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LEROY-BEAULIEU'S PROPOSITIONS

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between the nations of Europe, an economic alliance, "which may possibly and desirably develop into a political alliance." The object was to stimulate inter-European trade by lower customs duties between the signatory Powers, while erecting against American products a high tariff wall.

Such propositions as M. Leroy-Beaulieu's were doubtless impracticable. They were not taken up as generally as might have been expected, the plain fact being that European consumers cared little for the opinion of publicists and were more than glad to buy American imports as long as they were better and cheaper than the native products. It was hard to get support for protective tariff plans, though Germany, as will be seen later, took measures toward a high tariff. But however small the feasibility of an anti-American coalition, the very fact of the proposals proved that Europe was rubbing her eyes and waking up. It was not to be long before Great Britain and her continental friends and rivals would each take steps toward more energetic national development. And meanwhile the New World for the first time had laid a strong hand on the Old.

CHAPTER II

THE NEW AMERICAN POSSESSIONS

The acquisition of Porto Rico and the Philippines by the United States was due not merely to "the logic of events." Chance, which is but "another name for ignorance," did not govern in the premises unless ignorance be defined as man's inability to find conscious meanings for subconscious ideas. The emergence of the United States from a long period of exclusive self-development was followed naturally by a great tendency to use the talents that had been so marvelously increased. Events brought opportunity to extend the national prestige, to widen the national markets. Those opportunities were seized, the people realizing that colonial expansion was in accord not only with the new note in the national life, but as well with the old ideals of helping other nations, and especially those that had been oppressed, to more useful and happier modes of living.

The main question involved in the purchase of the Philippines was one of policy. Was it desirable to reach far out into the Pacific, when a newer field for exploitation lay closer at hand in South America? Was it wise to assume responsibilities that seemed likely to involve entanglements with foreign Powers, when by turning the attention directly southward the opportunities of commerce and beneficent dealing might be kept almost free of complications by the simple workings of Monroeism?

In answering these questions it should first be noted that popular interest had a great deal to do with the direction of the national expansion. The Spanish war focused the eyes of the American people on Porto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines. If the Government had failed to take over the Philippines, the mistake would ultimately have been evident. The nation had its great chance to assume its place as a World Power. Consciously or unconsciously, that chance was recog

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