Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-02-24
The Map of Europe.

at is only too evident that Europe |
has not yet shaken down into its perma-
nent shape" said statesman recently |
1t is also only little less evident that it |
will never get its finishing shake down
without war. When, where or how |
that war will open nobody knows, but !
the 'powers" are expecting it at any
time and are prepared for it. The pow
ers are Germany, Italy, Austria, COM
posing the triple alliance on one side,
Russia and France, between whom a
good understanding exists as opposed
to the triple alliance, on the other,
and finally John Bull sits back all
alone upon his tight little island and
works up trade. Great Britain has no
interest in the quarrels of Continental
Europe, except as war would interfere
with her commerce and free passage
through the Mediterranean sea. Then
the British lion would utter howl that
would shake the nations.
''The powers" as Professor Freeman
remarks, without any right but that Of
physical strength, take upon themselves
to decide all matters for Europe. They
call themselves Europe" Harmonious
and brotherly feeling exists among these
great nations as follows: France hates
Germany with intense bitterness be-
cause of Alsace-Lorraine, and only longs
for the hour when she may fly at the
throat Of her neighbor across the border,
The French and Italians also dislike
each other cordially. Germans and
Russians hate each other as heartily.
German and Panslavist can never har-
monte. There is a difference of race as
radical as between Irish and German.
On the northeast Russia waits like a
huge bloated spider to pounce down
upon the first prey that she can reach.
The Russian seethes and bubbles with
ambition TO spring from his cold north
ern den and overrun Europe and gain
territory. Probably no nation except
Russia has at present the greed of terri
Frances desire to get back her lost Ger
man provinces. Austria, without hating
anybody in particular just now, waits
stohdly to pick up what she can get,
War, when it does come, will probably
break out in southeastern Europe, among
/ the Balkan states. Russia constantly
intrigues for an open road to CONSTANT
nople and the Mediterranean. If the
kingdoms of Servia, Roumania and
Greece and the principalities of Monte
negro and Bulgaria could all unite in a
solid federation and make their interests
one, they in time might have something
to say about the map of Europe. They
could of themselves do what the histo-
rian Freeman declares is now the first
need of Europe-drive the Turk from
the territory which he still occupies upon
European soil, an anachronism and an
interloper. He is an orsntal of the
orient, belonging no more to Europe or
to the end of the Nineteenth century
than the Saracen of the Crusades belongs
10 Europe of today What is called
Turkey in Europe belongs by every law
clinical, geographical and logical-to
the races of the little states named above.
It stands between Roumania and the
rest.
We of the United States, unified and
prosperous, might be pardoned for paus-
ing a moment to think what a gloriou.
rectifying of the map of Europe might
here be made. If Greece, Servia, Monte
negro, Bulgaria and Roumania should
unite in federation, drive the unspeak-
able Turk from Europe, parcel out the
domain he has usurped among them
selves and form there great and glorious
republic, what a step forward in the
progress of mankind would be madel
They could form country SO strong
and great that even the constituencies
and uneasy powers of Europe" would
not dare attack them. A score of great
and heroic men, taking their lives in
their hands," as the leaders of our Revo-
luton did, could so warm and melt the
people of these states as to unite them
into one solid body, if these people were
fearless and intelligent enough to rise to
the occasion. But the people are not in
telligent and fearless enough. The great
and heroic leaders, even if they were
there, would not find people ready for
them. So the opportunity languishes.
Bot the Twentieth century is bsfore US,