Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-01-14
COMING INTERNATIONAL CON
TESTS.

COMING INTERNATIONAL CON-
TESTS.
The December number of the Foi t.
nightly Review contains an article on
.'The Contests OF the World" which.
| in view of the uncertain state of polit-
zeal affairs in Europe, will probably
attract some attention. In q broad.
general way. il reviews The past, sur
veys the present, and offers some spec
uiaiions As TO the future, not OF Great
Britain only, although the article is
evidently intended TO arouse British
attention to the gravity of the situa-
ton, but also of France, Germany,
Russia and Turkey. The article Is
evidently from the pen of one who
either now is, or once was, behind the
scenes, and knows of what he is speak
ing.
Up to the end Of the Napoleonic
wars, the foreign policy OF England
was one of Intervention in the affairs
of the continent, English statesmen
evidently believing that the interests
OF their country demanded that il
should have a controlling influence ia
continental affairs. Since that time.
the interference Of England in foreign,
and particularly in continental mat
tiers, has been induced by two causes:
l. the desire 10 assist rising powers
in attaining creditable position of
freedom aud independence among ma
tions, and, 2, in behalf of British
trade. For the British nation is adj
mitted by the writer TO be practically
nation of shop-keepers, and the
British statesman, however lofty his
theoretical views of the political situa-
ton abroad, must come down to The
shop-keepering view, and do what h.
can, by any means. to promote trade
in general, and the business interests
of British traders in particular.
The trade argument will always be
the strongest when statesmen desire
to arouse the hearts of Englishmen to
undertake a foreign war; but, aside
from all considerations of this kind,
there are valid reasons for the belief
tina: the Anglo-SaXon and Teutouic
nations will, for long time to come,
continue to increase in power. They
are growing in numbers much more
rapidly than the people of the Latin
races; for, during the period of nearly
century, from 1888 to 1885, the
population of France, Spain and Italy
increased from 81 100000 to 1000 600:
the population of Germany trebled in |
number, from 15,000.000 to 45, 000, 900.
while that of England increased in the
same ratio, or from 100000 TO &c.
O00, 900, and that of the United States,
English in Origin,is more than thirteen
times its number century ago, having
increased from less than 100000 to |
more than 100000. This, of Itself, |
is fact of no little significance. par
ticularly when it is remembered that |
the English nation is almost the only |
one of modern times that has been |
able to found successful and thriving !
colonies.
In western Europe the Saxon and |
TeutOnic races have no rivals, but in |
the Russian empire both find source
OF future peril. The Muscovite en-
pire has been growing in population
and extending its geographical limits
with wonderful rapidity, and The |
question of the future, in the writer's
mind, is whether the Europe of the
future shall be governed by Great
Britain, Germany or Russia. 1t is
evident that war for dominion will
not be undertaken by England with
out a wonderful change both in senti-
ment and in the form of government,
for war necessitates large armies.
armies involve conscriptions, taxation
and a military despOtism. Bv such
means as these Germany has become
the most formidable military power
of history, but the democratic ten
dency of the English government for
bids the prospect of an adoption of
steps such as have succeeded so admir-
ably liz Germany. Nor will Germany
likely enter upon expensive schemes
of conquest. save in the direction of
the German States of Austria, since
Germany stands between France and
Russia and the union of the two
against her is at any time a posi-
bility.
Up to this time alliances of this kind
have been prevented, partly by the
tact of Prince Bismarck,
and partly by the dread that is felt in
France Of another conflict with Ger
many. 1t might result successfully,
Jul III III SuOufC. HiuuCC houAu gam
,nly the lost provinces of Alsace and
lorraine, at an enormous cost; while
f the war should prove unsuccessful
he entire indemnity would fall upon
France, for the Russian government
las nothing with which to pay. Nat
lrally, therefore, there is some hesita-
ion in France on the subject, but
whatever the dread, the possibility of