The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-10-28

man people must bear as long as there
Is apprehension Of war with France.
But common sense is not 50 strong
as tradition. The French cannot .e-
frain from cherishing q sentiment Of
revenge and seeking an alliance with
Russia. Notwithstanding their prog
ress In humanitarian principles they
continue to rave over military glory.
From the above mentioned sources
Germany and Bulgaria the war
spirit, Which like a piasma poisons the
atmosphere Of Europe. The outbreak
of war will depend on this: The inter-
ests of the various powers are different;
what Russia seeks is no great moment
to. France; what suits Austria may
menace. Prussia, in view Of the rivalry
of the Hapsbqrgs and Hohenzollerns.
Whatever else may be said, therefore,
Of the Triple Alliance or of the Fran@o-
Russian union, both are clearly unsta-
BILE. They were created only to threat
en- and counterbalance the relations Of
the various nations, and the desires Of
some of the latter will play lesser
part as an exciting cause of war than
the personal whims of individuals. Rus
sla. has no real cause Of war with
France. Russia cannot be concerned
But the German emperor may have
purely selfish motive in watching for
a favorable combination Of circum-
stances to aid him to start war, and
this is shown by the most recent events
in Europe.
Germany's New Army Bill.
Admitting Russia to be an ally Of
France, the possibility of his having to
fight on two fronts has suggested itself
to Wilhelm, who, surveying his army,
doubted it's capacity to cope simultane-
ously with Russia and France. Hence,
he conceived the new army bill. What
is the inside meaning of that measure?
Does the emperor mean to be an ag-
gressor or merely to act on the defen-
sive? Nobody has declared any inten-
ton Of warning on Prussia, nor has any
minor offense been committed against
her, but Germany has committed many
acts calculated to exasperate Russia.
A Coburg prince has be2l placed on
the Bulgarian throne-a direct insult to
Russia; and, to make things worse,
Prince Ferdinand and Stambuloff have
been received in. Austria. To crown all,
Ferdinand has been nominated to per-
petuate condition of things antagen-
isic to Russia. The very constitution
granted to Bulgaria by the czar, Alex
ander H., has been changed, and = it
seems as though the patience Of his il
lustriOuS successor might well be ex-
hausted.. Yet the car appears to bear
it all with equanimity, for he sincerely
desires peace. Who, then, wishes war?
They want to declare Bulgaria indie
pendent to make it a pretext for war.
But suppose they carry out their fell
purpose? Russia will simply say that
Bulgarian Independence has been her
own desire all along. Even the official
recognition of Ferdinand by the powers
which signed the treaty Of Berlin did
lot supply the desired motive for war,
for is he hot already the ruler Of Bull
garia?
But who is it that gives the impetus
to the European military equipment?
The German socialists recently said
that the army has undermined the
finances Of more than one country,
causing poverty, disaster and adding to
the success of revolution; that if even
one-half Of the millions annually ex-
pended on armamentS were devoted to
the welfare Of the laboring classes the
greater social problems which threaten
and produce revolution might be solved
by peaceful and normal means Is it
not, then, because he secretly recog-
nizes the truth Of this that Wilhelm
wants war, in the hope that should vic
tory wait on German arms Germany
may then be enabled to disband?