New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-19
EuRnpEAN PEACE

have upon European peaceY This is question
which allures every keen student OF foreign
affairs from the domain of fact into the linn
itless spaces of conjecture. 1t Is undenlable
that uneasiness has been caused in many quar-
ters nv the accession of Alexander ILL., 1t is
assumed that the relations of the Russian and
German Courts cannot be as friendly as they
were. The personal ties which bound together
the sovereigns of these rival Powers have
been loosened, and the evils of Socialism and
internal revolt offer to each the temptation
of making a powerful diversion beyond the
frontier, and thus giving the disaifected classes
something new to think about. To the self
reproaches of Russia for having deliberately
put within Bismarck's grasp the incredible
successes which he has achieved, Is added a
feeling Of evaporation at finding Anstro-
Hungary converted by Germany irto nval
Power in the Balkan peninsula and beyond
the Rhine crouches France, ready when the
right time comes to turn and rend her ancient
foe. The conclusion is that war which was
already In the air will be FASTENED by the
personal influence of a new sovereign whose
hostility to Germany has been thinly veed.
Yet it is plain that the general conditions of
European peace have not been changed by the
substitution of one Alexander for another.
The prospect of a close alliance between
France and Russia remains as vague and
illusory as it was before, for the prejudIcrs Of
the new Gar against Germany will not affect
the fixed resolve of tho French people 10 pro
long indefinitely period of unbroken peace
which ia adding so largely to their store of
material resources. The fact that the revOlu-
- IL, Duouia hnya Iurinr ba
war with Turkey-a campaign into which the
Car WIS drawn almost against his will by tho
infectious enthusiasm Of the Northern Slavs-
breaks the force of tho inference that a for
eIgn war would divert attention from internal
disorgapzation and thus stamp out Nihillsm
Nor will it do to lay too much stress upon tho
personal pre- ;ddIces and preferences OF the new
Gar. Even If his expressions of hostility and
avowals of sympathy were more marked than
they have been, the actual responsibilities OF
power would make him cautious and calcu-
latlne, and predispOse him to follow the path
which his fathers advisers have pointed
ont to him. Very little is known OF the
private character and political convictions
Of the new sovereign; and, unless we are
seriously misnformed, the main reason for
attributing to him feelings Of hostility toward
Germany is the fact that he married a Danish
Princess, who was taught by her father TO
detest the Berlin Court. A Russian autoCrat
generally expects his wife TO renounCe Prot
stanhsm, enter the Greek Church and
accept his own ideas of public policy with
the meekness of a common subject. 1t seems,
therefore, almost superfuous to inquire how
far the present Car will be influenced by his
marriage connections.
King Christian TX. certainly has no reason
to be grateful to Prussia. Appointed under
European treaty to the succession of the
crown of Denmark eleven years before the
death OF King Frederick VII, he had not been
on the throne many weeks before his king
dom was invaded, in defiance of public law,
and his territory despOiled That his resent
ment has not entirely cooled is shown by the
alacrity with which he consented to the mar
rage of his daughter, the Princess Thyra,
with the son of the HanOverian George whose
kingdom had been annexed 10 Ger
many. So far az his second daughter,
the present Empress of Russia, remembers the
misfOrtuoes of her family, her Influence over
her husband may be partially directed against
Germany, and thus tend to increase the chances
another rival in Europe Great Britain ia her
competitor in Asa, and the two powers which
were almost brought into direct conflict after
the Peace of San Stefano still regard each
other with jealousy and distrust. The collapse
of the Ottoman Empire, the permanent 0ccu-
patton of COnstantinOple by Europeans, the
capture of Merv or a crisis in Afghanistan, may
bring them face to face in the near future Is
it a matter of minor importance that the Car
and the future King of England have married
sisters, and that the Cars favorite sister il
the wife of an English prince and, moreover,
that the King of the Hellenes, who is now
threatening to reopen the Eastern Question, is
son of the King of Denmark These rela-
tionships count on the side of European peace,
and are an ample offset to any feeling of hos.
tility to Germany which the Empress Of Russia
may have learned from her Royal father. Ap.
parently there are slight grounds for appre-
hending the immediate outbreak Of general
European conflict and the change of A!exan-
ders Is more likely to promote peace than war.