The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1891-04-29
DURHAM RECORDER
Il. Q. HACKNEY, Editor. Pro,
WEDNESDAY,, April 20, 1891,
THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.

flab great stCTtl TREATY VI
amity and alliance. both often
sive and defensive, has been
made between France and Rus
STA, is a settled fact, but just
what its minute details may be,
are yet matters of reasonable
conjecture.
The lilies and the bear are
now linked together; a most
formidable coalition; and when |
it grapples with the Triple Al
lance of Italy, France, and
Germany, the red streamof war
will dye the lilies crimson and
mangle the great bear of the
North.
It is a popular mistake that
the Triple Alliance has weak
ened or will; on the other hand,
the necessity Of self-preserva-
ton will knit the international
chain of only three links closer
together Italy, Austria, and
Germany, each dread France;
each has the old sores that have
never healed when the legions
of France, under the Corsican
Lieutenant slaughtered their
armies upon the battle field,
plundered their capitals, and
levied contributions upon their
conquered inhabitants. True,
France ..and Germany continu-
ally rub and irritate those two
old sores, Alsace and Lorraine,
and keep them angry and bleed
ing. Yet Italy remembers
France as does Austria as well,
and the track of the iron boot is
still fresh in the soil of those
two countries.
Russia is the one colossal
power on land in Europe. Napo-
leon misnamed the great, but
fifty called by Wellington,
Jonathan the Wild" never
tired to tellof The coming crush
ing, colossus of the Northern
Steppes. His campaign to Mos
cow had, for its object, to crush
Russia 50 as to be unable to
AIRY France again in his life
time. Ii was the blow, how.
ever, that sent Napoleon reeling
and staggering down the steps
of his throne to his mid-ocean
prison on Helena's rock.
All the European governments
are now pracIIcaIIy r-puUIIcs,
with hereditary Presidents call
ed variously Kings, Queens, and
Emperors. In this way, they
avoid the tumoltuous convul-
sions that republics experience
in the periodical elections of
their Chief Magistrates. But
their crowned heads WELD but
little power. They carry gilded
reeds gIittering with gems, in
stead of sceptres; actual power
has departed.
Russia is the sole and loneex
ception. That is a despotism
where the sword, the purse, the
religion, and the polite Of over.
100, 600, 900 people lays in one
hand. The Car is head Of the
military, the State and the
church. In each he is unbridled,
unbranded, unrestrained One
hand, as with a thunderbolt,
hurls the powers Of State and
church.
France wants Alsace and Lor-
raine; Russia wants CONSTANT.
nople and the biggest of slices
from the empire o. the "Sick |
Nan Of Europe"
The Ottoman Empire is totter-
ing TO Its fall; Russia wants 70 |
see il tumble; would even kick |
the rotten structure over. Let
the crimean war now repeat
itself, and the battalions and
batteries Of France will align
on Russia, andpresent a terrible
front 10 England and the allies. |
The situation is war-iike. nj
Il breaks out, all Europe will be |
drawn in 10 "the last man and
the last dollar" The great
stakes that are up, the uncer.
tainty Of the issue, the great
changes on the map Of Europe,
Asia, and Africa, a. the scale
may turn TO either side, will |
tend 10 dIssuade from war and
persuade 70 peace. SO war and
are abouteyenly balanced.
a.