The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-08

Number of rumors of war in Europe have
been circulated lately from time to time, but
on sitting them down it will be found that
they are wholly without foundation, and are
gotten up solely for specul alive purposes Care
less remarks of the Emperor of Austria or
Germany or casual utterances of the Gar Of
Russia have been greedily seized upon by
sensation mongers rs indicative Of serious
| disturbances, and have accordingly been
heralded abroad for effect upon the stock and
security markets
very superficial glance at the European
situation will be sufficient to show the ground
lessness of these reports; for really no Eu-
ropean power is at this time prepared for war.
England has not taken a hostile attitude
against any frst-class power since the Cri-
mean war Her people have become so de-
voted to ney-making that they have really
no time TO be disturbing themselves about the
affairs of their neighbors unless something
substantial is to be made of it. In fact. it has
long been Englands policy to let other ma
tons do all the fighting they want, while she
looks on and watches every opportunity to
She has also already all the territory she can
govern and more, and the expense of protect
ing her colonial dependencies is much greater
than the revenue or profit she receives from
them. She is perfectly willing to lot we'll
enough alone, for she knows that If she goes
to war her commerce would suffer from being
exposed to the rayages of priyateers and hos
tile fleets.
Russia is in far worse condition than Eng
land Not only would she be at the mercy
of Germany and England for munitions Of
war should the straits lof the Mediterranean
be closed against her, but her people are now
in starving condition. while her credit is
none of tho best. In case of war, she would
find herself so terribly embarrassed that she
could hope TO accomplish nothing excep: to
bring herself in worse condition than at pres
ent.
Germany has headstrong young emperor
who is itching 10 carve his name with imple-
ments Of war alongside that of his distin-
guished ancestor Frederick the Great But
he cannot fight without a plausible pretext.
and none such is in sight nor likely to be. as
no other nation is going TO strike chip from
Germany's shoulder just to crafty the ambi-
tons of her ruler. Besides this the eastern
provinces of the empire are actually suffering
from famine as much as are those of south
western Russia. and the most earnest efforts
to suppress the real condition Of affairs fail to
keep down the truth. Evidently the Emperor
William will have to restrain his chatting spirit
for some time yet to come
Neither Austria nor Italy has surplus of
money, and both would be inevitable losers
in war between Russia and France and Ger
many. Italy especially is staggering under
debt, and war would force her TO make such
sacrifices TO raise the needed money that she
would be weakened to such an extent that it
is doubtful if she could preserve her auton-
omy. AS TO France, while we hear a
good deal of war buster, it is very noticeabl
that it comes from no one in responsible DO
sition. The Government itself is extremely
cautious and reserved, and the country is
learning that it is far better 10 reduce home
taxes than TO grasp after fresh laurels
This Is a very cursory view of the Furopean
situation, but 1t is a true one and it is amply
sufficient to show that no danger of war be-
tween the countries across the Atlantic is lust
now to be spprehended. Trouble may come
in future bat so long as present conditions
exist al war rumors may be dismissed as en-
! tlrely unworthy of credence