New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09
TUE NEWS OF EUROPE.
spECULATING ON FRANCO RUSSIAN RE-
LATIONS.
THE FRENCH FLEETS VISIT TO PORTSMOUTH,
END OF THE PARLI AMENTARY SESSION.
Mr.. PARNELL's SPEECH AT THURLEs.
BY CABLE TO TUE TRIBUNE,

Mr.. PARNELLS SPEECH AT THURLES.
iBY CABLE TO TRIBUNE
COPYRIGHT: 1891; Bv The Tribune Association
London. Aug s.-The champagne continued TO
aow at Cronstadt till Tuesday. Then the French
feet put to sea and no accident has since been
reported. Spcculations upon the political scope
of this visit are still but speculatlons.
There is, however, something like agreement in
all the capitals concerned that Admiral Gervals
has been on duty not only as Admiral and AM
phitryon. but as diplomatst. They begin to
believe that even in Berlin. where the natural
scepticSm Of the German mind is reinforced oy
strong political interest in disbelief No douot'
from the beginning they believed more than they
said The unofficial and best-informed papers
hinted that TIE French and Russians meant ousi-
ness Then came suggestion in paper known
10 have relations with the Berlin Foreign once
that France and Russia had certain interests IN
common. whether they signed a treaty or not' a
remark quite in the manner Of Lord SALISBURY
This was followed ny an admission of the PROBABLE
truth of last weeks statement about preliminary
negotiations Next appeared. in "The North Ger
man Gazette a semi-oficial paper. rather
elaborate discussion Of the whole subject. inspired
by some high parsonage, who plainly believes in
the existence of an understanding between France
and Russia.
The French papers, meantime, have been over
flowing with emotion, You can tears of joy
trickle gently down their columns. You may see
also discreet fear lest the truth be told pre-
maturelv for think Il may be said OF the more
serious French journals that in such a matter
they would put patriotism before news. They
do not care to be wise before the time. The
Temps and the Debats7 treat the story of an
alliance lightly. They dwell much more on the
evidence of common sentiment in the breasts of
the two peoples, and on the manifestations OF
Russian public opinion, conveniently forgetting
that in Russia there is no public opinion except
by order Of the Gar. The English press has got
tired of the subject, though il las not yet found
another and evcn' kilograms from Russia are
abridged. They do, however, record the fact or
the Olalion that the ovation to the French ofi-
Gers in Moscow has exceeded III enthusiasm that
Of Cronstadt Inc populacc kissed Admiral Ger
vaiss hands Officers singing the "MdISeillaise'
carried him OH ther shoulders, and Admiral
Gcrvais. when allowed to descend, announced that
France rendered wise by misfortune, is recruit
ing her strength, and, made strong by unity and
the friendship OF a great monarch, looks to the
future with calm confidence" This is regarded
az st Petersburg as OutspOken and fresh proof
of an alliance between France and Russia, to
which il seems 10 serve as a protocol. Slender,
indeed, is the foundation of all this lofty fabric.
Ear more significant than these glittering gen.
eralites, proclaimed rather pompously amid flowing
cups and general excitement, are two things told
us Of the Gar The great sovereign, absolute
despot over a great barbaric empire, has at last
caught something of that enthusiasm which has
carried his subjects and guests off their feet. lie
has sent long telegram of thanks TO the Mayor
and Common Council of Cherbourg for their civili-
10 him and IN the EunnreqS an I srt,ull
think quite without precedent Not without
precedent, however, is his reception in Finland
whittier he went Wednesday after the officials
had made careful preparations for an enthusiastic
and spontaneous welcome by the people, meant tO
e;face the memories of last years cOldness But
the people of Finland received their ruler in silence
They are certainly discOntented, and their dis
content is a factor in the problem of peace,
alliance or no alliance. They have had some
liberties. They had what passes in Russia for
liberty of the press. But what little there was
is now abolished and Finland in this and other
respects is passing under the same yoke which
rests other parts of the Empire.
French discussion on the coming visit of the
French feet TO Portsmouth Is not less lively than
it was last week. There appear to be no class
Of FIeuchmPn with whom this visit is popular.
but the sane and reasonable classes have thought
it time to protest against the rawlings of the less
sane. VI. Maenards article in the Figaro ap-
peared more too soon. His three or four para.
graphs are worth IcanS Of such nonsense rs most
Ieaetionary ard most radical Journals alike pour
forth. He is an admirable writer, and something
more He possesses more than any other french
journalist the power of perceivi1g what sensible
people think and tho power of stating it clearly
briefly, ana with supreme good sense He pro
tests against the outbreak Of ArglOphobia, and
asks what France has 10 gain by qI2rreing with
Power that is her ncchbOr in every part If the
globe, whether it is worth while to drive ENGLAND
into the Triple Alliance and why Republican
journals. OF all others should desire t. embarrass
their own Governments Other papers followed
this lead. but there are Tuiians and malmen who
will remain rutiaas and madmen TO the end. NJ
Maynard, however, who is Editor of the Figaro,
too often confines his good sense to his
own editorial halEcoumn. lie knows that his
public must be provided with matter more 10 their
taste. and he provides it, He knows how solici-
tOus the French to convince themselves and
the world that their feet has really been invited
20 Portsmouth, and SO his paper has found means
10 acluaiHt Itself with the particulars of what
passed between Lord Salisbury and the French
Ambassador. 1t is the same journal to which
Lord Salisbury and the German Emperor acted as
special correspondents at Hatfield. Lord Sails
bury-lt could be no othcr-now renews his jour
nalistic activities and all the loafers at all the
restaurants Oh every boulevard in Paris know eX-
actly what he said 10 Vi. Waddington. lie told
NJ "addlngton he was surprised that French peO-
PIE ATTACHED 50 much importance TO the recent
Nlsl' OF Tie German Emperor TO England To
prove 10 lhem how groundlcSS were their appre.
tensions the Queen would be most happy to "ex-
tend" an official welcome to the French SQUADRON
ana the Government would ask Parliament for a
grant 10 deiray the expenses. Whatever else
L-ofd SALISBURY SAID will lay any wager that he
Al" h"1 SdS eA'ehd. He may be wicked or
weak but ne and does use the English Ian
suage with accuracy. We were told a week AGO
that the invitation to Portsmouth came from thc
Queen. This tCo-we-nformed ..urnoI no,v savs
u comes from the British Cabinet and constitute;
fresh development in the policy Of which the