Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-10-08

AN aftlCle a1Kneu "OutluanOS has been
going the rounds of European journals and
reviews and attracting general comment
because II Is said TO have been written by
Gladstone and has not been denied by that
statesman. After commenting on the huge
military establishments that have grown
up In Europe In the past eighteen years of
almost unbroken peace, the writer pro-
ceels to inquire whether the triple alliance
answers to Its name Of" "a league Of peace"
He asks, ais it's strength adequate to it's
purpose9 Is that purpose rational and
just? and eau the league itself be expected
to endure? The combined power of Ger
many, Austria aud 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 cause"
He notes tho rivalry between Austria and
Russia In the Balkan peninsula, and that
neither seems disposed 10 what some
simple persons might take To be probable
method of escape from the difficulty
namely, leaving that peninsula To the free
use and disposal of Its own inhabitants.
Tho irritation between Russians and Ger
mans and French and Italians Is noted, and
then the irrepressible quarrel over Alsace-
Lorraine, where Germany has strong
moral title and will defend 1t, and where
France, aware of the identity of feeling
between the Inhabitants of the conquered
provinces and the rest Of her population
before 1876, can not be expected to do other
wise than believe In its persistency.
The writer then turns to the reasons that
bind Italy In the alliance: 1t il best TO be
plain on these occasions. We will there
fore not scruple to say that the appearance
Of Italy In the triple alliance is no better
than gigantic piece of political tomfool-
cry, which Is SO strange as to be grotesque
and which would even be comic if It were
not ruinous." He attempts to measure
the relative strength OF the triple alliance
and of the other three great powers by
taking the strength of the standing army
and navy, the population and the revenue
OF each group.
Germany with
Austria and France
Army aud navy......... iS.S52,oS gnu i,SssS i,s7soS5
Population Europe only) lls,oD,ooo l25Ooo,oO
Revenue. f237,WoOoO
There is nothing In these figures
demonstrstiye of gross disparity or of
an incapacity on either side 20 wage
deliberate and determined struggle.
The proportion of population under arms
In Italy is enormous and she contributes
more than a half to this total of forces, while
the wealth OF France is equal to that of any
two of the others. lie cannot find tie
shadow of an argument which would in
duce the British nation "to enter into any
engagement beforehand, however guarded
by conditions, to take part at the outset of
the apprehended European war, lest the
balance of power should suffer harm" 1t
would seem that the grand old man wants
Italy to step out of the alliance when II
expires In 1890 and would have England
also stand aside while the big four, Russia,
France, Germany and Austria, fight 1t out.
Wise old man.
+. I. BARNUM's advertising agents have
made great stroke in London. They is
sued programme of circus procession
headed programme of the Lord Mayor's
Show" In this there were mentioned al
iegorical floats representing England and
America, drawn by twelve eam-colored
horses, thirty American thorouphbreds
and twenty-five camels, steam organ
drawn by dozen llamas, and dozen os-
triches drawing cars. A dispatch TO the
New York Herald says that Sir Henry
Isaacs, the lord mayor, was so astonjshed
th It he observed: "This can't be the nro-
gramme, for it will not be decided upon
until Tomorrow by twelve gentlemen, who
will meet at the Guildhall and arrange the
programme. l can say there will be no
floats, no llamas, no ostriches and no Bar
mum in the lord mayors show. There is
no Intention to offend man like Barnum,
but he can't he permitted TO interfere with
the lord mayors show. We may borrow
few horses from him, but do not need the