Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-07
The Luxembourg Question.

The Luxembourg question Is again under |
discussion, snd the latest report touching
BIsMAEcK's views regarding :; is very int.
resting. 1t will be remembered that when
the critical Illness OF the King OF Holland
was Grst announced Il was intimated that III
consideration Of the fact that bis daughter
could not succeed 10 his right In Luxem'
bourg the Emperor Of Germany might
probably resssert tue clam to the
Orange heirship set up by the King
OF Prussia many years ago. The right
ful her Is the Duke Of Nassau. Now II Is
stated that BISMARCK iayors union OF Lux
emhourg with Alsace>Lorraine aud the
making = king Of the Duke. While The
Duke has no cause to love BISMARCK and re-
CARDS him "a bis enemy, no man knows bet-
ter than the old Chancellor how to use Tor
the advantage OF Germany those who have
opposed him and who have some time
been the victims OF his overDearing methods.
The Duke OF Nassau was born In the same
year the old King Of Holland was, and his
reign would be necessarily brief. The pos
session OF Belgium and Holland seems to be
as much a part OF the manifest destiny OF
the German empire az the possession OF
Constantinople is part OF the mani
fest destiny OF Russia. England now
bars the road to destiny III The case
Of both Germany and Russia, and will pro-
baby continue to do so for many years 10
come. stu 'msny years" is but day IN
the history 81 a great nation, and singular
as BIsNARcR's alleged programme appears,
nav il not be that ii is a step OF preparation
for the day when British guns and British
influence can no longer assure the ~
dependence of the coveted territory
on the Moth Sea. MAY BISMARCK not
he taking lesson from the policy OF Russia,
who by her successive wars has been making
ready for the time when British guns and
British influence can no longer guarantee
the integrity OF the Porte aud defeat what
has been the hspe Of the northern Colossus
from the days OF PETER the Great 70 the
present hour! No one who has studied the
situation in Germany and appreciates the
conflicting interests OF the various States
that 90 to make mp the empire doubts FOR
moment that BISMARCK ia sincere IN his
declarations that he is for peace. As yet
Germany is aeon'ederation revolving around
Prussia and held together by centr'pelal
force repfesented by the words "The Unity
Of the Faiberland.n But the elements are
being more closely welded together every
wear, and when the fusion-the homo
geniiy-becomes perfect there must be ac-
erection both from the east and the west.
In the former direction there must
be STRENGTHENING Of the frontier line.
Two sides OF triangle must be reduced to
a base extending from the extreme eastern
projection OF East Prussia TO the extreme
southeastern projection OF Silcsia. This as
a SAFEGUARD Against Russia. To the west
ward Germany must blye sea coast in order
that her navy and merchant marine may
keep pace with her development in other re-
spect.. When all these facts are weigh
ed. and when we recollect that Els
vARcE has ever been in advance OF his
generation, il may be we'll said that
stranger things have happened than the
making Of his proposed new German
state. How such a move would accord
with the existing tresty understandings re.
cardinr Luxembourg we cannot say, but on
ia face It would appear more feasible and
safer than The plou Of reassertlng the Old
Prussian crown claim.