The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-17
THAT NEW ALLIANCE.
AUSTRIA, GERMANY AND RUSSIA TAKE
A SIGNIFICANT STAND.

mocracy VIII BE the Outcome.
BY far the most significant and in
some respects the most portentous out
come of the Turco-Grecian war is the
dissolution of the old dreibund, the sud
den rupture of the Franco Russian ALI
ance and the equally sudden alliance Of
Austria, Germany and Russia in union
apparently offensive and defensive
against the other European states The
new dreibund of itself is sufficient evil
dence of the weakness and inharmoni
BUSINESS of the much talked of concert OF
the powers. The first real outbreak OF
war, though its outcome was apparent
from the first, revealed its impotence, its
jealousies and its lack of harmony in
action 1t never went farther than
half hearted blockade Of Crete. 1t failed
utterly in the proposed blockade of the
Pireus, which had been threatened ii
the Greek government did not at once
withdraw its troops from Crete or if 1T
made any hostile movement against
Turkey.
The new alliance of Germany, Aus
tria and Russia will be confronted Ivy
that of Great Britain, France and Italy.
Whenever the contest shall como it will
be struggle between three absolute
monarchies on the one hand and two
liberal governments and republic on
the other, between three governments
whose people have no voice IN public
affairs and three governments whose
people have something to say and whose
influence is powerful in shaping poll
cies, between three nations ruled by
| three autocrats and three nations which
| enjoy self government in greater or
| lesser degree.
AS one correspondent has well de-
scribed it, it is an alliance of despotism
against democracy. In these alliances
likes have sought like. 1t is car, kaiser
and emperor against queen, king and
president, and the combinations are en-
| tirely natural. 1t makes little difference
what causes have led to this move on
the board, whether it grows out OF the
inability of western and eastern Europe
to agree OH the settlement of the Turco-
Grecian question or the eastern question
in general, or whether the new alliance
|
aggression in South Africa. The Aus
trian ambassador at Berlin undoubtedly
correctly states one of the causes when
he says:
GAS for things in South Africa the
continental powers have the same peace
full and just aim-to maintain the pres
ent status, resting upon international
agreements which cannot be broken
with impunity by either Great Britain,
the Transvaal or Portugal.
"The facts brought to the notice OF
the continental powers are such as tc
show that peace is threatened in South
Africa, and the emperor of Germany
has taken the lead in suggesting joint
steps to neutralize the danger of hostil
tiles. His plans are heartily Endorsed by
Austria and Russia, with the condition
al approval of France. Great Britain
will not be permitted to annex thu
J Transvaal or to destroy its independ
ence The remonstrances of the con
tinental powers will soon be presented
to Great Britain, and no doubt the.
will have the desired effect. 1t is of pc
litical as we'll as commercial importance
to Europe that the present political con
ditions in South Africa should be main
, tanned.
Whatever may have been the cause
|, and whatever may be the purposes o
this coalition, it is sufficient that it ex
lists and that it is stronger and more en-
thusiastic than the old alliance. Eve
Hungary has abated its old Maya
hatred of the Muscovite and HEARTH
Joins Austria i'll its new relations, an
Russia has sounded "a note of defiance t
Great Britain, not alone by the exten
sion of its railroad lines to the Afghan
frontier, but also by its sudden determi
nation to extend the Transcaucasia
road via Teheran, the Persian capital
to the Indian ocean, which will enabl
it in case of emergency or trouble o
any sort to have its troops on the lndl
: coast in a week.
5 The mere fact Of this new allianc
; must put Great Britain on guard. Grea
. Britain and France are natural allie
4 and ought to come together, as they al
in the Crimean war. Italy also shout
come into the alliance, as its interest
there would be a total population {
about los, 10000 as compared wit
about 1877 ,O00,000 in Germany, Au
tria- Hungary and Russia in Europe
Great Britain is somewhat short o
land forces but France has large al
my England has the most powerfr
navy in the world, France the mel
most powerful, and Italy the thirt
There has been a feeling of semihosti
ity between Italy and France wbic
drove the former over to Germany, bt
that feeling has largely disappeared
and as they are both Latin natiol
their union should not be Difficult
while as between Great Britain an
@ France there are blood ties dating wa
@ back to William the Conqueror. The a
q lance of France and Russia, despo
It ism and republic, was never natur
II one, but an alliance of Italy with Franc
IL G~oat p,itaip xpoull no natura