The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-10-28
the scale to establish some new eou,.


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.
1.-THE savage, ruthless spirit of Rus
STA was recently shown in a 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
emit car of all the Russias, who feels
the necessity of doing something on a
grand scale to divert his people, and
who is consumed by boundfess am
bltion and an overwhelming estimate
OF his 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 in an
insOlent way, but it don't stop. 1t
goes on with it's aggressive work as il
nothing had happened. Look at her
recent contemptuous treatment of
England in regard to Batoum.
1.-The claim of England as 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 Europe are now agreed that En-
| al and mood MT ho fob int l.
political account than Holland."
Mr.. Sweeney dwelt at length upon
the relations between Germany, Aus
tria and Russia, saying that Emperor
William had restrained Russia and
preserved the peace of Europe. But
he is growing very old and must soon
pass away, with Bismarck, and when
they are gone the hot-headed and am
bilious car will no longer be held in
restraint. The desire for revenge on
Germany is strong in France, and
she would find a natural ally in Rus
STA. An effort has been 1aade to form
such an alliance, but Bismarck has
thus far frustrated the design. That
the league will be made is beyond
question. 1t is g. significant fact that
Russia gives to France the construc.
ton of all her war material outside OF
her own country. There are now
being constructed, near Toulon, ten
men. of-war for Russia at an expense
OF 5O,OOO,OOOf. 1t will be noticed
that the car was not direct party
to the recent meeting OF the emperors
at Gastein. He evidently prefers to
maintain disengaged position of
menace. The forced abdication of
Prince Alexander of Bulgaria is due to
the determination OF Bismarck to as
sent to anything demanded by the
car in his present attempts to pre-
vent the French alliance, but no one
can foretell what dangerous complica.
tions may arise from this.
"Segur says, Peace is the dream of
the wise, but war is the history OF
mankind Now, let us glance for a.
moment at the extent of the martial
preparations existing in Europe, and
it should aforementioned in this con.
nection that Bismarck has recently
said, in justification of Germany's &C.
tivity. We are at war now, mean
ing, of course, in the feeling which sur
rounds the questions, but which has
not yet resulted in blows. Theaaw of
the I'd OF May, 1874, gives, in effect,
to Germany the power in case OF war
to coll for six millions of various
classes of soldiers, and by the DEGREES
OF the first OF January, 1874, Russia
can call for fabulous number to raj
~ around her standard-overt ten mill
ions-but this would be an imperfect
and excessive estimate. Germany, in
case of war, can dispose OF 3,87O,OOO
men perfectly instructed, Russia
$500, 600 equally we'll prepared,
and Austria Hungary about $780,
OOO, with large eventualities. Italy
can place in the field an equal number
with the last named. France can
place in the field, in thirty days, an
army of 100000 men thoroughly
equipped, ready to fight, and knowing
how to fight, and she is regarded as
having, at this time, the best artillery
armament of any power in Europe.
This is the point, it will be remember
ed, in which she was specially weak in
the late war. What enormous preDa-
rations for a gigantic combat! 1t is a
spectacle which arrests with the deep.
est interest the attention of the
world"
Mr.. Sweeny thinks that in the event
OF hostilities between the United
States and Great Britain we would be
a poor match for England so far as
naval strength is concerned. England
to-day is the most powerful nation in
the world on the high seas. She pos
sesses twenty turret ships completed
and sixty more in progress, with a to-
tai displacement of 100000 tons,
varying from 5000 to $4,000 tons
and in speed from ten to fifteen knots
per hour.
"Her msular position and extent of
coast line to defend, the vast dlmen-
sions other empire, the fact that she
needs her food from abroad and the
greatness OF her maritime commerce..
more than fifty per cent. ofthe tonnage
of the world sails the British
fag-all combine to make it
matter of self-preservation that she
should have q naval armament ST.
| perior to that of any nossible adyer.