New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-29


the dual government of Austria has developed
and has led TO the evolution of such diverse
national and racial programmes that some shrewu
observers predict new CONFUSION, to end III inc
complete extension of the German element ana
the conversion of the Empire into Slav POWER
Whether or not there is any possibility OF this
the instability of the existing situation Is APP
parent and it is therefore by no means so clear
as it once seemed that Austria has made any
substantial gain by the change. Germany OH 'he
other hand, has unquestionably made great a"-
vances. The consolidation of the South German
States alone was worth almost any sacrifice, ana
though the cost of this protection has been ana
still is heavy, union with Prussia was the sole
trustworthy and sure means of securing III. III
is true that all Germany has been compelled 10
remain armed since the close of the war with
France and that apparently this state oil Things
must continue until another and still more des-
perate conflict settles at least for genera'ioh'
the question of supremacy. But there was ho
help for this The only alternative was suolectloh
TO France or Austria, disunion and heiplesshess'
The genius of Bismarck has overcome those dai-
gers, and the future can hardly have anything
worse in store.
In Italy the period between 1850 ana leo
was vital one but the opportunities of which
most mart created by Cavour. and the dehcacy OF
the whole proceeding was infinitely enhanced by
the constant necessity of curbng or steering clear
of the revolutionary societies, whose violent ana
lavless programmes alienated the sympathy OF
forei.n Governments, and might at any moment
compel them to interfere, even against their IN
clination Garibaldi had to be used WIN the
utmost caution and adrOitness. Entirely single
minded and Unselflsh, he nevertheless chung WIN
such obstinacy to his own narrow views tlat he
was always liable to embroil the government OIL
the King to the ruin OF the whOie scheme vi
uniication Cavour made his centre-shot III en-
tangling Louis Napoleon in the Italian alhahce'
When the trial came for France Italy refused 10
help her. though unifcation would have Deeh lui-
nossible in our time without French bayonets.
But Louis Napoleon forfeited all claim upon
Italian Gratitude when he refused to remove tie
French troops from Rome. IT might have maze
no difference in the end had the Italian alliance
been maintained, for Italy on the side OF France
would have been very apt 70 be answered ON the
appearance Of Austria oil the side OF Germany
With Russia pro-Gcman. the Court of Vienna
could not have made French alliance Al Tue
last the unlfication of Italy was due TO nallohal
military mowers. Single-handed. .he Italians
must have been beaten, as the battle OF CuS'ozza
showed But Frances extremity was the OPP
portunty of the Florence Government, and II
utilized the opening with the approval OF Europe
Russia very naturally seized the same occasion
TO tear up the Black Sea Treaty. We say very
naturally. not because this kind of course has
any ethical justiication-Quite the contrary, III
fact-but because nations, in their treatment OF
one another, have almost invariably Ignored moral
principles and considerations, and have proceeded
Il is curious reflection that in this respect the
most civilized governments are entirely beneath
the moral standard which obtains among me
people 40 business or commerce could be carried
on upon the methods applied to international
relations. for the right TO repudate tie most
solemn engagements lies at the bottom OF dlp-
lomacy, and is balanced by the Tlght TO appear
to the sword wien argument is no lOLger posslplc;
There is not a state i'll Europe which mas hOt
repeatedly and deliberately violated contracts,
and so far this practice is concerned, theTe Is
nothing to choose between absolute and consutd-
tional COVE rnments. When one thinks oil lLIs
chapter of history, it is not easy TO stimulate
the ina gnation into acceptance OF the pOeuc
visions of declarations of the world which
soothed the fancy OF the early century. The great
changes which have occurred in Europe since
1850, too, while tending steadily to centralIza-
ton and anna gamatlon, have really EOt advanced
democracy nearly far as is claimed by careless
enthusiasts In Germany. for example the move
ment in that direction Is very DUBIOUS. IN lIuN
the same may he said. France has made the most
progress Ostensby though more time must pass
before the situation can be judged lntellleelty
As to Japan, so often cited as an evidence OIL
what an Oriental nation can do when inspired
by the spirit of progress, we think IT decidedly
questionable whether that country has not made
a serious perhaps a fatal mistake. in abandoning
her own civilization for that Of the West. The
abolition of feudalsm was necessary 10 the reSOra
ton of the rightful form of government, but the
spasmOdic adoption Of the uniformly hidcOus West
prn dress. the often hOpePssly stupid and incli-
cient Western educational theories, the highly
objectionable Western commercial smaTtnesS so
fatal TO conscientious and frstrate production, and
all the external insignia Of the most mateTlallstc
civilization the world has ever seen, does not
strike at all necessarily in the line Of true
progress. Japan is full Of vitality, and may after
all he able to stand the shock Of these changes,
but we gravely doubt whether q quarter of a
century hence the Empire Of Nippon will furnish
any of those charming naive and amiable people
whose attractions have fixed nearly all travellers
in the sentiment that the people Of Japan are the
politest, most gentle and interesting of all East
crn nations.
We lay down Mr. Murdocks clever book re-
fectively. II hopes had any effect upon events
it would he duty to Join in his optimistic fore
cast but since the period treated by hrA too many
OminOus signs have arisen to Justify more than n
very moderate degree of expectation for the future
IL may be that the course of the race is still up-
ward, despite all apparent checks reversions
and this is comfortable hypothesis The arc
subtended by any line of appreciabe elevation
is, however, vast thGG our limited vision can
scarcely compass it, and it is only after the lapse
of centuries that we able TO perceive the
traces or what appea. TO be the traces of that
increasing purpose" which we desire to believe
runs through al the vicssitudes of life.