Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-09
THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE,

/ nne VI SiV IN tine ulsoroerIy case he warned
Robinson that if found of his beat with pistol
he would be punished severely.
THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.
Extracts From the Paper Said to Have
| Been Written by Gladstone.
1.-The forthcoming number of the Contempo-
rary Review will contain an important paper pseudony.
mousy signed Outidanos." the authorship Of which is
commonly attributed in Europe where the article is
attracting considerable attention, to Mr.. Gladstone
For the privilege of publishing extracts from the
in advance Of the regular issue Of the Review the
Philadelphia Pres lie indebted to the American pub.
| fishers, the Leonard Scott publishing company, 80
| Park Row. New York;
| For eleven years Europe has not heard the
clash OF arms, nor, except in the Balkan PENN
sula. for eighteen. Yet her soldiers are counted
by millions and her charge for military and
naval establishments by hundreds of millions.
These establishments, which are huge, require
to be contemplated in various lights; but what
| ever point OF the compass we select for our in
spection the view is dismal one. In the united
| kingdom alone of the great states do the enor-
| nous burdens which these establishments re-
quire fail to constitute an apology for so-called
protective laws. which fetter industry, dimin-
| ish wealth and aggravate distress. In some, at
| least, OF the six greater countries the pressure
| upon the national finance in this time of peace
Is very heavy. In Germany it is said to be
80 severely felt as to endanger the policy of
peace In Italy it represents what might more
properly accompany the extremities of an ex-
hausting war The growth of the huge mass of
national debts is rapid and continuous. The ex-
lstence of enormous armies stimulates the mar
tial spirit and creates in each country military
class thoroughly centralized and Of increasing
power. In this state of facts "league of
| peace" is, indeed, a sweet-smelling SAVIOR if it
answer to its name. But that is the very ques-
ton which 1t is Meedful to examine. For as
suredly the military condition of Europe as
whole Is not the outward sign of a settled tran
| quillity, but is rather the announcement of the
| strong rather and early likelihood of an agoniz-
| ing war.
THE LEAGUE AND ITS PURPOSES.
The European public may be said to know
that the members of this league are Germany,
Austria and Italy; that its purposes are de-
clared to be defensive; and that it expires, I'M
less renewed. with the year 1890 Does this
league altogether correspond with the character
| announced by its name? Is its strength ade-
quate to its purpose? Is that purpose rational
and Just. and can the league itself be expected
| to endure?
The combined power of Germany, Austria
| and Italy is doubtless very great But from
this combination France and Russia Ito say
| nothing OF England) are excluded. And this,
| not on grounds merely arbitrary, but for serious
4
as between Russians and Germans Austria and
| Russia have constituted themselves rivals in
| the Balkan peninsula, and neither seems dis
posed to what some simple persons might take
to be probable method of escape from the
| diificulty-namely, leaving that peninsula to
the free use and disposal of its own inhabitants
| France and Germany have between them the
quarrel OF Aisace-Lorraine latent indeed, but
as it may be feared. profound. As between
France and Italy there are causes of difference
which may be Fictitious or inadequate, but
| which nevertheless appear to have been suf1i-
GENTLY operative in producing state Of mind
from which war may readily arise.
| A COMPARISON.
Granting that the German army is at this mo-
ment the first army in Europe, it seems not an
unreasonable opinion that the Russian and the
French or the French and the Russian, armies
are the second and the third, and that Austria
and, in the fifth place, Italy have to take rank
| behind them. Suppose We attempt roughly to
measure relative strength by the threefold tes,
| Of CO numerical amount OF army with the
colors" and navy, (2) population and 90 reye-
| nue., we obtain, on resort to popular sources OF
information, something like the following re-
Suits
| Germany with
4 Austria and France
| Italy. and Russia
Army and navy. l,652,OOO l,57S, 0OO
Population Europe
4 j..
Revenue. .f279 OOO, 900 f237 200 ,OOC
There is nothing in these figures demonstra-
| tive Of gross disparity or of an incapacity on
either side to wage, if SO minded. a deliberate
and determined struggle. Especially does this
! seem clear when it is borne in mind that the
| proportion Of her population which Italy keeps
under arms is enormous, SO much SO that to
this total of forces kept on foot she contributes
I more than a moeity, while the wealth of France
is probably equal to that of any two among the
other powers. 1t is remarkable fact that
| during the war Of 1870, while German porce-
lain, discharged from private houses, was to
| be had at prices denoting what we term forced
| sale, France did not send her endless works
| OF art and articles OF virtu across the chan
| mel, but indeed continued to import at high
prices precious stones from the East Indies.
| 1t seems, then, thus far, that the league Of
| peace ID not so much an aggregation of over
mastering forces able to command obedience
to ITS will as Cat first sight skillful CONSOLE
dation OF the material and moral strength OF
| three OF the great continental powers against
the other two, who might not impossibly be a
! match for them There are further indications
that the astute and masculine brain, which has
formed and which directs this league Of peace
is well aware that II is in truth not more ncr
less than powerful league of preparation for
the possibilities of a deadly struggle.
Although the three powers are manifestly
beforehand with the two in their arrangement
for the array Of their gigantic ornaments, yet
| tucy bccu 70 tetl tnat something more Is
wanted In August Of the present year the
public journals have presented to us rumori
that Spain was to join the league Of peace. II
may be questioned whether the fact would be
one Of cardinal or determining importance
but the inquiry may be spared on the ground
Of the unlikelihood, not to say the absurdity, OF
the rumor. Spain has no interests as a princi.
pal. As a mercenary, even were she willing to
be bought, there is no one able to buy her.
Nor could her entrance, crowned by success
insure her admission to the charmed circle OF
the great powers. Much more importance at
taches to the notion, which finds currency from
tune to time, that there ia secrect understand
ing between England and the league Of peace
| ExaLAND's ATTITUDE.
II viii hardly bs contended that the British
empire has any such interest in continental
war - to warrant it, engaging itself by sntici
patton to take part In IL simply a. continental
war. IL oilers no immediate or probable pros
psct OF danger TO our shores or 70 the Qusen't
posssssionA should II entail injury 70 euI