Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-02
PEACE OF EUROPE.
The Two Republics the Only Nations
Really Opposed to War.
BUT no ONE WILL STRIKE A BLOW.
The Danger Comes From Germany, but She
Has Too Many Enemies.
FRANCE WAS BETRAYED TO PRUSSIA
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WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.1
There will be no war between France and
Germany until the Teutons march again on
Gauls, and, in my opinion, it will be the
great German Empire that will bring on the
horrors Of war in Europe whenever that
terrible event occurs Spring always
brings its rumors of war and this year the
fate of nations is suspended by threads so
fragile that the least breath may break
them. A year or so ago the peace
Of Europe was linked to the fall
ing life of an old man; then next
it depended on the Pickering ex-
istence of doomed invalid; and when he
died power came to q young man, ardent
and badly advised in most things. In my
opinion there are two peoples in Europe,
and two only, who do not desire war, and
these two are France and Switzerland. Two
nations only, whatever may be the YiVacity
OF political contentious, in their respective
districts have absolute security for the NOR
row, and strangely enough those two are
the only republics there are IN the Old
World. Everywhere else is uncertainty
England with her Irish struggles has lost
her domestic peace, and what with Russia
giving her disquietude in the East, the Gov
ernment Of Great Britain seems painfully
anxious to go to war even if it be with the
weakest power OF Europe. Revolt is immi-
nent at every point of her colonial Empire,
and steam and steel ships have killed her
maritime superiority. The deeadence has
begun in England.
Belgium, given up to religious quarrels,
looks with torture toward the East whence
Al Al n
Holland hangs on the fragile life Of an old
man and a little child. Mutilated Dem
mark, with q dangerous conflict between
Parliament and royalty, still weakens,
knows not whether it ought to dread or
desire alliances. Sweden, in conflict with
Norway, remains silent. Spain, with empty
treasury, ever placed between royalist In
surreetion and republican pronunciamento,
has one desire only, that of preserving
peace and keeping her baby King on his
throne.
GERMAEY'S NAVY ENEMIES.
Germany, Austria and Italy, under pre-
text of an alliance for peace, make the
nations fear. Of these Austria and Italy
are passive, so that Germany is the all-im-
portant power. There remains Russia with
her millions of soldiers. Perhaps the at
tack might come thence if she we're ready.
But Russia is weak financially, and Ger
many, knowing this, defends herself by try
ing to ruin the finances of Russia more than
ever. For Germany, strong as she is, and
ambitious as is her young Emperor, breads
war, she has so many enemies. Europe
carries Germany upon her shoulders and
the Empire is heavy burden to bear. All
Europe is exhausted in armaments, in milf
tary expenses, and 1t is the German Empire
that compels each nation thus to arm itself.
There is where the danger lies, and that
day when, having succumbed TO- military
impositions, unable longer to increase her
forces, and beholding failure and decay ap-
proach, Germany, seeing herself too tightly
pressed, may play her last trump card, but
not before. 1t is not for this year, but 10
may be for the year to come.
PROGRESS IN WAR.
ApropOs of this eternal problem that pre-
sents itself with each new year, it has often
been said that by dint of perfecting weapons
of combat and constantly Increasing the
destructive power Of the engines OF war, the
final result will be the Staying of war itself.
1t is possible, but not at all likely. The
fact is that in our days that military virtue
par excellence called courage counts for 3
little in the success of battle; it is
no longer courage which decides the vic
tory. To sit upon horse smoking a cigar
never to receive a scratch and direct that
cities shall be fired, populations driven to
madness, old men and women and young
children be buried under ruins, this is the
that will win future battles. It
is called making war on q grand scale, and
should think that civilization would rise
up indignant and put stop to it forever.
FRANCE NOT sQUARELY BEATEN.
Besides war is nearly always Waged for
some sordid purpose, and what makes il
more to be despised is the shameful way in
which victories are obtained. 1 do not
think that France was fairly vanquished in
her heroic struggle against the invading
Prussians. She was betrayed and that most
basely. Marshal Bazaine at Metz and
Napoleon at Sedan, surrendered them
selves Voluntarily, abandoned everything
and gave over into the hands OF the enemy
q force almost as great az the army to
which they surrendered. Then the inex-
plicable retreats when French forces were
masters of the ground and the Germans
were actually fleeing. No, do not believe
that the French were fairly Vanquished.
As for the Anglo-Egyptian War, it is
matter of public notOriety that General
owed all his successes to the gold
be scattered in the camp of Arab Pasha.
Knowing that the sending Of bullets into
The Egyptian camp would not help him,
Wolseley sent Bank of England notes and
gold in boxes.
Every feeling Of loyalty and honor is not
in Europe, and like to think
hat respect for justice is dominant in the
of men. 1 know that it is %
With Frenehmen; and it is because am 50
irmly convinced of French honor that 1 be-
ieve there will be no war in the springtime.
The people OF the Third Republic are not
atis6ed to have Alsace and Lorraine left as
part of the German Empire, but they are
" no means desirous yet awhile Of going to
var to recapture those provinces.
HENRY HAYNIE.
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