New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-16
n NEW DIPLOMATIC DEPARTURE.

a NEW DIPLOMATIC DEPARTURE
| The hurried consultation of the Emperors
at Dantzic was in striking contrast with the
| gala week in 1878 when the German Sover-
egn was welcomed like a conqueror on the
banks of the Neva. His coming had been
heralded for months, and pagcants, il!umina-
tons banquets, military reviews and fetes had
| been planned in honor of the Imperial visitor
| st. Petersburg seemed to have forgotten all
| that had happened in Europe since 1914, when
| Russia and Prussia were victorious allies The
| Grand Dukes greeted Moltke as the greatest
| general of the age. GOrtschakOif embraced
| Bismarck in public as his faithful ally in the
| Cabinet and as the benefactOr of the CONT
nent. The Emperors themselves gossiped to-
| gether in spirit of comradeshp like old cam
| paigners after the close of hOstilitics. The
Germans had done all the fighting but the
| Russians claimed n share in the victories and
congratulations We're publicly exchanged over
the results of ten years of hearty cooperation
German unity and Russian recovery from the
disgrace of the Crimea were the GROWING
facts of that busy epoch and the humili-
alton of Austria and the degradation of
France seemed to have served the purposes
of each Chancellor equally well. So ST. Peters
burg decled itself in Prussian colors, and the
Russian regiments kept step TO the "Watch on
the Rhine" AID the EmDerors smiled when
from the windows of the Winter Palace they
read the words "Sadowa" and "Scdan" blaz-
ing in letters of fire athwart the sky. Eight
years have passed since those splendid fetes
One of the Emperors has been murdered in his
own capital, and when his son ventures to con-
fer with the other he plans a secret meeting
beyond the frontier and steals out of the city
like a detective.
Suddenly planned and quietly executed. the
second conference may be more important in
its consequences than was the first, with all
its unwonted pomp and pageantry. The tri-
umphal progress Of the Kaiser from Berlin to
the Gulf of Finland marked the elimination
of the diplomatic alliance between the two
countries. The Sovereigns were bound together
by the closest ties of relationship and friend
ship, and were loyal to each other until dca TIA
parted them. Their Chancellors were cs-
tranged within two years, and the diplomatic re-
latlons of the two States were destined to become
clouded with suspicion and jealousy. The
lines of diplomatic policy of the two Courts
soon began To divergc. Bismarck seemed aux-
ious III 1875 to strike France II second time
but Gortschakof was no longer cheek by fowl
with him. Gortschakon on his side. was plot
ting the destruction of Austria rs well as Turkey
by means of a Panslavic LEAGUE under Russian
primacy, and Bismarck could not allow him to suc
coed. The Three Emperor League was the in
genlous device by which Austria and Germany
were recOnciled and maSsed against Russia dur
lngthe momentous period opening with the revolt
in Bosnia and closing with the Treaty of Der
lin. After the conditions of Europcap peace
were finally determined, Austria was found to
have strengthened her prestige in the East.
tn hay tr.1
where resistance could be eilcctually offered 70
Russian conquest in Turkey. One of the En-
perors had quietly dropped out of the Three
Emperor League, and Germany and Austria were
united body and soul in all matters of Euroncon
concern. Old allies had become suspicious
rivals, and old foes new allies The memories
OF the gala week on the Ncva had grown
stale. IA the retrospect closed n that Inn
perial pageant marked the last stage of one of
the most powerful combinations in Continental
diplomacy. 1t was not the beginning of a new
movement in European life.
The new conference of the Emperors ot
Dantzlc may be such an initial point in
the history OF our times. 1t has brought |
the aged Kaiser and the young Car into close |
personal relations, and may tend to mite the |
Courts and Cabinets and to give a new diroc-
ton to the diplomacy OF the Continent. n
would be premature to assume that anv treaty |
OF alliance has been, or will be. formed ~ |
consequence of this interview. The so-calIed |
alliance between Germany and Austria is of
several years standing, but the only formal
evidence that has been given of its existence
Is the abrogation of the fifth article of
the Treaty of Prague-the clause provid
ing that the population Of Northern
SchleswlS should be restored to Denmark if
by free vote they expressed desire for ro-
union. This was one of those airy notbingo
wreathed with mystery on which Nopoleon
ILL., was wont to exercise his talent for trick
cry, for it was he who suggested its insertion
III the treaty wherein Austria renowned bor
rights in the Fatherand. This, we repeot il
the only formal proof which has been made
public OF the cordial understanding bet,yoon
Berlin ana Vienna yet that understanding has
existed and been of the greatest moment IN
recent European history. In like manner a
revival of confidential relations between Rerln
and st. Petersburg may be new point of do
partre in modern diplomacy. The appojnt-
ment of General Ignaticlf as Minister of For
algn Affairs, which is announced TODAY. indi-
Gates that it will be so.
THE SPOILS SYSTkMv
In all the general cant of politcs-ond tlo,o ::