Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-05-17
OPPRESSIVE PEACE.
ALL EUROPE is NOW LIVING THE
LIFE OF A CANTONMENT.


Is Inert and Progress Is stagnated-None
Dare Work For Fear of a Call to Fight.
A Graphic Review.
Two accounts have reached London AS to
military preparations on the continent
which may prove to have even historic
Importance. According to one, the Aus
trian government and the people have alike
determined that they will not increase the
numbers of their soldiers or the eXpendi-
ture on their army, believing that they
have already nearly reached the limit of eX-
ertion and had better wait for the last SUI
preme effort until war actually breaks out
According to another, the moderate leaders
OF the German liberals are earnestly en-
treating the government not to dissolve on
the army bill lest the emperor should be
defeated, but rather TO seek some com
promise, or even withdraw the measure.
The country, these liberals had previously
said, is sick of sacrifices.
Even should both these accounts be a
little exaggerated and some further conces-
slons be made to militarism they indicate
a general opinion among persons not hos
tile to governments in the abstract that
the great military states of central Europe
have reached the limit of warlike prepare
ton In peace time and must henceforward
await events with all the fortitude they
may They can polish their weapons, &C
Quire better arms or avail themselves of
any new inventions, but they can utilize no
more OF their population until war actually
arrives. This decision, moreover, had pre-
viOusly been announced by Italy, which,
indeed, pressed by her financial burdens,
had even slightly reduced her forces and
revised with a view to economy all the ar
rangements for a sudden mobilization of
her troops. The whole of central Europe,
therefore, may be reported to have agreed
that they will not invade and can do no
more 20 render themselves safe against in
Vasion
Nearly the same may be said of the threat
ening powers upon their borders. France
is as completely armed as she can bear;
has indeed reached theend of the conscrip-
ton possible in peace time, has finished her
fortresses, and in spite Of her extraordinary
wealth, which the rest of world even yet
hardly realizes, is most unwilling before
war is actually upon her to increase the
burdens on her people Russia is in almost
the same position. Her finances are strained
to the last point, and it is doubtful whether
she would gain strength by accommodating
more of her army in the west, where al
ready the increased cost Of food, forage and
barraok accommodation Is severely felt by
the military department, which still re-
quires large sums to perfect its supplies OF
scientific munitions Of war
If this is an accurate accAnt-and we
believe IL to rest upon the best information
the whole continent has at last reached
position in which an armed peace, Excess
sively but not unendufably costly, may last
for years, perhaps even for n generation.
The rulers are afraid to break it, and the
peoples are not even inclined. The former
understand the magnitude Of the risks to
be run, the equality of the two great par
ties into which Europe is divided and the
difficulty Of discovering the military genius
which alone could secure durable victory
to one side or the other. The latter under
stand the horrible carnage which will mark
The next campaign, and though they will
face it If attacked they do rot urge their
rulers TO begin-are rather inclined indeed
to praise their wisdom when they close up
questions which might leaa 10 war They
are sensible foil. aud have their bones to
take care Of if they ear.
This is a kid OF peace, and one would
say priori that, except as regards taxa
ton, it was a satisfactory kind But this
kind Of peace las, nevertheless, peculiari-
ties which weigh upon the minds of men.
For one of them IL does not produce conf
dence either in rulers or their peoples. The
former will not di-arn FOR an hour, how
ever great thereiief would be to their treas.
uries and their subjects; the latter will rot
enter on any under Jaking which cannot be
finished in few months Industry does
not languish, and enterprisei is not dead, but
the capital of the world accumulates in
heaps, only 10 bs retained In heaps until
there Is more certainty."
The projectors Of new undertakings find
themselves deaiirgwith capitalists sudden.
ly gone old. stricken with caution, inclined
to count time and to say they must leav,
projects SO great % De considered by theil
successors. Il IS time for the direct rail
way To India, time for great works in tn,
way Of storage q water, time for making
the interior Of Africa fully accessible, bu
the nations shrink back, and with monel
choking all markets say they would rattle
wait for a more gssurcd peace. The quie
Is real, as real as tae quiet In a camp a
night. bat it has none O.. the material al
vantages OF quiet.
Nobody, so to speak, dare strip to hi
work or put himself in any position i
which, If the quiet were broken by lou
cries, he could not instantly be ready t
meet any danger. however unexpected. Tn
pace of the whole industrial world has b
come slower, aiN II the truce lasts 80 year
those years will show less advance in inds
trial progress than in any Of the recer
thirties which have preceded them. III
nations grow rich. it is true; but it is 1
men grow rich by agriculture, not as the
grow rich in busting and prosperous worl
shops. There Is lull even in intellectui
life, luli in the production of great men,
luli in the appearance of great books, ii
going on like the life Of 4 cantonmen
where there is no war and no peace, an
everything is duly expectant of conth
gency which may never occur, but TO me-
which everything must be kept in an o
Derby routine The armed peace produc'
something like the halt of an army whei
all is quiet. but all effort is felt to be usele'