The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-04-19
Europcan Notes.


Fresh trouble seems TO be brewing
between Germany and France. The
London Standard is informed by its
PARIS correspondent that the German
government has inhmated, to France
that it regards the construction Of the
new line of fortresses along the from
tier between German and France as a
hostile step IL is assumed by the
writer that France has as good right
to fortify Arras, Terdun, Besancon and
other places near the border line Of The
two countries as Germany has to in
crease the 2fortihcations Of Mayence,
Strasbourg and Metz, and to forsify
Vosges-all of which works are IN the
provinces lately taken from the
French. So far as the new works at
Arras are concerned the writer Under
stands that the demands of Germany
will be complied with; bat il those
demands are pushed to include
the other fortresses it is thought
that France, in self-defence,a will
rather go to war again than 20 make
the concession. 1t has long been ap-
parent, notwithstanding repeated dis
Chalmers, that Prince Bismarck is not
satisfied to lei France recupefate her
powers and strengthen herself against
The contingency of new war with
Germany. lie has watched with moro
than ordinary solicitude the reorgani-
zation of tho Fronrh army on the Prus-
sian model, the remarkable revival OF
French industries and the cautious poll
icy that French statesmen have adopted
and maintained in, the recent oompli-
cations between Russia and Turkey.
When he found how readily the people
of France responded to the call of the
government for the money to pay the
German indemnity, and how little effect
the drain of so large a sum had upon
the material prosperity of the country,
he is said to have expressed regret that
his demand had not been made so oner-
Gus as to cripple France for genera
ton or more. The very calm man
ner in which France has responded
on several occasions to the protests of
the German chancellor, while steadily
pursuing her policy of strengthening
herself-as every nation has a right to
do without giving just cause Of offence
to neighborng powers-has been OF
itself a source OF irritation. The pol
icy of patient waiting has been hith-
erto so little in accordance with
French character that 1t has given
the German chancellor an element to
deal with having TO him all the
qualities of new and unexpected
force, and one that is constantly cross
ing and dlsarranging his calculations.
While every instinct OF humanity and
the true welfare of both peoples are
against it, it is yet possible that the
chancellor feels that there must como
q time when France and Germany will
again measure strength against each
other, and that it would be better
for Germany to precipitate. such
a war at the earliest possible oppor-
tunity, instead of passing until France
has gathered up her strength and
trained her new leglons and increased
and extended her Notifications around
Paris and along the new frontier caused
by the annexation to Germany Of AL
SAGE and Lorraine. Every well-wisher
of his race would hope, however, that
this is not the case. Yet it is asserted
in some quarters that what the German
chancellor needs is some color of justi-
fication for again drawing the sword.
1t is possible that such pretext might
be found in the matter OF the frontier
fortresses, but unless the demand is SO
lnsolently pressed as to leave France
no alternative between compliance and
war, the probabilities are all against it.
Even now it is intimated that France
has dropped the scheme w eAtynd tho
rUI IiflvaJiORs of pAsis- upon r0mon--
strSnce from Berlin, and 1t would seem
that she is "quite content to bide her
time" if Germany will only be content
| to wait. ..... t..l.-