Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-02-01

repudiated her.
Is THERE TO BE WAR IN EUROPE?
New York Independent
The situation in Europe is increasingly
disquieting We do not forget that the
same thing has been said every winter
since the close of the Russo Turkish
War in 1878. and that despite the
rumors of war peace has been preserved
The present conditions. however, are
different from those of the past. The
storm centers now are not so much
political as social. The disturbing in
f1uences are not the mutual jealousies of
Governments, but the distress and dis
content of the people.
For some time it has been evident
that the condition of things among the
laboring classes in Belgium, France,
Italy, Austria and Germany is growing
more and more desperate. Strike has
followed strike;. and though in each
case Government forces have proved
victorious and there has been outward
peace, the mutterings beneath the
surface have not ceased, and inf1amma-
tory addresses by Anarchists have kept
up the agitation which has furnished
the more discreet and polite socialists
with lever that they have not failed
to use il. the representative houses of the
various Governments. There has prob
ably been no time during this century
when the monarchies of Europe had so
little hold upon their people as the
present. That they realize this is
evident from their almost frantic efforts
to strengthen it. Alexander of Russia
gives it out that the title by which he
desires to be known is that of the
Peasant Gar. Emperor William is con
stantly presenting schemes whose one
object is evidently the securing of the
favor of the miners and factory workers.
In Italy Crispi has come back to power,
Notwithstanding his authorship of the
Triple Alliance, because he is believed
to be in favor of bettering the condition
of the workingmen. Francis Joseph
persists in his plans for enlarging the
electorate of Austria, and the Belgian
King and Senate have fairly surrendered
to the demands of the populace. In
England and France alone there seems
to be real stability, and that simply be-
cause of the confidence of the people in
their own power to rule themselves.
The contrast is too marked not to be
and, notwithstanding all
that can be done to prevent it, there
may be at any time an outbreak against
all monarchical and imperial rule. To
the question where this will in all prob
ability come, the answer would undoubt-
edly be Belgium, as the weakest and
therefore the most dangerous point
While there may be more of ferocity in
Italy, more of ambition in Bohemia and
Hungary, in Belgium there is despair
which is far more dangerous than either.
When the pressure of the overcrowded
towns and cities, and the lack of work
become absolutely insupportable, the
Flemish laborers will strike out wildly
and furiously, caring little who on what
they destroy. Were it possible for them
to fight out their battle alone, other
Powers might look on with unconcern.
This, however, no one supposes possible.
The fall of an additional monarchy
increases the danger to the remaining
houses This is well understood; and
it seems to be certain that should
Leopold find his throne in danger he
would only have to indicate his desire
in order to receive full support from
Germany, which, as well as England and
probably Russia, is pledged to the sup
port of such weak thrones as those of
Belgium, Holland and Portugal. The
entrance of Germany would instantly
inf1ame France, and the long dreaded
war would be precipitated. Just what
position Russia would take is uncertain.
As between Leopold and republic,
Alexander's sympathieS would be with
the former. 1t is possible, however,
that he might not be unwilling to see
the prestige of England weakened, and
the hands of Germany and Austria
tied, that he might have free course in
the East, about which he cares far more
than he does about the West.
Meanwhile statesmen on every hand
are waiting, curbing their own jealousies
and ambitions, knowing well that in the
face of popular movements, such as
have more than once swept over Europe,
they are powerless. That such a move
ment will come seems certain. The
question is when. And the eyes of
those who are best informed are looking
not at Sicily or Prague or Paris, but at
Brussels and Namur.