The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-27
What tho Russians Leave Behind in
Paris.

The soiourn of the Russian naval officers
In the French capital is over. and to-day
President CAnNoT will make return visit
to the Russian flagship In the harbor OF
Touon. When the guests OF the French
nation depart tomorrow they will carry
with them remembrances Of the most i'm
pressive demonstrations OF good will wit
messed in our generation, and they will
leave behind the conviction that, whether
or no treaty OF alliance exists. France and
Russia. for tho present. at all events, are
closely knit together. The force OF public
opinion to which. when thoroughly aroused.
even an autocrat must bow. has united the
two countries by bonds far stronger than
any which diplomatists can forge. and which
even BISMARCK, were he now directing the
statecraft OF Germany. would find it diff
cult to break The feeling OF ardent friend
ship kndied in the Russian naval officers
by an unparalleled hospitality. Is fully
shared by the masses OF their countrymen
at home. MS the Russian newspapers have
been allowed to testify; and that it is shared
also by the Car seems proved by his visit
to the French gunbout in Copenhagen.
The surprising thing about the Paris fes-
tivities is that. notwithstanding the almost
frantic enthusiasm OF the people. the Gov
eminent should have succeeded in averting
any act or utterance which might be con-
strued as provocation to Germany or to
either OF the other powers comprised In the
Triple Alliance. With an incessant and al
most intrusive emphasis. the declaration
was repeated that the friendship OF France
and Russia was a guarantee of European
peace. We deem 1t improbable that many
Of the auditors accepted the declaration in
good faith. and certainly it has been re-
ceived with incredul!ty In Berlin and in
Vienna. There would have been guaran-
tee OF peace II France had remained isolated.
provided the restlessness OF Italy could
have been allayed by financial assistance
from her allies. That this Is true the
twenty-five years that have passed since
1871 bear witness. So far as Germany and
Austria are concerned. there has been.
and there is now, no popular desire to at
tack France; and. although a few years
after the peace OF Frankfort renewed ag-
erosion was favored blythe military party
at Berlin, such policy has had but few
advocates since the French army was known
to be thoroughly reorganized.
In France. on the other hand, there Is a
rooted determination to recover the lost
provinces. and the resolve Is likely to bear
fruit. now that. for the first time in long
period. France Is able to engage in war upon
something like equal terms. Moreover. there
is no time like the present. If n blow for the
recovery OF French prestige is to be struck
The French army has reached the acme of
size and Of efficiency. 1t will never be any
larger. for the population OF the country is
practically stationary. On the other hand.
the population Of Germany, at the present
rate of increase. will, ten years hence. be
larger by two-ffths than that OF France.
and. under the CONSUMPTION system. the
number of disciplined soldiers will expand
in the same proportion. 1t is further to be
horne In mind that at present. and prob