The Irish standard., 1896-04-18
but with a Western admixture dating

but with q Western admixture dating
from Peter the Great This Russian In
vaslon IS feared BY many in Europe, and
may seem to endsnger Leo kills idea
But in the first place. ia politics, distant
perils cast their dark shadows upon US
less than do present dangers and the un-
Of existence. What hampan-
sion was Italy in the TRIBE Alliance
This barrier has fallen, and behinl it
rises, great and strong. the form af the
Papacy. The Pope knows, too, that Rus
sla will not advance into Europe. and
VIII not substitute military action for its
method Of slow infiItration, till the DAY
when she shall have campleted her net
work OF railroads III Asia, which viii lead
her to the shores of the Indian oeesn and
give her the breathing space which she
needs. So that 1t seems to me that the
Papaey fe ars her descent into Balk-
ans less than Austria does 1t believes
that IN gong beyond her frontiers, is
breaking through the circle which gives
Russia her original character, she will
break down her organic life. her tradl-
tons, the keystone that upholds the edi-
flee. The day when she spreads to the
West she will take on, by the we'll known
laws Of history, the color, the manners,
thea ideas of our civilization. She will
find herself obliged to give up the Asiatic
system, her unity. the confusion of the
civil and religious power, and to take en-
new organs. She will then come in con-
tact through the West with the Papacy,
and that contact in spite of the first crit
ical period, opens the way to a common
life in which the Holy See will have its
place. At the Vatican this future has
been prepared for by what is called the
policy of the point Of contact That is
the main thought of Mgr. Strosnayer, the
brilliant bishop Of D.akoran, the ardent
patriot and co-operator of Leo X1IJ in
the Orient whom Francis Joseph once
insulted but who now triumphs
There is thus formed Europe a common
center of peaceful ideas which Will with
stand all plans for war Germany does
not fear this constellation as her writer's
call it. When William III. sent the IA
nous dispatch to Kruger, he expressed
and summed up the idea of the German
fatherland. ringing it out Ike a national
anthem. For the Germans are eager to
lind an opening on the ocean and in their
colonies, but in every path and in every
station they meet the Euglishman, the
opponent OF their commerce and Of their
interests. No one IN Europe has any
doubt of the existence of common I'M
Iderstanding between Russia, France, Ger
many and Turkey, having for its object
to check the naval and colonial hegemony
of England and to dispute her the empire of
the world. There was great disappolnt-
ment on the continent that the United
States did not press further its point
against the British Cabinet; it was sure
of the sympathy and applause Of all. A
diplomat said to me: England feels the
danger in which she is; she makes lis
offers, but we will not accept them until
she gives us India" For the same reason
the Quai d'Orsay. in spite of the spirited
efforts of Baron de Courcel, rejected
England's concessions in the Egyptian
matter so as not to stand in the way Of
the fatal course of events