The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-26
InenEY imTOne.

The American public has almost reached the
point # smiling Whenever the cable brings
news OF q war scare IN Europe lie cry Oh
Wolf 80 has been raised SO many times with
on. the appearance of the animal that We have
crown scepticA about tho existence OF any
wolf Many persons wonder that Europe
should take such an extraordinary interest IA
the periodical alarms.
la the midst OF the peace and prosperity Of
The Iuited States il is difficult 20 understand
tine feeling that peryades the nations or
far0pe that war. sooner or later. Is inevitable.
Since the end Of the fmnc0-German WAY ID
1874 Europe has been free from war. e. tor
years an outbreak has been expected most
daily. Grooming oencath tie burden Of her
standing armies. DISTURBED by social discon-
tent. and struggling with religious discussion.
famine Gli impending bankruptcy, Europe
looks auAi1us.y toward tie iuture with the
certainty that war must be the inevitable end.
The Russian Empire les full OF trouble. Its
external policy for twelve years has been eX-
ceptional.y unsuccessful. lt5 military prep
aratious burden tue country without piodnc-
IN even the pleasure OF expectation. De
VelOplng no statesmen OF emlnehce' u
las been recently aillcted with TWO great
misfoItunes the influence ol the antl-Seinitic
party and tho famine. Tie persecution OK
tie Jews has made the most influential caste
in Europe a caste controlling all exchanges
and newsDapers the deadly toe Ot the i,oman-
OILS Tho famine has shattered all hopes or
prosperity for the treasury Tor many long
dav. The treasury feels the tall III SILVER as
much as the Indian Government. and IN
more oppressive way the iau in the roubie,
which is based on silver. not only impoYer-
ish.ng 10. Dut shaking IT. credit 50 that It's
borrowing power Is greatly impaired. 1nere
ia unrest ererVWhere and uumlugated by
any latent hope, partly because the people
are pessimlst. partly because leadership -
not expected OF this CZar, ana partly because
au idea pr badly accurate. That Russian
agriculture has since emancipation slipped
decidedly back, Is gaining possession Oh the
general mind All who write from Kussia
write despOndentiy o.,
Austria. the domain of the Hapsburgs. Ike
the rest OF Europe. is prepared ior the stiuS-
rle which all regard ~ inevitable, Out she en-
Joys comparative peace WINE "eltlhg. heI
army Is strong her treasury Is well stocked
and the authority of the mperor ID un-
slakeu. She may be counted fortunate.
Germany dstrusts her Emperor. and IS torn
bv political ouarre.s but Aer chief cause OF
alarm ia tho spread oil Socialism within her
borders. German Socialism Is an expression
of widely dinused discomfort created IN
theory by too great Inequality III society, Out
in reality by the genuine pOyery ot the people,
which makes even good food difficult OF at
taiument This is evidenced by the immense
number OF Germans who have emlgrated our
Ing tie last twenty years
In Frauce there Is no less dOubtand unrest.
Tho Government Is afraid OF the hadical
p8rty and therefore keeps striking the
Church. ID is afraid OF the Anarchists. who
may many think excite such pane that So
clety viii take refuge 81 DICTATORSHIP anu
afraid of the labor party. against when IL IS
making precautions as serious and extensive
a. If IL dreaded an instruction. Most 0f inc
alarm is undoubtedly unreal. the substantial
demand OF tho French artisans beng oniy ior
shorter hours aud IN itself reasonable. ana
Anarchists who Will sacrifice themselves De!hg
only a desperate group. But France reneM-
hers the Commune and shudders.
italy staggers under hopeless burden OF
debt and her revenues keep falling below her
Tho office holding c.ass VIII
NOT submit 70 reduction OF the civil list.
nnd the general fear necessltates the main
romance OF the army. while no untrled sources
of TAXATION remain. The temper OF the peO-
plo is gloomy and suaen.
Spain. Portugal. Greece and Norway are
INST now content. but naturally their tran
guilty depends on the course OF 'heir great
neighb1rs.
Ii is this condition Of affairs. ana above all
the eyer-present feeling that war is ineyita-
bic. which makes Europe start apprehensiye-
ly every time the Gar reviews regiment or
the German EmuerOr makes one OF his &c
centric moves. When tho bubble Of peace
bursts at last the nations Of the Old World
will close IN n struggle which can hardly iail
10 be the most disastrous that the world has
ever een.-Abany journal.