The herald., 1893-10-09
wHArHAs KEPT THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

CUutu Or OoutKai AutIlCb. Win III
exception of the Russo-T Turkish war, the
scene OF which bordered on Asia Minor,
there has been no war in which any
great power was concerned for twenty
three years, or since the Franco
prussian struggle. This isan unusually
long period OF abstention from blood
letting. Prior to that period bnt few
years were permitted to elapse without
war on considerable scale. In the
ffties there was all the blood-letting the
most energetic soldier could deeire.
The Crimean war was followed in few
years by the war for Italian unity, in
which France and Italy drove Austria
out of the latter country and established
the Italian kingdom. That was followed
by the ridiculous war between Prussia
and Austria against Denmark, by which
the Danes were despoiled of the duchies
OF Schleswig- Holstein. The division OF
the plumber led up to the Austro-Prus-
sian war, In which the ruler of the
Hapsburg dynasty was worssed.
Since then there has been no distinct
ly European war, the old feud Of the
Muscovite and Turk being on other
lines. 1t would certainly look as If the
gentlemen of the pen had good reasons
for expecting an outbreak somewhere.
Europe once saw thirty years war,
bus it would be hard to point to an era
in her history when her people could
felicitate themselves on twenty three
years. pence. There has rarely been an
interval Of that duration in which
France and Germany have not heen at
the swords point.
Aud yet, while Europe is said to be at
peace. she is really suffering more than
if she had undergone the strain Of
great struggle and had then disarmed.
The peace establishments OF the several
European armies are ON such a degree
OF magnitude that all elasticity is
crushed out OF the masses. Italy has
long been bankrupt. Austria is in the
same plight, and has only been able to
carry on business by the issue of enor-
nous amounts of paper money. Ger.
many is in much better plight, and has
held on to some OF the French war in
demnity. The finances OF France are in
splendid shape, and although that coun-
try owes great sums of money she owee
them to her own people. and appears to
support her burden of debt with great
ease. The financial condition of Russia
has never been better than now.
nlo oe ,,,,-
nent war bases his idea on the fact that
Italy has no money and must, perforce,
90 to war. This is certainly novel ar
gument. 1t has generally been supposed
ia the past that money was sine qua
non to the successful prosecution of war.
Napoleon Bonaparte acquitted himself
of the aphorism that an army moved on
ita belly. The camp chest is q most i'm.
portant adjunct OF great military opera
tions. Still it may be possible that Ger
many may stand behind her Italian ally
and furnish her with the sinews of war.
Taking all things together. and the
war theory is not 30 absurd as some
critics of the newspapers seem to think
it is. The truth is that it is really as
tonishing that it has not broken out
long since. considering the unmistak.
able hatred which exists between Ger
many and France. The remarkable
self-control of those countries, under
the circumstances, is one of the most
notable facts in history. Only some
overshadowing considerations could
have prevented the outbreak OF hostili-
ties for twenty.three long years between
euemiee so implacable and determined.
What these are it is perhaps presumpt-
uous to undertake to say with any de-
gree CT certainty. Probably both France
and Germany have conceived very
solid respect each for the military
proweas Of the other. But with Italy
deploying big army into France across
the Alps, Germany and Austria would
have no difficulty in crushing that
country. The Drei5und-three against
one-would be invincible but for one
thing, and that is Russia.
1t is some times debated as to whether
there ia any real alliance between Russia
and the French republic. The strongest
proof that there is tacit one at least
was afforded when the Dreibund was re-
newed for another period of seven years
a short time ago. 1t would be highly
preposterous to assume that Germany
single-handed is afraid of France, but
France and Russia are different propo-
sitions. The German rulers know that
Italy is very inhammable country, and
that there is large and determined
Italian republican element that would
resistto the death the employment OF
an Italian army to help crush republi-
can France. In addition, Umberto's
treatment of the pope has not been such
as to please that large element of the
population which remains loyal to the
Roman Catholic church. Should the
king die or be assassinated, Italy would
at once be plunged into raging turmoil,
and would have all she could do to at
tend to her own internal affairs. As to
| Austria, that empire of ahreds and
patches would have all she could do to
attend to the affairs of her forty-five
separate provinces, each with dialect
of it's own.
On the other side would be France
and Russia, only two nations, it is true,
| but welded as unit and making the