the only two neutral ports to which they could have
fled for safety; and neither Spain nor Holland would have dared to
permit our cruisers to refit or to coal in their ports. The American
flag would have been driven from those seas without the slightest
difficulty.

And yet the means for avoiding this disgraceful state of affairs in the
future lie open to us now. The fertile Island of Madagascar, abounding
in safe harbors, lies as near the track of commerce as do Mauritius and
Bourbon. It has innumerable advantages over either of these islands, and
it is especially adapted to our wants. Mauritius must be weak in time of
war, because it is so entirely an artificial colony. A mere dot on the
map, only some thirty miles in diameter, it has a population of over
three hundred thousand, wholly devoted to the cultivation of sugar. This
product has been the source of immense wealth to the island, but it has
necessitated the abandonment of every other branch of agriculture. These
three hundred thousand inhabitants are literally dependent for their
daily food on the kindness of the elements in time of peace, and on the
naval supremacy of England in time of war. There is not enough grain
raised there to supply the colonists with food for twenty-four hours,
and there is rarely a supply in reserve to last them for two months.
Their rice is brought from India, their cattle from Madagascar. Let the
free intercourse with these countries be suspended, and a famine is
inevitable. The noble harbor of Port Louis, with its fortifications, its
dockyards, and coal sheds, is a source of strength to England only so
long as she can prevent her enemies from establishing themselves in
Madagascar.

France is striving to rival and surpass England. At Bourbon, already
strongly fortified, immense artificial docks are projected, perhaps
commenced. The colony has annually a deficit in its accounts to be made
good from the national treasury, but extension rather than retrenchment
is its policy. France has acquired the Mayotte or Comoro Islands, and
several ports on the north of Madagascar. She has also the sympathy of
all the creoles of Mauritius, in whose minds the English occupation of
fifty years has been unable to stifle the instinct of nationality.

Thus the two great Western powers stand, nominally allies at home,
jealous and active enemies abroad.

Circumstances have kept both powers from seizing the tempting prize
which has so long hung befor