San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-16
AGENTS FOR THE LIGHT.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY, 16, 1888.
DAME EURoPA's SCHOOL.

The old lady over the water Is In a
peck OF trouble over the squsbbles OF
her numerous progeny. Her boys and
girls are by no means In an amiable
mood and the domestic peace Is sadly
disturbed by constant broils which daily
threaten to end In an open knock down
and drag out fight between the several
members OF the family. From Madrid
to st. Petersburg the whole continent is
In ferment and yesterdays dispatches
show new phase OF the situation In
England's oVertures to Russia, il any
dependence can be placed In that re-
oial declarations that Lord Churchill's
mission to Russia was purely private,
for his own personal observation OF that
country, and had nothing Of a political
significance attached to 1t, it seems hard
to believe the present assertion from
Paris that st. Petersburg dispatches are
authentic Information to the direct con-
trary. That this news comes from Paris
via st. Petersburg instead OF from Lon
don 10 no discredit to it, as the re-
latlons between France and Rus
sla are decidedly confidential,
and there Is not that espionage OF the
press In the western republic that there
Is In the eastern empire. II Russia and
England come to definite agreement
concerning the much vexed Afghsnistan
question and it Is conceded to the Little
Kingdom in the Sea-" that she may
make Afghanistan an integral part of
her Indian empire, 1t will relieve Russia
from all necessity OF guarding her east
ern possessions, and also eliminate any
fears Of England's mediation or interior
ence In the settlement Of Russia's diff
culties In Eastern Europe. The alliance
between Germany and Austria and Italy,
virtually one alliance, though embraced
In two separate treaties, Is Offset by the
alliance between Russia and France
which, though waiting ratification, may
be accepted as virtually settled, 1t being
alike to the interests OF each to form q
most Intimate and far reaching alliance.
This fixes the position OF these five great
powers In the event Of war. Germany,
Austro-Hungary and Italy will occupy
the central position dividing the forces
OF Russia and France. But these former
will be threatened with the hosts Of
Russia In all the Balkan provinces
and In Austro Hungary. while
the French armies will Immediately ad-
vance into the disputed Rhine provin-
ces and attempt the re-occupstion OF
Alsace and Lorraine. II dispatches speak
truly concerning the arrangements be-
tween Germany and England, Great
Britain may be looked upon as out Of
the ring and, as usual, careful Of her own
bacon. The position OF the north west
countries, Belgium, Norway and Swed-
en-, also OF Spain, is not defined. All in
dioatlons point to the neutrality of the
Spanish regency, but there were ru-
mors lately ola prospective movement
on the part Of BELGIUM and the north
west provinces, favoring an alliance not
altogether friendly to Germany nor yet
distinctly hostile to 1t; an armed neu-
trality in fact. the conditions Of which
were not clearly defined. The position
OF Turkey Is still underlined, and while
In some sense the guardian Of the old
Besssrabia country, or no ineonsidersble
portion oft, It is not at all certain upon
which side or the conflict her forces
would be ranged. Turkey will cut a
very Uncomfortable figure in the affair
one way or the other, as the disputed
Roumanian, Bulgarian and Servian
provinces are so nearly independent that
that movement will have very little
reference to the will OF Turkey one way
or the other and upon the movements OF
these will depend Turkeys attitude. II
the German coalition enters Bull
garla, Turkey will be offended and Rus
STA will gain her as an ally. 1t is not so
clear that Turkey win consider the en-
trance Of Russia into the field as oocs-