Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-01-27
A EUROPEAN WAR.

Europe concerning the impending
war. Speculation concerning it rests
more upon what seems to intelligent
observers inevitable than upon any
events Of very recent occurrence.
1t is probable that Spain may make
such concessions regarding the Gus.
tav affair, as to take from Bismarck
all preteXts for war. 1t is plain that
all these preparations that Germany
ana France have made since the close
of the war, of 20, must lead to anoth.
er contest. France has recuperated
from the disasters of that war faster
than anybody expected. Germany
Of course prefers to renew the
fight now. when she has
her Bismarck and Moltkc and her
million of trained soldiers, than to
wait until France is her equal in pre-.
parations. But can Germany afford
to risk a general European combina.
ton against her by going to war with
France, without such a provOcation, as
would rob her of the sympathy of the
world? Her battle will be against
France and the Pope and his sup
porters. The Jesuits of Europe would
make common cause against the great
protestant power of the world. These
are influences to be considered in
estimating the probabilities of war
and its result.
As to the relative power of the
probable parties the following from
the New York Times will prove of in
terest: Discussing the question from
the standpoint Of the comparative
cost of peace and war the Times
thinks war probable because, it saws
For example, Germany is paying for the
maintenance on a peace footing of half
million Of men, and has to keep up the or
ganlzatl0n, the arms, and the military
stores generally necessary to swell her eff
receive army in case OF war TO a million
and quarter. Last year the Empire raised
about seventy-hye millions of dollars for
the army. and twelve millions more for the |
navy. In addition to this, il has already |
expended out Of the proceeds of the French |
Indemnity eighty millions Of dollars on |
and military equipments, besides |
iWeEty-three millions spent on strengthen |
ing tie deet, and twenty-eight millions |
le!d a ready money for tine military strong /
box. The Au-tro Hungarian monarchy |
keeps up IL effective army in time of peace .
TO the standard OF quarter Of a million Of |
men, AMI its military organization is based |
On the necessity of raising it, entire force, |
n time OF war 70 eight hundred thousand |
This involves burden Of about forty
tx millions year, not TO mention the nd- |
iitoHs to the debt involved in the con .
strlcti0n Of works OF a defensive chnrac- /
.e" Russia hu. az her disposal, in time Of |
peace. three quarters of million Of fight .
ng men, and in time Of war she claims to .
1e able to place in her fortresscs and in the (
ielf "a million and half of soldiers. This
'osrs her an annual expenditure Of one .
hundred and thirty millions Of dollars, and /
he has been "a borrower for wears past Of I
arge sums to be expended 90 the construc- /
ion Of railroads chiefly dictated By military |
necessity. In France, the operation OF the 1
lew military laws is every year making |
enormous additions to the effective army. /
It's number on peace footing has already |
reached half a million Of men. and those 1
available iu time Of war, are now reckoned /.
1t over q million. Should France be al /
owed time to complete her new military 1
her "active army and lis |
reserves viii include million aud quar- /
ter OF trained soldiers, while her territorial |
militia and It's reserves viii number about |
a million and quarter more. The achieve |
nent Of these results involves an expendi- |
lure Of over one hundred million year.
----~ 90 ~--
The DEMOCRATS, now that theyare
in power, are not grateful to the Gree
ley Republicans. Fenton and Carl
Schurz were about the biggest guns
they had to shoot in 1872, and most
people expected that of course they
would be remembered for their SER
vices. But the Democratic Legisla-
ture Of New York has just nominated
an Irish Catholic lawyer, Of high
character and fair abilities, for United
States Senator. without even noticing