The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-12
New and Grave Complications in Europe.

rounts reach us from the plains of Bulgaria,
hrst OF Russian then OF Turkish successes,
The clouds are gathering thickly on the
political horizon Of Europe, and other issues
oven more momcntous than those which are
sgitating the East, begin to threaten the
peace of the civilized world.
Tho reports which reach us OF the increas-
Ing fceblencss Of the pope, OF the new aspect
which the political struggle In France Is
assuming In consequence Of NJ. THIERs's
death, and OF the mcnacing attitude of Ger
many, all point TO new and grave complica-
lions, rendered gravcr, no doubt, 10y the fact
that great war Is actually being waged
between two European powers, and that al
though toa certain extent the questions to
which we refer are Independent of the
causes which gave rise to that struggle,
still they have contributed the spark which
has set fire to the European powder maya
zine. and the extent Of the conilagration
which may cnsuc no man can forescc.
No doubt every arrangement has been
made In Rome to secure the election OF the
popc's successor In accordance with the will
Of the present pontin. and TO insure the
maintenance Of the policy which he has in
Augurated, and which has unqucstionably
contributed to increase the power Of the
Church and to strengthen its influence. 1t
Is no less certain that the election OF this
nltramontanc nominee, whoever he may bc,
will be steadily resisted by Germany, and
ms eagerly supported by France. The only
European powers having a right to veto the
election by the papal conclave, which is not
disputed by Rome, are France, Spain, and
Austria. The claim of Germany TO exercise
the veto vested formerly in the Holy Roman
Empire, is now denied by Rome; but Prince
BISMARCK has given it to bc distinctly UNI
derstood that he intends not only TO claim
but to enforce that right through Italy.
Hence the hard and fast alliance which has
existed between Germany and Italy ever
since the German and Austrian war, when
Italy saw that her interests were identical
with the success of the anti-papal policy Of
Prussia
The first victories OF the German armies
In 1866 involved the recall Of the French
troops from Rome, and to that war Italy
owes the recovery Of her ancient capital
France had withheld 1t from her, Germany
restored it TO her. Henceforward she was
bound to the one and forcibly discovered
from the other. She never felt herself under
any very deep debt of gratitude to France
because it was always felt by Italians that
In the cession of Savoy and Nice a full price
had been paid for the services rendered by
France in the war of 1859 The French take
quite different view Of the matter, and
charge the Italians with the blacklist in
gratitude for now allying themselves with
their most hated enemy. 1t j. looked upon
rs certain that If ever France finds herself
ut war with Germany, a contingency which
She will not yet willingly encounter, she
must count upon an active enemy in Italy.
Fully alive to this fact, French statesmen
md politicians have sought to meet this
new combination by the cultivation Of the
most cordial relations with Russia. With
IN infatuation which recent events must
have dispelled, they chung to the dclusion
That in that power alone would they find an
blly capable Of graphing with their great
antagonist, and ready and willing to do so
but they have never had the slightest
ground for encouraging this delusiOn. The
Whole policy Of Russia since the war Of lsG6
has been to act In close concert with Ger
many, and apparently to do her bidding. III
that war, when the interests of France We're
Entered into an engagement with Prussia by
which she was bound TO come to its assist
lnce If the Prussian army was defeated. In
The FrancO-German war, again, Russia
MAS no less firmly secured to the German
cause by promises Of brides in the East
Ind she did in fact receive part payment for
her attitude throughout the war, 10y being
Allowed to tear up the treaties Of lsjd. For
Twelve years Russia has never performed a
political act which was not more or less
damaging to France, and she has steadily
acted with Germany The utter collapse OF
The Colossus Of the North rs n great mill
larry power, will now prove how yalueless as
BIZ ally to France Russia would have been
while even Germany will find that the power
she took so much pains to concilate, and
whose neutrality she deemed so important
was not, after all, so large a factor in Euro
pean politics as was supposed. Under thcs,
circumstances in view of the approaching
France may find her interests very CLOSELY
identified with those Of Austria.
An attempt Will probably be made In
France by the conservative and clcrica
party to win over portion of the modcrat,
kepublicans TO supporting the candidate O
the conclavc by working upon their hatrcc
Of Germany; and it is upon this antagonisn
That Germany is anxious to found a cause o.
complaint. Upon three successive occasions
Since the close Of the Franco-German war
has Germany sought to renew her quarre
with France, conscious that that power will
never abandon its hope Of recovering AlsacC
md Lorraine; and each time has she beer
lolled. Tho Immense war indemnity which
II was hoped would PROSTATE France fol
years, has failed to do this, and there can bl
little doubt that another Franco-GermaI
war enters into the policy Of Prince BIS
hAbcK based ON an anti-Catholc crusade
which would secure him sympathy tina
might Otherwise be denied him. Upon thi,
he counts for paralyzlns England. Sine,
The late war, the feeling in England has be
come much more French and less German
Than 1t ever WAS before, and an alliance will
France against Germany which has Of lat
years treated England with grea
contempt and indignlly, would b
decidedly popular; but there is anothc
T..4li in a