The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-03
The Trinla Alliance.

| in the practical annihilation OF France and
new map OF continental Europe. That
this last move on the European chess
| board by the Iron Chancellor has rendered
the position of France unenviable cannot
be denied, but before taking the ultra
pcssimist view of the matter it would be
well 10 look to the events that led to IL.
What does the combination mean and why
was il brought about?
Ever since the Franco-Prussian war
France has been burning for revenge, and
has shown aggressive tendencies. No mat
ter what may have been the internal pollti-
cal discord that was agitating her, the work
of periecting her military system has gone
steadily forward. Two years ago. when
SRoBELEFF made his panslayic crusade
against the Tcutons, the relations between
Germany and Russia not only became pre-
carous, but Germany had every reason to
EXPECT an onslaught OF Russians, and 1t
was a foregone conclusion that i'll the
event of war France would lie the ally OF
the Car. Under such a condition OF affairs
il was only the part Of wisdom that Bis
MArcK should cement the friendly relations
already existing between Germany ana
Austria, thus presenting continuous bar
rier to Russian aggression in the East, and
increased geographical obstacles TO c0mmu-
nicatiou with France. But even this alliance
was not accepted rs q warning by France,
nor was itam absolute guarantee OF peace to
Germany. TIE latter could GIly be Sc
cured nv the isolation OF Fim'cr. and, rs
usual. BrsMARcK's lucky star was in the as
ceudancy. The disregard by France OF
Italian interests in Tunis gave him the OPP
portunity Of rcconclling Italy and Austria,
Of making Italya party 10 the treaty, and OF
driving. rs it were. q solid wedge through
Europe from the Baltic TO Sicily. No one
familiar with the map OF Europe can fail
TO appreciate at a glance the advantages OF
this combination. Spain is not regarded
rs worthy OF consideration. Russia would
not single-handcd dare attack the three
Powers, and France is hemmed in on the
east and southeast by 4 wall Of bayonetS,
while her Mediterranean ports are exposed
to the attacks OF the powerful Italian navy.
Yet all this does not argue war. On the
contrary, it would seem 20 argue exactly
the opposite. On the one hand France
will not precipitatc contest in which she
must now recognize that she would have
no show, and on the other Germany could
not afford q scnseless and causeeSS war;
Admitting. however, for the sake OF areu-
ment, that either Germany or France
might essay the Improbable step we
have pointed out, it is not reasonable
TO suppose that England would quiet
" see the balance OF power oyerthrown.
In fact, we had an intima,ion when the al
lance was first discussed that she would
not. The London Times, in commenting
on the speech OF the Due de BROGLIE, in
which he referred to the friendlcssness OF
France and the GOODNESS between that
and England growing out OF the
Egyptian imbroglio, says significantly:
every one knows what is the existing
balance OF power, but none know what
might happen were it destroyed.
one may have a very warm boundary dis
pute with ones neighbor, and YET con-
tinue to feel for him very warm friend
ship. Nothing that has happened has
touched the abiding sentiments OF this
country towards France; and nothing that
can happen short OF an attempt upon our
own liberties and independence could in
duce Englshmen TO view without the
strongest rcproha;ion any attempt TO di-
minish French greatness and power"
If we read between the lines we shall
find here one word for France and two for
England. In view OF all the facts, there
fore, we must acknowledge. be our sympa-
thies what they may, that Germany seems
only to have pursued her own interest, as
She had an undOubted right to do, and that
alarm for the fate OF France is premature.
The alliance is practically defensive for the
reason that it X prohibitory Of French az
erosion, and il is not too much to
venture that it may prove to Frances
advantage in causing her 70 turn her
attention 70 internal regeneration, both
in political and material sense. II
she must have revenge, her policy is to
strengthen herself by internal harmony for
the day Of BIsMARCK's death, when German
absolUtism win disappear, or the hour when
some unlookcd-ior circumstance shall cause
the new alliance TO share the fate Of The
Kaiserbund.