THE OVERREACHING OF NATIONS.
By Uriah Smith
THE past few years have been fruitful of many things, but perhaps one of the most noticeable has been what might properly be termed the "overreaching policy." We find it manifest in every turn of the international kaleidoscope. It is seen in discreet diplomacy; in the acquisition of "spheres of influence," ports of entry, and naval stations; in railway and mining concessions conferred by one nation upon the subjects of another in consequence of great pressure upon the weaker nation; and in the opposition by other nations to any such concessions in which it does not acquire more than an equal share. The "policy" is, of course, void of any particular importance to the Christian except to definitely foreshadow how the nations of the world will soon be involved in that hopeless tangle which will result in a world-wide war. Germany has entered the lists in China, and is reaching out from Kiao-chau for a greater sphere of influence. This "sphere" is in the direct road of Russia's southward-reaching ambition, and will become a more irritating problem to the latter country, as her greed for more territory will increase more rapidly than her acquisitions do. England stands in the way of them both in China, and is directly opposed to Russia's southern advance toward the Arabian Sea by the absorption of Persia, Afghanistan, and Baluchistan. France is becoming more and more embroiled in Southern China, and her demands at Shanghai are opposed by both England and America. The latter nation has entered upon a course in the Philippines which will mean no end of entanglements for her in the affairs of the Orient, and, consequently, in the affairs of other nations which are already entangled there. There is a tripartite protectorate over Samoa which is irritating to all three of the powers involved. France is exasperated over her compulsory relinquishment of Fashoda on the Nile, and England's asserted protectorate over regions reaching far away to the south and into the Bahr-el-Ghazal territory. Germany has secured from the sultan of Turkey the cession of a port and dock at Haidar Pasha, nearly opposite Constantinople, and France is making vigorous protests to the sultan against such a disposition of his territory. Russia is planting fortified monasteries, under government supervision, throughout Syria and Palestine, and is establishing many schools there in which only the Russian language is taught. These are but the entanglements which are openly known. There are many others which are known only to the inner circle of trusted officials, and are contained in secret negotiations and treaties. But with no more than the known facts to look upon, the student of the times and of God's Word can see the shaping of events into the fulfilment of prophecy. National aggrandizement is baited on by the feelers that have been thrown out in these various directions, and each nation is becoming more entangled in the affairs of others, until, when a clash does come, every nation will have a casus belli. Let the Christian give heed to what the events of the day are teaching.