The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-04-19
THE SITUATION IN EUROPE.

means unin,ercstiug. In the case OF Spain, of
course, such an occurrence as the late radical
revolution cannot be regarded as other than not
able, because Of its somewhat novel process.
Revolutions have been matters OF almost periodic
occurrence 10 that peninsula, aud have come TO
be regarded As the legitimate escape valve tor
spare political steam but in the present instance
a liberal monarch, apparently disguised with the
intrieacies Of Spanish state-craft, has voluntarily
vacated his place IN favor of anybody whom the
nation may call, and whose nerves shall be strong
euough to disregard tie w~histling Of random
bullets. the CLEAN Of accidental s~tilettoes, and
other similar amenities Of southern royalty. If
the public mind in Spain be stationary, 1t matters
little to her or to anyone else what temporary
form of government may next suit her fancy but
if those growing popular opinions which caused
the abdication Of Isabella have gained such
strength under General Prim's administration
aud the liberal rule of King Amadeus as to be
now fairly represented by the " advanced =" utter
auces Of senior Castelar,, the time is not far dis
tant when Spanish policy will he important upon
both sides Of the Atlantic. 4 great deal OF
change may take place IN the constitution and
Internal government Of n state without very much
alteration in its external conduct and influence
for governments in the present age, autocratic
alike with republican, follow rather than lead the
ideas Of their peoples.
II is this fact which cannot but retain France
in the let of the - great powers" despite the
undivided attention which she must at present
give TO her civil and military reorganization.
From a foreign standpoint, France is still France,
be her means of expressing the national mind
N---l-.. D.~,II.,r, o. pf tho old rpuiuP
Tie famed - Western power does exist, although
she may be hardly so impetuous and arbitrary as
when the late Emperor held tie peace Of Europe
in his hands; and q Thiers, q fourth Napoleon or
IL restored Bourbon must still Importantly affect
European councils.
The newspapers OF Germany misapprehend the
nature Of English journalism, MS we'll as the fact
we have mentioned that governments are in the
present day tue agents rather than the originators
of popular ideas; we find the Berlin press grarely
urging that The - Khiva question =" owes its origin
to the need Of Il new watchword ON the part of
the British Government, and that newspapers are
the machinery by which that government creates
and moulds public opinion to its own ends.
Doubtless most journals are open to government
writer's as TO any other, but it would be difficult
to point out any particular paper MS the organ OF
the government. In no state Of Europe more
than in England do commercial and social opinion
dictate the policy Of Its leaders.
The = Khiya question - is simply q new phase
of an old difficulty and cannot be more lucidly
described in general terms than as q matter 10
concern the - balance Of power" Indian politi-
clans have for a long time sounded alarms as to
the effect which Russian advances in Central
= - --- -. I,Io-oo. n,l ,r,rf that
Russia is engaged in the punishment Of a pred"-
tory neighbor, the Khan of Khiva, thereby car
rying her arms within Il few hundred miles OF
Indian frontier and into immediate contact with
states adjoining the Persian gulf, the alarm is
naturally taken up by all who rightly estimate
the value Of free communication between England
and British India. The acquisition by Russia OF
influence too over those provinces which lie south
aud west of the Caspian Sea would place Asiatic
Turkey more and more in her power, especially
in view of regained Russian hold upon the Euzine,
and Asia Minor constitutes to a great extent the
strength of Turkey. The Emperor of Austria Ill
1854 regarded the independence of Turkey as 81
necessary to that of his own country that he was
prepared to insist upon it at the expense OF hit
own intimate relations with the Car and now
with less Mediterranean frontier on one hand anc
the powerful because united Teutonic empire or
the other, Austria is not less interested. More
over, though the rapidly consolidating empire o
British India has but little to fear from possible
attack upon her northwestern boundaries by suci
armies us Russia could advance over a long stretch
of destitute steppes, through warlike and disaf
fected Tartar horde6, it is certain that the posi-
bic maintenance of a harassing border confie
could not add to the power available by Grea
Britain for the enforcement of those numerou
treaties which secure to the map of Europe 81
much of it's present state.
The mission of Count Schouvaloff to LondOl
has resulted in a settlement, temporary at least
of the Khiva question. The disputed northern
boundary of Afganistan is now agreed upon b.
? treaty. and the independence of that state guar
anteed so far rs England and Russia are con
cerned. Russian arms may do as they please II
Khiva and elsewhere, but u neutral territory o
not less than about three hundred miles in widtI
: separates them from the Punjaub. Whether thi
treaty affords any increased security 10 Turke.
and her n%eighbor, Persia, does not seem Yer
clear but we believe we have rightly describes
the circumstances which make the probable Rus
, sian occupation Of Ktiva a matter of European
interest.
Russian newspapers speak of their Asiatic pol
lev as one Of civilization parallel with that q
England and an English journal makes tn
somewhat startling suggestion that, if China com
mences a course of improvement like that c
! Japan, the ciyilizing powers aforesaid may befo<
long have enough to do in combining for the e
I sistance OF countless Mongol columns, with afh
lery, horse and foot complete, upon their 'est
= ward march to - occupy and civilize " Europe.
{ SAGE ADVICE was that impaired by ar old law
yer to a young one, who had just bee1 elevated