The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-06-22

But this meeting has another import
ant feature. 1t is a monarchical tea
party, in which the guests are carefully
watched, and every expression, noted.
Russia and France are considered firm
friends, and jealous eyes will carefully
watch every movement of the repre-
sentatiyes of these two great powers.
II the Russian emperor frowns
upon the French minister some
thing is expected to happen. and
Germany is carefully watching every
smile or change of countenance. The
commercial Importance of the canal
will revolutionize trade: but the
gathering of emperors and other
powerful personages, in whose hands
are the destinies of Europe, may
result in subverting the peace that
| now reigns. Upon a single frown or
word may hang the destinies of count
less thousands, and this is the reason
that this tea party, or more properly
champagne club, is such an important
event. The British representative
may be snubbed and parliament
would Immediately resent the
insult. If France, in the person of
her delegate, is not accorded the same
consideration as the autocrat of the
north. there is volcano let loose
in that mercurial nation, and the
French blood has been very much
heated since Sedan and anXious.to have
the least pretext which it can magnify
into an insult. William, the young
emperor of Germany, is hot-headed
fellow, and frequently becomes
enthusiastic when talking of affairs of
the empire. If he imagines it is nee
essary to uphold the transitory glory
of faderland to make some ill-advised
speech, he will do it, and, when over
come by champagne, is liable to lose
all discretion. He has made some
wild remarks heretofore, and may be
expected to do SO again. If he were
simply an ordinary individual what he
said on the occasion of this celebra-
ton would amount to little or nothing:
but ruling by the grace of God, and be-
ing only accountable to Deity for his
actions, he becomes the epitome of
German patriotism. Then the czar of
Russia occupies the same exalted posi-
tion, and at the bend of his brow the
armies of his great empire will move
onward to victory or defeat. Again,
the formalities of etiquette are very
strict, and must be carefully observed.
Men must be machine like, and in
their language and actions must
not deviate the least from established
grooves. The least friction that oc-
ours involves the fate of millions, and
Europe on this account has dreaded
for some time the great gathering of
nations at Kiel.
On this side of the ocean we cannot
appreciate this feeling, and do not
understand the reason that the young
emperor of Germany, who is as much
English as German, and the czar of
Russia, who is more German and
Dane than Slav, should control the
destinies of millions of people who are
to the manner born, and who can
reckon an unbroken descent for count
less ages. The only way to account |
for this is that monarcy is illogical,
and, instead of the rights of kings |
being derived from benefcent God |
they are unquestionably the result of |
the machinations of Satan. There is
no other conclusion to be derived from |
a careful survey of monarchical snob-
berry than that the sovereign power
should reside and remain in the people. |
With this conclusion, the American
people can watch the hob-nobbing of
potentates at Kiel with little concern,
and are more interested in the vital
issues that are now being discussed |
than in the smiles or frowns of the |
young man at Kiel when in his cups.