The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-02-14
The Armamsnts Of Europe.
tDnblin Nation.9

size spirit, and the despotic practices OF Ms
rulers Of Germany are proving heavy
from those evils. The whole male populs.
ton of the country between the ages OF
seventeen and forty two are now not onlv
liable to military service, but are actuallv
enrolled, and compelled to spend portion
of their time in military training. The tai
which this arrangement places upon the
industry of the country is almost incalcula.
BILE, and the Inconvenience resulting from Il
must be enormous. This state Of things il
unnatural, hurtful to the community, and
cannot last. 1t can hardly be intended to
be permanent; it must be designed for
some emergency not supposed to be remote,
Meantime this immense armament in Ger.
many compels all the surrounding nations
to initiate her example. Germans and Their
sympathizers were fond of saying durinq
the late war that the triumph of German
and the defeat of France would mean peace
contentment, and security for the world {
France possessing large army, and beinpt
love of conquest, was represented as the I
only dangerous and disturbing element in
European affairs. Only let France be
worsted in the war, and an era of Arcadian
peace and happiness was to dawn upon the
world. The home loving Germans were to
retire to their workshops, their taverns
and their farms, eat sour kraut and drink
schnapps, sing five part songs, play with
their podgy little babies, and think no more
of war. Russia, Austria, Holland, Italy
Belgium, Denmark, all might then reduce
their ornaments, for pacific Germany would
never think of troubling any of them even
by look of menace.
Well, France was heavily defeated in the
war, overthrown, and crippled for time
and we all know what has been the aspect
aud behaviour of Germany since then.
Pulled up with pride, swollen with ambi-
- of fr1rt hnr
utterly regardless of right and justice, she
has become tyrant and prosecutor at
home, and q menace to all the surrounding
nations. It's to guard against her possible
designs that the whole surface of con-
tinental Europe is now turned into an
armed camp.
That war must inevitably be the outcome
of this state of things is fact which is
universally recognized. The Times, re-
viewing the whele situation, after counting
up the numbers of the immense armies At
the command of the continental powers,
to complete with them in that line. Il
says: "When ornaments are measured by
millions, almost within sight of this land.
it costs q positive effort of gravity to talk
of our own. The utmost amount of land
forces we could turn out, under all heads.
for the protection of these isles, under the
most critical circumstances, would hardly
be fifth or sixth of what Franco could put
in the field, or tenth of the forces which
Prince Bismarck could raise out of the
ground by stamp of his foot. All that
our army is equal to is to garrison our
forts, to guard our coasts, and to instruct
our Volunteers and Reserves" This is by
comparison very poor and somewhat I'M
safe state of things, but the Times declares
that so far as the army is concerned there
is no remedy for it. The system of con-
scription, or any plan for making the whole
male population liable to military service,
cannot be introduced into England. Eng
lands insular position, however, is said to
be her safety, and her navy is alleged to- be
in o state of efficiency.
No doubt, it is numerically stronger than
that of any other power but iron Ships
with all the new conditions of naval war
fare, have yet to undergo practical trial,
and 80 matters now stand England can
now hardly know the strength or weakness
Of that "outer line"-which ia her only line
of defence. Just now English people
appear to place some confidence in it.
The Times Gays: "The great war when it
comes-if it ever comes-will not find US
unprepared. 1t will find us indeed at home'
but secure and we'll guarded at all points,
and even able to do some trifling service to
our friends." We do not know that thinga
are quite SO comfortable for England as the
Times is pleased to suppose. We doubt
the preparedness and the security, and
vice" to any friend in war time. The
triaing service to friend means some de-
gree of injury to a foe, and none of the ma
tions of Europe at the present day can
safely be trifled with in matters of that
kind. Let English papers boast as they
may of the "wood aud iron" their country
has on the sea, England is hampered by
one great difficulty which, SO long as it
exists, must tell heavily against her capa-
city for taking part in European warfare.
That difficulty is the discomfort and enmi-
ty of the Irish race. She will have to settle
the Home Rule question with the Irish
people before she can with safety to her.
self venture to quarrel with, or to inter
pose in quarrels between, nations which
keep from one million to two millions Of
soldiers under arms.
Mr.. Lamar, of Mississippi, is winning for
himself the respect of both sides Of the
House. His speeches hitherto during bis
term have been distinguished by their per-
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