The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-04-22
EUROPEAN POSSIBILITIES.

Austrian statesmen and publicists
n the retirement of Bismarck.
Without actually admitting so
much. it is evident that they fear
the dissolution of the Triple ALI
snce and a better understanding
between Germany and Russia. Bis
marck fathered the Triple Alliance,
but Austria really has more inter
est in it than either of the other
members. Taking into considera-
ton the sentiment of race solidar-
ity which now so strongly infu-
ences national questions, Austria
has no proper business in the ALI
anee. vet everything to fear from
It's disruption. For years acute
and profound observers of Euro
pezn politics have realized that in
4nv radical Encouragement of the
map. Austria would be likely to
disappear as a political division.
She is a conglomerate OF races,
having only an artificial connection
with each other, but affiliated with
her neighbors on all sides. Each
Of those ne;ghbors has an ancient
grudge against her. Prussia, which
now dominates Germany, was al
ways her opponent within the Ger
manic Confederation, and If she re-
tains no bitterness now it is merely
because she has had the best of the
conflict. United Germany, how
ever. will never be an accom-
plished fact until the German pro-
vinces of Austria are added to the
Empire.
Italy has every reason, by virtue
of former domination and oppres-
sion, to hate Austria. She also has
q race claim on a part of Austria's
population and dominion. The
Southern Tyrolese are Italian in
race. language and feeling, and
Garibaldi barely missed adding
them 10 United Italy in 1866.
Italy also casts longing eye upon
the fine port of Trieste, Austria's
sole seaport at the head of the
Adriatic, and upon the Province of
Istria and some of the adjoining
territory, all of which are virtually
Italian.
Russia has not forgotten how
Austria repaid her voluntary aid
in the suppression of the Hunga-
rian revolt of 1848, by hanging
upon her flank during the early
part of the Crimean War, and by
continually baking her designs
upon Constantinople. She also
would like to see the Slavic peo-
pies of the Austrian Empire joined
10 their Russian brethren, or incor-
porated into s great Slavic State
in Southeastern Europe under Rus
sian influence. On that account
she resents Austria's advance in
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
II thus appears that while the
present Triple Alliance is unnatur
al, its reorganization by the substi
tuition of Russia for Austria would
be very natural. Between Ger
many, Russia and Italy there is no
cause for quarrel, except possible
difficulties arising out of questions
of immigration, alien settlement,
etc, along the Russo-German from
tier which are only functional and
remediable by diplomacy. The ru-
mored reapproachment between
Germany and Russia dates from the
accession of the young Emperor.
Bismarck preferred present az
engagements. He had worked along
that line, and felt at home in it.
Emperor William is credited with
ambition to distinguish himself in
war and statecraft. Under the
present status he can only keep
things as they are. He has no
chance to spread himself. The
Triple Alliance maintains the peace
Of Europe and ties his hands. He
can only busy himself in domestic
administration and reforms. There
is room enough in that direction for
bis best efforts, but the work may
not be altogether attractive to a
young man of his temperament and
training. 1t is yet uncertain
whether his laber-reform policy is
in good faith or merely tub to the
Socialistic whale. Parallel with it
he proposes to increase the army.
The rumored Russian arrangement
would open the way for a rear
rangement which either by war or
diplomacy, or both, would give the
Emperor q chance to show what is
in him, and might perhaps result in
adding 100000 Austrian Ger
mans to the empire, besides the
prospect of getting hold of the
Dutch water front. The outlook is
aIluring to an ambitious young
ruler of the leading military Power
of Europe. 1t is no cause for won
der that Austria feels concerned at
Bismarck's retirement, in view OF