The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1892-12-15

- rz--51
"a short time ago, and returned to- Roanoke
I he Drew 1900 from the bank in Roanoke
land left there for New York on the 18th
Inst. 1t is thought that an orer-suppl.
LOT strong drink caused him to make thu
terrible jump.
WAR IN EUROPE
| Tho Present Armed Peace Cannot Long
Endure.
| Whether there will speedily be war in
/ Europe is question that no one can an
swer, or rather one In regard to which no
answer is worth the paper on which 1t is
written, says Henry Labouchere in the
North american Rerie,e. at no period
since the era of the great Napoleon have
there been such vast armies in Europe,
and either tho continental powers must
reduce their forces or they will soon, one
and all, he ruined. The richest country
| is France, but there the taxation is
enormous. Both Austria and Germany
arc comparatively poor; Russia's credit is
only maintained by the French being
ready to buy it's bonds; Italy is, practically
bankrupt already, and, notwithstanding
this, all these countries are engaged in
an insane struggle to compete with each
other in amassing the material to wage
successful war. :s---,.
IF war does occur it will not in all
probability be entered into of deliberate
design. Some foolish word will be spoken;
this will lead to further words. The pas
sions will come into play, troops viii be
advanced to the respective frontiers OF
two states, then there will be collision,
and the whole Of the continent will be IN
flames. One thing is certain, the present
EARNED peace" cannot eternally exist.
Either the continent must bring it to an
end by war orby rcvcrting to real peace
policy. Werc there conflict between
France aud Russia on one side, and Aus
tria, Germany and Italy on tho other, tits
by no means certain that the latter would
come out the vctors. The French army
is thoroughly reorganizcd, and the French
soldiers, when properly commanded, are
the best on the continent. Russia has an
endless reserve from which to draw SOL
diers, and the Russians have more staying
mower than the Germans. On the other
hand, if VIC arc to judge by experience,
the Austrians and the Italians make but
moor soldiers, and the Germans, although
probably their armies are more perfect,
viewed as military machines, than any
other in Europe, have lost many more
battics than they have won, and one scri-
Gus reverse would lead to the disintegra-
ton of the new German empire.
The most dangerous man to the Euro
pean peace is the German emperor. He
is cracked drained Prussan lieutenant,
and an emperor by the irony of fate. His
grandfather was under the delusion that
he was the viccregcnt Of Providence as
regards Germany: in this youth the illu-
sion has taken the form that lie is placed
by Providence on the German throne to
regulate not only the affairs OF that conn-
try. but of the entire world He is fiiSh'y
and unstable to an extraordinary degree
His idea of peace is that it should be u
German peace imposed upon Europe. he
seldom makes speech without announce
ing that he will "smaslI" all who decline
TO accept his views, and ut any moment
he is capable Of TRANSMITTING his words IN
to deeds and dragging those who have
becn silly enough to become his allies in
to war.
The French will never permanently ac-
cent the loss Of Alsace and Lorraine, but
tley are not likely to prccipitate strnS-
gle for the reacquisition Of these provinces
without the aid of some other power. and
the only power likely to help them is Rus
sin. But the Gear himself is so strongly
disposed to peace that he would hesitate
long before embroiling Europe in war
with France as his ally. The Franco
Russian understanding, however, will
probably lead the German emperor to
eschew all thought of setting out on
march to Paris in order to prevent Franco
from becoming as strong as she formerly
was; indeed, the moment when such an
expedition was possible has passed away.
Austria. moreover, although she may have
Joined the triple alliance. will always DIS
courage y resort TO arms, and IN Italy
there is growing up so strong feeling
against the country being party to this
alliance, that it is doubtful whether any
Italian minister could give effort to its
stipulations, all the moro since the lial-
ians have realized that they will obtain no
material support from us. Although,
therefore, armed to the teeth, any CONT
mental power breads war, not exactly
knowing what may come of it. There
are, however, so many "qnrstions' in
Europe; there is such rivalry and hatred
between the continental powsrs-therc
are so many real causes for difference;
the strain is so great, and the cost OF huge
ornaments 30 enormous TINT it is difficult
to believe that some spark will not before
long set this magazine of combustion on
fire.