The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-21

Italy. ~ ,9JD,OV,vVp -i'Jofv,JVV
Tot Dreibund States SS,70i00,0O &.bSl ,wO,Ow
Increase .........l, y17, cOO,C0O, or $50 per Ct
1879. ls93.
France 5.7J0coO.OCO s6l05, 100000
nsussia .......1, 100000 i,3S6OO'oO
| Total France and
Russia .......s5, 55OOOO,0o0 so. 49l ,0OOcU
Increase .........i,9il 100000 or 80 per cent.
SO that within the past fourteen years
the three powers constituting the Drebund
have increased their debts in the asgre-
gate, y,gi7, 100000, or at the rate of $50 per
cent, while France and Russia combined
have increased theirs by Si,9il, 100000, or
at the rate of 80 per cent. Nor is this the
run measure of the increase Of their
military burthens for. in addition to their
enormous borrowings. the Driebund States
nave increased their taxations ~ per cent.
and France and Russia at the average or
- per cent.
These figures are positively astounding,
both because of their enormous size and
because OF the immense growth in
fourteen years Of profound peace. If this
| has happened in peace what will occur IN
war?
The Journal of Commerce thinks that
these nations have already mortgaged
their resources for military purposes 10
the fun extent of the great increase In
wealth that would otherwise have ac-
| crued TO them from the marvellous de-
veopment Of Industrial forces within
the same period, so that, to them,
| the last half generation has been
| virtually lost for all the great ends OF
| human progress. In some Of them an ac-
tuai retrogression has taken place. Since
| 1880 the revenue OF Italy has fallen of
] SJO,01o0co, and she is carrying a floating
unable TO borrow a dollar, while her
trade and finance are in a state Of almost
! hopeless wreck. and there seems TO be
literally no remaining expedent for get
ting more revenue. What is TO be the out
come OF this most disastrous state of af-
fairs? lit would seem inevitable that
there must be war; disarmament. or bank
| ruptcy. IL war. where viii it burst?
Russia has established a Gordon around
Englands eastern possessions which
threatens o mopentary rupture there.
| France is ev.r. nov in the midst OF an an
| cry controversy with England over the
| delimitatfon OF the new territory OF which
she recently robbed Siam, that may engen-
der an armed collision there at any mo-
ment. Wen may Lord Rosebery have said.
as he recently said. II say this with delibe-
ration. that the frontier or India question
does still cause great anxiety TO me as
| Foreign Secretary 1t MAJ be. therefore,
that the storm will first burst on England
Of which we recently pointed out the
very great probability. II this occurs. will
the Dreibund or the alliance between
Germany, Austria, and Italy. leave her
10 cope alone with these two gigantic
powers in union? The selnshness of Eu-
iopean politics may very well leave this
to happen. If 1t breaks out in Europe will
England join the Dreibund and make
common cause with it? We believe that
the necessities OF the case will force her
to il. in which case short work ought 10
be made OF all Russian armies that come
out OF Russia, and of all Russian and
French fleets, and France will probably
be made the victim of another overthrow
beside which that Of 1870 will be a baga-
tele. She will probably be so divided up
this time as to end her power to disturb
the peace of Europe. But as the first
Napoleon always held. there will be no
permanent peace in Europe until some
measure can be found TO compel Russia
TO disband her military establishment and
live with her neiehbors as decent and
| orderly member OF a great family. So
! long as she keeps up her hugs armies
Germany and Austria are compelled TO do
the same and that forces on France an
armament that Gallo pride is only too
glad to exercise itself for making. After
Napoleon's disastrous attempt to coerce
Russia. future attempts Of the sort Will
be very reluctantly undertaken. but there
VIII be no peace in Europe until she is
forced to cisaru.