The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-12
1t Puts Germany and Austria in
a State Of Most Dire
Alarm.
However, Russia Has Too Much
at Stake to Precipitate
a War
Germany aud Austria Rapidly Wasting
Themselves by Taxation--P Politics
Unsettled In both.

LONDON, March 1.-THE resident cores
pondent Of the New York Times cables that
paper as follows: While the acute anxiety
concerning the general European situation
has passed away, there are still enough ele-
meets OF uncertainty and misunderstand-
ing drifting about TO make it probable that
we shall hear more rumors Of trouble dnr.
ing the month. The main question be-
tween Berlin and Paris arising
over the atfronts to the En-.
press Frederick has undoubtedly been
smoothed over. Serious Frenohmen have
made it apparent that they are ashamed
and mortified at the stupid Juror kicked up
by group of professional patriots, and the
kaiser has wisely chosen not to regard them
as really representative of French feeling.
Accordingly it is announced that the recent
hasty action in increasing the severity of
the Alsace passport restrictions will be re-
considered. This is all the easier for the
Germans to do because of the revelation
that the Alsatians themselves resented the
cracy action of the Partisan mob, and ara
disposed to look to Berlin rather than to
Paris for sane friendship.
SO far 80 good; but there are lot Of little
signs that We are upon the threshold Of an
other period of magliRnant activity In Rus
sian political and military circles. The
Muscovite bear has been alternating as il
were for the past two or three years. It
seems as if he were ready now to come on
again and walk around frightening small
children out of their wits and perhaps get
ting embroiled in an actual tussle with the
armed conservators of peace. It is regard
ed at Berlin as beyond question that the re-
cent wild agitation in Paris against the
kaiser's mother was deliberately incited aud
paid for by accredited Russian agents.
Such definite reports have also been re-
ceiyed in Berlin as to the recent secret
movements of troops in Russia, the furtiye
creation of new division of infantry and
the issuance of private orders to hasten
forward the conc entration of stores, pro-
visions, medicine and 30 forth, as If for
actual mobilization, that increased vigil
ance is being observed both on the Ger
man and Austrian frontier. II does not
follow. OF course, that anything will come
of this but to the very end OF this pro-
longed peace it will be IN Russia's power
to compel excited watchfulness on
the part of her enemies whenever
she makes the slightest move. This cruel
alb ility to keep Germany and Austria on the
qui vive day and night, to force them into
an nually increasing their burdens of debt
for armaments and to render impossible
any attempts on their part to redu,e ex-
penses or to embark in Pacific enterprs q,
is really the key to Russia's unique strenct !.
Therefore the odds are always against b
jeopardizing this huge advantage by rusl-
ing into war. Her obvious game is to break
t,nr ~ i l.
treasury by always keeping the shadow OF a
possible war on the horizon.
But, on the other hand, there is big and
influential class of Russian politicians and
soldiers who personally desire war. and
whenever these obtain control of the czar
much uneasiness because Alexander of late
appears to be leaning their way. This
ia augmented BY the parlia-
mentary difficulties which beset both
the the. Austrian ran. and Italian govern
ra;ahsr.., msnts EleGsions Saon h to the Austrian
Semitic gains which in q practical way
mean that Vienna would find increased
difficulty in raising money for war purposes
If the need came. More important still.
the Bohemian voters have almost wiped
out the old czech party, members of which
iority which supported the triple alliance,
and have sent the reichstrath q big dele
CATION OF young czechs who openly advo-
cate Russian alliance and pursue a policy
Of persistent insult toDall things German.
As for the Italian position the new minis
try is not proving success, and parliament
is in such u hvsterical and distracted state
that another crisis is inevitable. William
himself is not finding the mastery of do
mestlc politics so easy as he had expected
Either from a sudden failure of temper, or
from n recognition of partisan necessities,
Caprivi has broken with the advanced ill
eral section of the reichstag and fallen
back upon the conservative faction for sup
port. This is the familiar old
situation in which the Catholic
party holds the balance of power
and works it for all it is worth. According
y, though the kaiser went out of his way
10 meet Herr Windthorst Mt dinner the
other night and personally plead with him
10 help pass the big naval estimates, the
willy clerical leader has been proof against
he temptation and poses over the ruins of
he kaiser's defeated project az an apostle
If economy. This is the first serious par
rebuff William has met with,
md it NAV have important results in Ger
nan and European politics.