The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-07-10
EUROPEAN FEARS.

6UhU16AN f6AhSs
The public mind of Europe seems to be
, state Of chronic anxiety on the subject
war. A vague dread of the outbreak of hot
tilities appears to pervade the whole cont
nent There is upon the surface no visibl
symptom of war or of warlike purposes, ye
the great nations are increasing their militar
and naval supplies, charging their navies
provisioning their fortresses, enlisting ant
training soldiers and filing their mill
tary chests. If one sovereign visits tn
capital Of another the hundred tongues o
rumor are busy, and through the press, thu
mails and the telegraphic wires thousand
surmises are invented and circulated of ALI
ances, coalitions and treaties, usually pre-
sumed to look towards contemplated war
Every action of the emperors, kings ani
cabinet ministers is closely watched. Every
appearance of uncommon activity in military
preparation is heralded at once to every city
on the Eastern hemisphere. The powers are
watching each other with eager and keen
vigilance. Although the relations of the diff
ferent States do not seem to be warlike in
their present or prospective aspect, spirit OF
marked mental distrust signalizes this most
peculiar epoch.
1t is not necessary to say that any cause for
war, any reason for entering upon it, or any
motive for provoking il, does not exist. The
material interests of all Europe seldom need
repose SO much as now. Great Britain needs
peace for the welfare of her mills, her COM
merce and her colonies. France needs peace
for the sake of her industries and to fully re-
cover from the effects of the late costly and
because she cannot afford the cost of another
war, even if again victorious. Austria's in
terest lies in that repose which will leave her
present dynasty intact and her territory un-
impaired.
In Italy the government is occupied with
the great works of consolidation and of de-
veloping the national resources. and while her
warlike king has at his command large and
efficient army, we'll supplied, he will not of
his own accord lead them to battle in any Of
fensive war, either as principal or as an ally.
The interests of the Roman Catholic Church
are averse to war. Those who WELD the
money power, which stands behind each Eu-
ropean throne, often "greater than the throne
itself, do not countenance war, and cannot
fail of being damaged by it,
Europe maintains standing armies and
navies aggregating six millions of men, who,
with ships, forts, ornaments and armories,
require for equipment, subsistence and arms
about one thousand dollars each per annum,
or a total of $6,OOO,OOO,OOO. These six
million of armed idlers pauperize the coun-
tries which maintain them. The general
demands that this military incubus
should be removed or lessened to the utmost
possible extent consistent with safety. To
get rid Of this load is the universal interest Of
the proprietary and industrial classes, who
ought, therefore, to be profoundly averse to
war
1t really seems that the combined interests
opposed to war ought to be powerful enough |
10 prevent any ambitious rulers or mischiev- |
BUS ministers or scheming revolutionists from |
hostilities anywhere upon the con-
;inent. Russia and Great Britain ought |
ointly to have influence enough to prevent
'uch catastrophe, an inevitable damage to
both wherever it may occur. Russia, Amply
occurred upon her western frontier and in no
wise menaced upon the south, seeks to con-
olidate and develope her conquests and colo
lies, to bring her heterogeneous populations
lnder one imperial system, to introduce
throughout her numerous provinces all the
improvements and civil
ing inventions of the age, to give to her
warming millions all the benefits of uniform
Avs and of modern enlightenment, and espe-
tally to extend her limits to the Pacific and
Il along her eastern and southeastern Dor
ers. Russia must be pre-eminently anxious
have peace maintained among the nations t
Western Europe q