The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-08-24
builds up her navy. Great war ships
have aDneared ON the Black sea and

builds up her navy. Great war ships
have appeared on the Black sea and
the construction of many others is in
progress. In fact, the present govern
ment is specially distinguished by the
great progress made in naval construc-
ton, which fact aroused suspicion in
England that Russia seriously contem-
plates a cruiser war, threatening Eng
nsh colonies and commerce. To these
suspicious Lord Salisbury gave vent
when he said that the too great politi-
cal independence Of Ireland would be
dangerous to Great Britain, because
Ireland might give assistance to an
enemy OF England. Tt was not stated
who the enemy might be, but it was
not so difficult to understand that Rus
STA was meant, although Russia makes
no pretense Of threatening any power
through her navy.
1t seems that the present car has
devlated from the traditional Russian
policy OF friendship for all things Prus-
sian; 1t is at least evident that the car
wishes to reign free from German influ-
ence in the affairs of his empire, an in
fuence which, as is we'll known, was ex-
ercised by Bismarck, contrary to the
interests of Russia, during the life of
Alexander II. Alexander Ill could not
continue the work of his father without
lessening the prestige of imperial
power, which, moreover, could not adj
NIT that it stood in danger from the
fanaticism of a small group, whose real
power is doubted by all in Russia
What wonder, then, that Alexander Ill.
has directed his attention to the army
and navy. ~.
The Car Losing Popularity.
do not assert, though I shrewdly
conjecture; that the German emperor
is convinced that the car is steadily
losing his popularity by not continuing
the reforms begun by his father. Popu-
larity may have been the goal of Will
helms ambition, and this may explain
his so-called liberalism. We see, as in
the case of Gladstone, that glory can
be gained by liberalism, and so if Will
helm, by adopting a liberal policy, could
reach greatness, his ambition would be
gratified by the reflection that he had
gotten there by a wholly different
path from any followed by his ances-
tors. Hence he abolished the special
laws against the social democrats. 1t
is true that the social democrats had
never, even in the most trying hour of
their oppression, disgraced their party
Dy acts OF anarchistic violence, and it
was therefore the easier for Wilhelm
to emancipate them from penal disabili-
ties. At one time it even appeared
that the emperor was going to join the
socialists himself-at least if we are to
judge from the rambling speeches he
delivered on this point and at which
Bismarck laughed in his sleeve.
1t was here that the emperor and the
chancellor separated. The one had be-
hind him a great army, the other only
long years of successful experience.
Wilhelm ceased to be the emperor in
the eyes Of Bismarck because the latter
ceased to be Bismarck in the eyes of
Wilhelm.
Now the emperor has once more
veered around and has become less in
| terested in social regeneration than in
projects antagonistic to socialism. It
is not hard to predict that the crown
Of glory he seeks to attain will prove