The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
Now There Is a Renewal of the
Talk as to a War on the
Continent.
BLATHER OF BRITISH WRITERS
One Correspondent Declares There
Will Be War Between East and
West After Election.
Copyright 1896, by the New York rImes.l


himself to blind rage against the German
Emperor, and the memorable step of
mobiliz;ng special service squadron was
taken, the people who feel a special inter-
est in strengthening the British navy took
advantage of the popular feeling to ar
range that hereafter Trafalgar day should
be celebr ated as a national patriotic ami
versary. As the date drew near the Gov
eminent tried all it could quietly to dis
courage the thing, but the enthusiasts in
sisted, and considering the absence of
organization and the official cold water
Wednesdays celebrations throughout the
island were very creditable.
Unhappily, however. no amount of
British protestations could avail to pre-
vent the French from remembering that
Trafalgar was their defeat, and not unnat-
uralfy they asked why on earth this
year of all others this piece of ancient his
tory should be so violently revived, espe-
cially as the English are just now profess
ing an exceptional anxiety to establish
cordial relations with France. II has been
an uphill task for the English papers to
explain the psychology of this paradox,
and Paris still only half accepts their plea
that John Bull is really such al ingenious,
supplemented creature that he blunders
into these embarrassing performances
through sheer mental awkwardness. As
the Continental situation stands, it was
undoubtedly the most inopportune thing
Imaginable, but perhaps its effect in stimu-
lating popular feeling here counterbal-
ances any harm it may have done across
the channel
Germany's journalistic bonn bardment of
England seemed last week to be impor-
tant. The attacks continue, although
somewhat abated in vigor, but England has
decided to pretend to be unconscious OF
them. This course robs the affair of
good deal Of its interest, especially for the
Germans, and theirposition when stripped
Of expletiyes has something in it. They
say that Continental war must involve
for the Continental peoples the most terri
bic ordeal in history, with frightful earn
age, inestimable losses and the result of
putting back the clock of civilization a
quarter of a century. England, gorged
with empire to the point of safety and so
placed on the map moreover that she is
practically secured from invasion and
actual suffering in such a war, calmly
proposes TO precipitate a Continental con-
vulsion on purely sentimental grounds
and she ought therefore to be treated as
common enemy by all the rest of the Con-
tinentaI powers. This, of course, is what
will always be said by one side so long as
England pursues her historic policy of
balancing between the two armed camps
into which Europe is divided, leaning
now a little toward one and now
toward the other, but always keeping
beyond the reach of actual danger. The
fact that the Germans are shouting so an
grily now reveals suspicion, or perhaps
the knowledge that England is tipping
the scales on the side of the Franco Rus
sian combination. This alone would make
weight against whicn the triple alliance
wo uId be powerless. If Italy be detached
from the alliance into the bargain, as is
now keenly feared at both Berlin and
Vienna, then the bottom will fail out of
the central European partnership at once.
For the moment there seems to be q dis
tinct possi bility that this is what is going
to happen, but the situation is still at
stage where new com binations can be
made if high enough price is paid for
them. Germany's real trouble lies in the
fact that she has next to nothing to offer
in proposing such bargain, whereas Eng
land is provided with a large variety of
tempting wares.
Rome has kept itself distinctly cool
during the week of wedding festivities.
eliminating with to-day's ceremony. The
official reports describe the enthusiastic
cheers of rapturous multitudes, but inde-
pendent observers all tell q different story.
The Queen of Portugal indeed received on
her arrival such chilling treatment from
ho+
pear next day with the royal party that
received the bride. and she is said to have
been on the point OF quitting the city
altogether. This, of course, is ascribable
to Italian recollections of the King of
PortugaPs very stupid quarrel with his
uncle Hnmbert last year; but apart from
that the Italians are in q surly state of
mind toward the whole governmental es-
tabIishment.
No doubt this Montenegrin marriage is
more popular than almost any other would
have been, Dut Italy is too sick of such
things in general to feel warmly about it.
One OF the most peculiar things of this
whole Italian wedding affair has been
Prince Victor Bonaparte's repeated ap-
pearance in public with various mem bers
of the Orleans family, a phenomenon
which raises again the suspicion that the
two French dynastic parties are in the way
of pooling their issues. Paris on Norem Der
s. the date finally fixed for the marriage
of the Duke of Orleans, will see a great
gathering of legitamists at the Madeleine,
where the wedding mass is to be cele-
brated TO synchronize with the actual
ceremony at Schonbrunn. This will be
followed by grand banquet at the Hotel
Continental.
When recently in Paris 1 did not find
among the republican politicians of vari-
Gus shades any idea that the republic had
anything to fear from the ambitions of
Philippe VII They agreed that if he had
been different sort OF person, he might
have done something, but as they put it,
man who cannot mount horse without
falling off and breaking his leg has no
chance with the French public. I'm
doubtedly, however. his marriage into the
richest and most respected branch of the
Hapsburgs gives him new importance in
the eyes OF Continental diplomatists.
Rumors of an impending revival of
Cariist activity in the Biscay provinces
continue to circulate, but III the quarter
where in the past / have always found
very accurate and up-to-date information
about the purchase of arms and munitions
and about other Carlist enterprises moth
ing seems to be known of any new move
ment. Very possibly the present reports
arise from vague feeling tnat Spain is in
such helpless. plight that everything evil