The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-03
THE EMPRESS FREDERICK.

The recent visit Of the Empress Frederick
to Paris promises 10 be- fruitful Of very inn
portant results The bitter hostility Of the
French towards the Germans as manifested
in their conduct towards the Dowagcr En-
press OF Germany has certainly excited rccip-
rocal feelings Of antagonism against them on
the part of the Kaiser and the old spirit Of
hatred thus revived BODIES no good to the
future peace of Europe.
The Empress might have expected such a
result from her visit. Outside of the fact
that France and Prussia are!historcal enemies
she might have known and no doubt did
know full well, that the wound inflicted sucha
comparatively short time ago by the defeat
of the soldiers of the Empire under Louis
Napoleon at Sedan-resuting in the
capture of Paris, the imposition OF heavy
war tribute on France, and the loss % that
nation of the provinces of Asace and Lor-
rainc-was still ranking, and that the fires Of
hate kndled thereby were still burning
though perhaps. smothered. She assuredly
ought 70 have known that visit
from her TO the French capital, espc-
cially If she made any stay there
would be certain 10 rekindle the smoldcr-
ing sparks into flame. and that nothing but
trouble could come of it, No matter how
much those in authority might have desired
10 maintain the semhlauce OF peace. and
show that amount of courtesy due 10 the
mother Of the Emperor, both As an Empress
and as woman. 1t WAS 10 have been expected
that tire masses could not easily be re
strained. Their passions and pride would
be aroused and nothing could induce
them TO believe that the royal visitor We
actuated by any other motive than to
haunt into their faces the victorious German
ilas and reNiveth unhappy memories oftheir
unfortunate and disastrous struggle. IL GER
tanly would seem TO a looher-0u on this side
the Atlantic that as question Of policy alone,
visit TO France If any member Of the Ger
man royal family for any purpose Whatever
other than diplomatic or international hu-i-
ness. would at any time be exceedingly short
sighted and the elect Of the trip Of the
Dowager Empress has strengthened this
opinion.
The mischief has been done. however. and
it Will he interesting 10 note rs consequences
The young Emperor William. uotwthstand-
ne AN his protcstation of an absorbing desire
70 maintain the peace Of Europe would natu-
ally Ike WIN fame upon the tented field
similar b. tI,at eaned .y his great ancestor
FREEDOM 3D.. Pm ID. and would hc very glad
IF an or ru.it, O. WIN the lauicls Of a sol
lier 70, himself 4 lie saw the way clear for
the glauhcation Of his ambition. On the
other hand France. stil smarting under
the humiliation she received in the Franco
Pruss san war. would Toe only too glad 10
measure arms with the Empire if thereby sho
stood any chance Of recovering the ground
lost in that struggle
When the battle is joined it will
be a clash Of arms such as the world
has rarely seen. Germany will fight TO
blot France from the map of Europe, while
France will fight not OILY for self-preserv .
ton bit 10 recover the lost territory of which
she has been despoiled. In fact, the certain
desperateness Of the conflict will be the only
feature Of it which will make both sides halt.
and consider well before they rush headlong
into what may end more in mutual disaster
than benefit.
The bitterness Of feeling excited by so APP
parently trivial event as the visit of the Dow
ager Empress of Germany to France shows
clearly how sensitive is the feeling of the two
nations towards each other. and how little il