New-York tribune., 1896-10-04

| IL by enchantment: and Rumania. as well -
it's ruler. is now assured OF safety from any
further hostile action on the part OF Russia IL
is difficult to say with any degree OF exactituoe
concerning the religious preferences OF pretty
Princess Marie. For she was baptized as
member Of the Church Of England. confirmed
and married a Lutheran. her husband II .
Roman Catholic and she has had her children
christened as members of the Greek Church.
In fact, she seems determined 20 have every
road 10 Heaven open to her, so that IL she cam
NOT %, tbere nv one route she may be able to
use another.
II ia difficult as vet to say whether the young
Czarina will exercise ir her husbands own do
minions as great an influence as that with
which the consort Of Emperor William 10
credited. But it is idle 10 contest the face
that she has modified to a very great degree the
foreign policy of Russia. For many years past.
indeed, ever since 1850 the rivalry between
Russia ani England had been as acute as that
between Germany and France. They went to
war with each other in the Crimea, and on
numerous occasions since have been on the
point of attacking one another Indeed, there
has all along prevailed the conviction In one
country as in the other that war was bound %
come sooner or later. and everything was subor.
dinated TO this idea in England. well as Rus
Of Queen victoria-a grandchild whom that
venerable Sovereign regards indeed as ner own
offspring. since she brought Princess Alix up
from the time when she lost her mother at the
age OF six-sGmperor Nicholas has imposed
very sensible alteration upon the traditional
policy Of his Government, as we'll as that OF
England In the latter country, as well as IN
his own dominions, it is the sovereign VINO
practically controls the foreign relations OK the
Nation and under the circumstances IL can
hardly be expected that Queen Victoria wouia
embark upon any course Of foreign policy caicu-
lated to harm her favorite grandchild. or the
latter's husband, who has become almost equal'
" dear to her; nor is 1t to be expected that
Nicholas would give his approval to any step
by his Government that would disturb tns
eauanimity and we-earned repose OF vener-
able sovereign whom he addresses as grand
mother to whom his wife owes everything ana
TO whom he. in fact. owes his wife. Indeed. there
Is probably some truth in the gossip whicn -
current at the Court OF St. Petersburg to the
effect that the keynote Of the present cars
policy is mot to annoy grandmamma
The young Czarina has likewise brought her
husband into a closer degree Of kinsmanship
with the Emperor Of Germany than Heretofore
since she is his first cousin and has known him
from earliest childhood This in itself Is likely
to prove in the course of time an obstacle 10 tne
fulflment OF those objects which France nao
In view when she made so many sacrinces IN
order TO secure, il not an alliance al any rste
the friendship Of Russia For While NicnoaS
and his wife on leaving their grandmother are
70 STAY a few DAYS in Paris. where the popular
reioicings with which they will be greeted are
likely TO be Of the most enthusiastic character
yet II is we'll to bear In mind that prior to their
return home they will spend two or three weeks
with their relatives In Germany; at Darmstadt,
Coburg. at Friederichof. under the roof OF the
widowed Empress Frederick who is the Car
mas favorite aunt; at Ludwigslust, with the
Grand-duke Of Meckenburg- -Schwerin. and last.
but not least. with the Emperor and Empress
Of Germany at Potsdam where. doubtless. ef-
forts will be made TO obliterate the effects Of the
visit 10 Paris.
It cannot he denied, however that the principal
knot in all these ties Of relationship that bind to-
gether the reigning houses Of Europe is consti-
tuted by Queen Victoria, and that her disappear
ance from the scene-whch, in the ordinary nat
ure of events cannot be far distant-wi sensi-
bly, loosen these bonds This being the case.
the prolongaton Of her days becomes matter OF
increased Importance to those who have at heart
the peace Of the universe-that peace OF which
throughout her reign she has been one or the
principal guardians. II is but the other day that
the indiscreet publication OF letter from Prince
Bismarck to old Emperor William revealed to
the world at large for the first time that il was to
her influence and not to that OF the Russian Gov.
ernment that France was preserved from tne
horrors of another German invasion in 1919, the
Queens eXpostua ton with the aged German En-
peror, her husbands dearest friend proving more
etHcacOus than the arguments OF his Chancellor
or the entreaties Of Field Marshal Won Moltke
and his generals And IL in 1861 the danger or .
war between the United States and Great Britain
on the subject OF the Trent episode was very mar
rowly averted. ii vas due entirely To Queen Vic
tora who left the bedside OF her dying husband
in order to modify in more courteous and IN
finitely friendly sense the dispatch that the
English Government had decided TO transmit to
Lord Lyons for communication TO the United
States Government. and which would inevitably
have resulted in war between the two countries.
Maybe that crimson streak Of which mention
has been made at the beginning OF this letter ex"
tends the Atlantic. and perhaps Queen
Victoria feels that she has ties Of kinship not only
among the regning families OF Europe, put
among the infinitely more numerous reignlne
families OF the United States. EX-ATTACHE