The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-09
THE EUROPEAN PROBLEM.


THE EUROPEAN PROBLEM.
Premier Crispi's speech in the Italian
deputies in which he discouraged the
idea Of disarmament is chiefly significant
as showing what a hold this Idea of
peace" has taken. The statesmen Of Eu-
rope seem TO have reached the conclu-
sion that some radical change must soon
take place in the governmental systems
Of Europe. The peoples Of all countries
are FESTIVE under the immense burden
of expense necessary to sustain the great
military establishments on their present
basis. Wise rulers have foreseen that
they must lessen this burden or give up
their thrones. But not one dares to
tempt the cupidity of his neighbor by
making the first movement toward plac-
ing his country on a peace footing. But
war is nevertheless the last thing that
any one of them desires. War is too
dangerous. Implements of murder have
become too terrible to be played with
Each maintains them as a menace to
his neighbor to inspire respect. The
tendency. though. is toward an interna-
tional agreement to disarm. The Ger
man emperor has been steadfastIy look
ing in that direction since he assembled
the throne and there are some indica-
tons that he may yet accomplish his
purpose.
Harold Frederic, the correspondent of
the New York Times, is one of the
closest students of European politics and
his conclusions are much more often
right than wrong. Mr.. Frederic thinks
he sees in the betrothal of the caro-
witch to a German princess of the house
of Coburg an approach to the millennal
condition so much desired. He says that
there are those who believe that dur
ing the year France will find herself
confronted by a practically unanimous
suggestion of the European powers that
the time has come for "A general dis
armament. This has been often alluded
to in these dispa tches as the thing Will
lam is dreaming Of. 1t is clear enough
that recent events have cut down some
of the obstacles previously in the way;
but it is not so evident that the path is
even yet anywhere near open. The pub
lished story that the heads of the triple
alliance have asked the car to join such
q movement and met with a refusal has
no evidence of genuineness behind it;
but undoubtedly it reflects the general
situation. This weeks new tie between
the Russian. German and English dy-
nasties may be a sign that the car is
yielding. At least it affords fresh
ground for hope that eventually he will
yield. What apparently sticks most
stubbornly in his crop is the continued
presence Of that obnoxious catholic CO.
burger on the Bulgarian throne. This he
will not cOndOne, although such strong
pressure has been put on him TO do so
that poor Ferdinand. with his Bourbon
bride fingered all the week close to Ger
man territory. waiting for chance of
the cars relenting and allowing them to
attend the Coburg wedding They waited
in vain. But the mere fact that they
thought there was a chance seemed to
indicate that the car had been showing
signs of at least regarding Bulgaria as
a debatable subject With so prefer
naturally slow and logged a mind as
his, even that is a great deal
IF Bulgaria should be eliminated
there would remain nothing solid for
the car to balk at but French suscepti-
bility about Alsace-Lorraine. am told
that this will be met by a German offer
to submit the question of the German
or the French nationality to the suf-
frages of the two provinces in 1901-that
is, thirty years after the annexation
and abide by the result. But this will
really be no offer at all, since even to-
day it is fairly certain that the Germans
have majority and each year increases
this to an absolutely sure thing. All the
same. disarmament is going to be the
engrossing topic of the year"
Premier Crispi's remarks in the depu-
ties would seem to bear out the idea
that he is merely playing for time;
simply waiting till the others interested
with him are ready to act.