The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-21

ENGLASD'S PASSIVE ALLIES.
Despite the quoting dispatches. the prob
ability is that the next war viii be between
Great Britain and Prussia. The German
empire IS ~ longer the iron-bound union il
was under the grandfather Of the young
gentleman who Is making proud crowned
heads bow before a senblance OF majesty
from which the reality is gone. The en-
perors vanity and pertness viii probably
provoke a conflict with England. bur the
declaration Of war will find no second in
many Of the ancient kingdoms, which are
frettng beneath the boyish efforts at i'm
perial dignity. Whether disruption takes
place depends very much upon whether the
emperor consults the tributary sovereigns
or not. II he does there may be no war.
but IL by some rash act he preeipitates hos
Titles without consulting them he may
find the empire at an end and himself at
the head OF a Prussian army only. This
may look improbable, but the ties between
many OF the kingdoms and the empire were
bound by self-interest only. and with that
go longer at hand they could easily be
broken.
The emperors claim that Russia and
France are nearer TO Germany than to En-
gland does not seem to carry much sig
nifcance with it. Neither France nor Rus
STA loves England. but each dislikes Ger
many more. Neither would help England.
but Russia could plead neutrality as an OK
cuse for sardonically watching the smash
ing OF a powerful rival empire dangerously
near. France would not help England, but
her secret hopes that Germany might get
the worst of a contest and so tend to the
restoration of Alsace and Lorraine would
keep her inactive.
Moreover. Russia cannot but realize that
even II England were victorious her cam
raIgn would be costly and destructive, and
a. its close there would be a splendid OPP
portunity to pick quarrel with exhausted
England and so follow up her advantages
in the East before the British forces could
recuperate. This view OF It's leaves out of
consideration entirely the possibility OF a
secret understanding between the car and
tho British government for the cesslon to
Russia OK Constantinople as the prise OF
her neutrality.
constantinople should belong by the logic
OF the situation to Russia II not to Greece.
Turkey In Europe is an absurdity; II is
the result OF a barbaric triumph perpetu-
ated by selhshness and jealousy on the part
of Christian powers. Years ago Ii was
proposed TO drive the Turks out OF Europe
aud TO create a new kingdom. with Con-
stantinople as the capital. II was suggest
ed that the Duke OF Edinburgh, second son
OF the queen. and his bride the sister Of the
late car. should be the reigning sover-
eigns. the duke giving up his right OF
succession to the tarons he at present oe-
cuples.
Although the relationships 81 royal fami-
lies do not always determine national ALI
ances or prevent conflicts. 1t is interesting
70 note the curious family unions. Emperor
William IS the son of the eldest daughter
of queen Victoria, but he has always treat
ed his mother badly and shown no sort OF
affection for his mothers family. on the
other hand. the aunt of the car is married
TO the Duke OF Edinburgh. son of the
queen: and the wife OF the car is daugh-
ter OF Princess Alice. the favor;te daughter
Of the queen. The family ties between the
re!gning houses Of Russia and England
are therefore stronger than those between
England and Germany. Beside this. the
queens strongest family connections are
with some OF the minor German crowns.
which are most FESTIVE under the imperial
yoke These considerations would not con-
troll og themselves. but public sentiment
could readily he worked up In Russia and
England 10 "a used in fomenting bad feel
ing against Emperor William and that por-
tlon OF his empire which would remain
loyal to him.
The empire Of Austria Hungary has moth
ing 70 gain by the continued power OF the
German empire: but with France. Russia
Italy. Greece and even Spain. could hope
in tho event OF the defeat OF Germany and
the partition OF European Turkey to secure
Important territorial concessions.
While. therefore. England has no friends
fer her own sake the consequences OF her
success against Germany would be Of
greater permanent advantage 20 most OF
the powers than the defeat q England and
the increased prestige that would give Ger
many.