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

|
threaten the balance of power in Europe, we
have to inquire little what is the nature and
| extent OF our concern with the balance OF
power. 1t IL easy to understand that if any con.
tinental state were now to acquire the amount
F, and kind of predominance which Napoleon
had attained before his expedition to Moscow,
such state Of things might drag England into
| war. But such . state of things may be i'm
possible. II was one thing to conquer OF
annex continental countries, when many of
the respec i've nations had little sense of inter-
| est In their institutions or their independence.
and when, consequently, war was an affair be-
| tween government and government, and quite
another to carry forward a similar enterprise,
when q spirit OF nationality has been widely
| developed and when, over a large part OF
Europe, the people are conscious that they
themselves have largely to do with the making
OF the laws and institutions under which they
| live.
Nor il it at all self-evident in whose interest
or to whose detriment the balance Of power
would be injured by proximate war, if at all
those among us who speak most and loudest
Tor maintaining the balance of power, COM
monty mean not its impartial maintenance,
out Its maintenance against France. Yet II
seems as likely that the change would be to
!he prejudice of France as Of Germany There
! Is not, IN truth, the remotest shadow of an ar
gument which, as matters now stand, would be
likely to induce the British nation to enter
| into any engagement beforehand, however
guarded by conditions; to take part at the out
set OF the apprehended European war, lest
| the balance OF power should suffer harm.
ALsAcE-LoRRAINE.
Germany has q full right to assert that she
did not either covet or prosecute with levity or
precipitancy the conquest of Alssce-Lorraine.
There is or was published in London q little
known German newspaper which, on the eve OF
the war In July, 1870, exhibited one Of the usual
Piacards OF Its contents, among which were set
forth In conspicuous characters the words:
Sollen wir Elsass oder sollen wir rucksicht
nehmen9 Shall we take Alsace or shall we take
counsel? Nor was it the fault OF Germany
tnat this sagacious warning remained without
effect. The war forced upon her by France,
and upon France by infatuation in high
places, took Its course. 1t is believed that to
the last Prince Bismarck was averse to exact
ing the cession Of Lorraine. and that he was
overborne by military influences. II is fact,
known to have been stated on unimpeachable
authority, that, at the period when he held this
famous interview with Jules Favre, at Fer
lieies' ne promised peace to France on the con-
dltion OF ceding only Strasburg with its ban
ae'te Had that magnanimous offer been ac-
cepted 1t is probable that we should have been
spared all immediate occasion of conflict be-
tween Germany and France, for there would
nave Deen no European question depending on
the fate OF Alsace-Lorraine.
There is such a question at this moment
Ihose whom 1t concerns show o prudent and
iaudaDle desire to postpone the issue, but they
constantly betray their Consciousness OF its ex-
istence. And it is a moderate assertion to say
that. according to the established codes of ma
ionai action, Germany will not only defend
put has strong presumptive title to defend,
ner possession OF the annexed Reichsland Of
Alsace-Lorralne. Germany, then. has an easy
answer as to the legitimacy of her place in the
triple alliance. The question how far that
moral title can be impaired in the course Of
| common n
lnces Is one hardly to be solved by the argu-
ments OF mere critics from q distance. But
there is an aspect Of the case which
larry comes within our cognizance.
of feeling between the inhabitants
OF the conquered provinces and the
rest OF her population before 1870. cannot
be expected to do otherwise than believe in its
persistency. The measure for the enforcement
OF passports, to which the young emperor
success. We cannot exclude the supposition
that they possibly may fail. If the process be
Intellectual, if the population of Alsace and
Lorraine stretch out the hand Of persistent
supplication and implore the elected mother
again to take them to her bosom. can she or
will she refuse? Or can she so frame her ideas
and policy from this time onward as to shut
out this contingency for all time from the
eventuallties which stand on the line Of her
political horizon? Ifshe cannot, then she, too,
combination which may be formed to resist the
triple alliance
Nor is it difficult to see that strong and from
their respective points Of view sufficient mo-
tlves may tend to keep Austria in alliance with
Germany, and to draw Russia into cooperation
with France. Louis Napoleon projected alter
ations on the political map Of Europe which
restricted Austria on her German and westward
side and gave her compensation In the east
And Lord Salisbury has hailed as good tidings
Tors NIL, ,.l l.
austrian power nearer to Constantinople,
though he must know that many Austrians,
perhaps the most and wisest, regard with aver
sion policy which, by the reinforcement Of
the Slavonic element, would disturb the deli
cate and critical balance OF races and nation
antics In that curiously constructed empire.
IrALY's PLACE.
But when we turn to the remaining name Of
Italy the case is reversed For the four other
powers we find Astounding circumstances,
which, as they may severally hold, throw them
into certain combinations or antagonism. But
none of these have the smallest application to
Italy. Every maxim Of policy, every suggestion
OF common sense and the dictates of necessity
nothing less than trumpet-tongued, forbid to
Italy all intermixture in Cisalpine antipathies
or conflicts. 1t is best to be plain on these &C.
casions We will therefore not scruple to say
that the appearance of Italy in the triple alli-
ance Is no better than gigantic piece of politi-
cal tomfoolery, which is so strange as to
be grotesque and which would even be comic
if it we're not ruinous. But there she is, and
the fact Of her presence is perhaps the most
signal illustration ever yet afforded, in the po-
Itical sphere. OF the proverbial remark that
fact is stranger than fiction.
When. by the greatest masterstroke of the last
half-century. the illustrious Cavour sent 1900
men to the Crimea and thus secured for his
country, at almost no cost or risk, contingent
place among the great powers of Europe, a re-
suit was achieved which was nothing less than
stupendous with reference to the means en-
ployed. Never was there such case of good
brick-making without straw. Then, il ever
approached and arrived the time when Italian
statesmen. in all politics beyond their own
borders, should have taken for their motto,
"Rest and be thankful" Italy had to
complete, through alliances astonishingly
| fortunate, the work Of her own indignation.
Could she not rest content with successes
which were of an astounding magnitude and
which were principally due not to herself but
to others! If she goes on to assume RESPONSE
bilities that are not hers and to court dangers
that need never threaten her, for purposes
which can only be those of selfish and thought
less ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, her conduct is no wiser
than that OF some youngster at Monte Carlo.
whose early winnings by drawing him ON to
greater and yet greater risks, become the eff
cient cause OF his final ruin.
Steamship Passengers Swept Overheard
The steamship City Of Paris reports that her
decks were swept by heavy seas on her last
voyage. A female Storage passenger and her
child were swept overheard and drowned and
ten other passengers were seyerely ininred