fear, command the commiseration of the world: she is working sad havoc in Madagascar: and now she is apparently preparing herself for a vow campaign in Burma, rit on the part of the French Government is the more to be regretted as the French are not good colonists, and it would be difficult to point to a single French colony in any part of the world which is really flourishing. With Germany the case is different. We do not believe that France will ever be a great Colonial Power; but that Germany may appear that capacity in the course of years there is far more likely. hood. And we base this opinion not so much on the fact that the Fatherland has shown so much activity in aunexation Lately, and has Inid claim to so large enamber of territories—of which more auiou—as upon the greater caution and foresight which distinguish intending colonists, without whom no colonial policy, however spirited, can prove successful. The question to Germans, as pointed out by a Correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette, is not one of patrio-tiams merely; itis algo, and primarily, one of possible profit and loss. A maltitude of Germans, we are assured by An Englishman in Berlin, with special reference to the question of the Carolines, "have not yot decided whic side they ought to take, and show a desire to see how all these colonial projects will turn out before they give in their adherence to a spirited colonial policy in the abstract, A few are madly enthusiastic at the new course adopted by the Gu= vernment, but only a few. The bulk of Germans resident in Germany press "hopeful satisfaction" at the steps now being taken by Prince Bis-marek to give their country a Colonial Eopire, but farther than this their approval docs not go. Cool-headed men do vot hide from themselves the difficulties and sacrifices which the orgauisation of a Colonial Empire will require, but, regarding Bismarok's mensure as necessary to the commercial welfare of the country, they are prepared to plod on diligently till these difficulties lave been overcome, and as well as possible to restrain impatience till the suorifices have been made, They recognize like sensible mon that it cannot be all plain sailing, and mean to meet whatever troubles may be in store with a brave heart."
Tarning now to the list of territories claimed or protected by Germany at the present moment, we shrill be able to see how far these moderate anticipntions are likely to be eventually realise ed. First we lave Great Namaqualand, a territory extending from the Orange on the west coast of Africa to the 26th degree of south latitude, and inding altogether 900 German square miles, This acquisition oonsed a ebarp friction a short time ago between the ish avd German Governments, and it may be doubted whether the game was worth the candle, All that oan be said for the territory is -that it has a tolerable climate, and that people do not necessarily dio who try to live there. But it is " waterless and sterile cultivation isan almost hopeless task, and although "there is twin about wonderfal mines," no results have hitherto been forthcoming. Then there are the Cameroons, "These are the inspiration of the ' enthusiastic' German colonists, though, alns a less promising laud for colonisation could not well be imagined." This territory extends from 14 deg. to 44 deg. north latitude in the Bay of Biafra, the northern bouud-ary being the river Rio del Rey. described aa utterly unfit for the residence of Europeans, many illnesses and deaths having occurred among those who Lave gone there; go that although it is rich, and may prove a good investment iv the dim future, much sacrifice of life and treasure will probably be necessary in the meantime. logo Land, the} Ubird on the list, need not be discussed, as the claims of Germany are disputed by France, and the two countries will have to come to a settlement before any operations oan be set on foot, High expectations, however, are suid to be entertained of the small kingdoms of Kabitai and Kobalaud, which lie opposite the Los Islands, and over which Germany extended Ler protection Inst January, The joint population of the two slates is estimated at between thirty and forty thousand, and the area lo calculated at forty-two German square miles in extent, The territory is fertile and adapted to plantation cnltare, and the chiefs are said to lave accepted the protection of the Knisar with cordiality, The land on the Congo belongs to Germany by right of purchase, but nothing is told us of the prospects of the new acquisition, Ihe territory adjacent to Zavzibar which Germany has under. taken to protect amounts to a thousand German equate miles, and it is pected that this will be increased treaty-making is pushed forward among the native chiefs, Then come Kaisar Wilhelmsland in New Guinea, nearly 9 handred and eighty thousand square kilometres in extent, and Bismarck Archipelago, the collective area of which is about a thousand German square miles. The Caroline Islands stand lust, the conflicting claims of Spain and Germany to which are still sub judice according to Inst advices, With them or without them, the enterprise of Gers man colonists sufficient choice of fields, None of them appear of the most promising order, and it was well that, if they were to pass under European exploitation, the frugal, me dustrious German should be the mau to exploit them; for it seems clear that both virtues will be Inid under somewhat liberal contribution, Passing over certain criticisms by the Pall Mall's Correspondent of the " piratical, filibastering principle, or rather want of principle," which he says is one feature of Germany's colonial extension, we agree with him us to the attitude which England and Gor: anny should assume towards each other as two colonizing Powers. It is necessary, in the first place, for the British Government to recognise the fact that Germany has entered upon a colonizing policy, and is in the way to found an empire, grent or swell, flowishing or unsuccessful, as the case miny be, beyond the sean, And, #8 there cannot but be contact between England und Germany in other parts of the world—which is happily impossible in Europe—it is desirable that both countries should as far aa possible ce-operate for their common wel-faro and the welfare of thole protect torates. "The Coloninl Treaty concluded by the late Government with the Government of Germany was good lop in the right direction. Quite as importaut—lovking to the futnre—as the permanent influence secured for England in South Africa in return for concessions to Germany elsewhere in the sume continent, was the wanifestation on the part of both Governments of a friendly and helpful disposition, ich it is hoped time will only make more real and lasting."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.