The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-26
FATE OF NATIONS.
Depending Upon the Caprice
of European Despots.
THE SITUATION OF FRANCE
Present Strength of the Land Of the
Gauls-Belgium. Its Fortications
and Troops.
La BELLE FRANCE.

LA BELLE FRANCE.
The German emperor is on his way
home, and now the busy world and the
statesmen of the great powers will specu-
late as to the object OF his visit. Perhaps
no other meeting of mighty potentates was
so closely watched as the last one, and,
most certainly. no conference was kept so
secret as that between the emperor and the
car. What the two emperors discussed
must transpire sooner or later, and the near
future will show il the world is to have
peace, or If it has to witness gigantic
struggle. The kaiser and the car discuss
ing the fate of nationsi What an anomaly
What an insult to humanity
Notwithstanding the secrecy, there are
certain indications which can be explained.
One of these .signs of the times is the agi-
tation of the Austro- Hungarian press and
the distrust prevailing among the states
men of the monarchy of the Hapsburgs.
The other sign is the tone of the French
press.
In our previous articles in the PosT-Ix-
TELLIGENcER we avoided France, but we
have discussed the Armenian and the Bull
garian question, the situation of the ina
ton in mourning" and the relative posi-
ton of Russia, Germany and Austria. In
this article we will discuss the situation of
France, the country which plays such an
important factor in the history of Europe,
and which, though vanquished on the field
OF battle, is nevertheless regarded with
hatred. if not with dread, by Germany.
That the two monarchs discussed the fate
OF France is more than probable, it is sure.
Notwithstanding her allies, Germany is
not liked in Europe, q fact which our Ger
man friends here in America must &C
knowledge. So to express ourselves more
plainly, it is not exactly Germany. but
Prussia. the strongest German state, which
is disliked and even hated. Prussia is the
land of usurpers par excellence. Other
countries have conquered and absorbed
barbarian or semi-civilized people. Prussia
has extended its boundaries in the heart
of Europe Ruled by line of the
most INSCRIPTIONS princes in the
would, it has added immensely to its
originally small dominions. The great
Elector, an ally Of Sweden, turned against
them as soon as he saw that he could profit
by it. Frederick the Great suggested the
partition of Poland and accomplished it.
an act which covered his name with in
fanny. He also began without any rea-
SON the Silesian war, giving
thus a bad example to other
nations. In our times the monarchy of
the Hohenzolierns took Schleswig Hol-
stein from little Denmark, absorbed many
minor German states, conquered Alsace-
Lorraine from France, against the will of
the inhabitants of the two provinces. But
that is not enough. Many Germans would
like to take the Baltic provinces from Rus
STA. though they never belonged to Ger
many; they would like to have Rus
sian Poland, and perhaps q part
of Lithuania. They clamor for the annex
alton of Denmark, but especially they covet
Holland. They would also like to cripple
France. still more to absorb the rest of Lor-
raine, Franche- Comte and perhaps Bur-
gundy. If they could they would take also
the German part of Switzerland. and who
knows what. Those who read the German
papers, or who converse with the Germans
know that we speak the truth.
Notwithstanding her defeat, France, ow-
ing to the patriotism OF her people and to
tine riches Of the country, has risen again,
and Germany, who expected to crush
France forever, has again on the western
frontier foe not to be despised. France
is a republic; consequently 1t has difficult
position in monarchical Europe. 1t is
constant menace to the emperors and
the kings. Notwithstanding that the
French and Russian people sympathize
and France and Russia are natural
allies in Europe; they are not
neighbors and their interests do not clash
anywhere. But france is republic and
the car is an autocrat. and for this reason
William III. tried undoubtedly his best to
induce the car to abandon France. That
Germany would like to crush France once
more is sure, but without the friendship of
Russia it could not do it, and we
doubt if the car will listen to
the seductive promises of the German
emperor. William III. ought to stay home,
attend to the affairs of the state, spend his
money in Germany, and not travel all over
the world and SOW dissension everywhere.
Already some of the more independent
papers in Germany are trying to show that
the affairs of the empire are neglected by
the emperor, and that the ministers are
complaining.
France with all her faults is noble coun-
try, and the German emperor has no rea-
son to try to crush her. We do not claim
on behalf of France sort of moral hege-
mony among the nations of the world;
still, within the comparatively small terri
tory bounded by the Pyrenees and the
Vosges. by the Alps and Brittany, there
have taken place many events whose influ-
ence has made itself felt almost every
where in the world. France has at all
times performed her share of this work of
human progress, and looking to the infiu-
ence which her ideas have exer-
cised. it would be difficult to
conceive a future history of ma
tons with France blotted from the map
of Europe. Still William III. would like to
do that. Elisee Reclus says that it is no
easy task to sit in Judgment over a nation.
Since the days of Grimm, who denied
..eyery truly moral sentiment" to French
men many foreigners, either from envy or
odious colors. On the other hand, there have
been writers who have sought to
elevate France above all other nations.
In our opinion Frenchmen, like any other
nation, have their virtues and have their
faults The revivals which have succeeded
each national disaster prove that the ma
ton is still full of yigor, and capable OF tax
ing its part in the great works of human
ity. To annihiiate such nation would be
a crime. but OF course the Hohenzollerns
have committed many crimes before.
To annihilate France would be, however,
not a very easy task, not even for William
III. The army was reorganized in 1872.
and now is as strong as the German. while