New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-10-27
EUROPEAN POLITICS.
The Present Outlook as it Appears in the Eyes Of
a Shrewd Observer.

The Present Outlook as it Appears in the Eyes Of
Shrewd Observer.
The New York Herald reports q
long interview with Peter B. Sweeny.
who has just returned from a trip to
Europe, where he resided for many
years. The shadow OF his past life
hangs over him, yet he is one of the
best informed men of his time on in
ternational topics, has given special
study to European politics and con-
tinental complications, and talk
with him is productive of much valu-
able and interesting information. He
said to the Herald re porter:
"The next war in Europe, come
when it may, and it may begin any
hour, will be of a destructive violence
unknown up to this day. Every source
of revenue has been strained, if not
drained, for the martial effect. It
would be idle to say that the world
has not yet seen the like, because new
er before has it had such destructive
warlike means. Europe is a great
military camp. The chief powers are
armed to the teeth. It is the comb
nation of general effort. It is not for
parade or amusement. Enormous
armies in the highest condition of
discipline and armed to perfection,
leaning on their muskets or bride in
hand, are waiting in camp and field
for the signal to march against each
other. A war in Europe settles only
one thing definitely, and that is the
necessity for another war. The ap-
preaching war may do more-it may
settle those who are chiefly engaged in
it. The ambition of kings and emper-
ors may thus lead in the end to their
own overthrow and open the way for
popular progress.
''The nineteen powers OF Europe are
divided, automatically, into four
classes. In the first class, of course,
are the great powers, six in number
Russia, Germany, Austria Hungary,
England, France and Italy Among
the second class are Spain and Turkey.
Belgium and Holland rank with the
third class, and in the fourth are such
countries as Greece, Switzerland and
Denmark. The great powers are the
masters, who alone have anything to
say in deciding International ques-
tions. The little ones don't count,
Belgium and Holland and the Balkan
provinces, for examples, are allowed
to exist on the map SO far as the great
monarchs are concerned, only until
they are wanted, to be thrown into
the scale to establish some new equi-
librium.
Each of the great powers has either
lost something which it wishes to re-
gain, become possessed of something
which don't belong to it, but which it
means to hold on to, or is seeking
something to which it is not entitled.
These nations have not advanced
much in the principles which control
their action from the barbarous times,
when might make right. Wordworth's
lines are still true:
That they should take who have the power
And they should keep who can
"The savage, ruthless spirit of Rus
STA was recently shown in new form
in the kidnapping OF Prince Alexander,
the lawful sovereign of Bulgaria, at
midnight, in the palace at the capital
OF his country, by Muscovite ennis
saries, and his deportation as a pris-
oner to Russia, because he was not
sufficiently submissive to his imperi-
Gus highness the emperor. He would
have been kept a prisoner in the good
old style in Russia, but for the person
al and energetic intervention of the
Emperor William of Germany. The
peace of Europe now depends on the
capricious, erratic action OF the pres
ent car of all the Russias, who feels
the necessity of doing something on
grand scale to divert his people, and
who is consumed by a boundless am
bltion and an overwhelming estimate
ofhis power. Russia, as represented by
this inexperienced, unrestrained and
dangerous young man, allows no
treaty to stand in it's way, and it's dip.
lomacy is peculiar. The Turk is diff
cult enough. He is suave and supple,
courteous and yielding in his mode Of
discussion, but with everlasting faith
in the eternal tomorrow. What is
not done he believes may never be
done, consequently duplicity and pro-
crastination are his weapons. But
Russia, when found out doing some
thing wrong, receives protest or oppo-
sition sullenly. 1t may negotiate tn an
insolent way, but it don't stop. It
goes on with it's aggressive work as if
nothing had happened. Look at her
recent contemptuous treatment Of
England in regard to Batoum.
"The claim OF England as q first.
class power is very generally ques-
toned in influential circles. Her in
ability to Compete with the continent
al powers in marching armies, the de-
termination of the tories to throttle
Ireland, which will give them as much
as they can do, and her recognized dip
lomatic method OF buster and back
out, all conspire to lower her crest.
The Cologne Gazette said the other
day: But who speaks nowadays on
such questions OF England. The people
of F.nrOnn arc now a0roo9 fhot E,,