The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-24
FnASoo-RussrAN ALLIANCE
The Freneh view and tho German or the
Meaning or the Cronatndt Declnrntien.

Meaning or the Cronstndt Deciarntieu.
PARIS, Sept. 5.-M. Felix Faure's voyage TO
Russia was in itself an unusual event. 1t
marked q drawing together, long thought UNI
likely, II not impossible. between the sovereign
who may DO looked upon us the very pcrsoninca-
ton OF absolutism and tho chief magistrate of
II republic which Will soon look back on an
existence Of thirty years. The imperial toast
that marked the last day Of our vessels stay in
tho bay OF Cronstndt has made OF IL u histori-
cal date and the starting point for an entirely
new policy. Tho alliance between Russia and
France was assurodly pcrceptiblc in tho events
that have occurred during the last few years,
but 1t had not been officially proclaimed. At
the very most only n moral bond held the two
countries together since they drew close to ono
another In that same bay Of Cronstadt six or
seven years ago. That bond was indirectly
acknowledged by the visit made to Paris by
tho new Muscovitc sovcreigns. In II all, never
thcless, IL was only the cordially Of the inter
national feeling that appeared as a rcttlcd fact.
There was nothing that indicated moro than
that excellent relations existed between the two
countries. There was nothing to show q politi.
eel union. a community Of interests. and of
point OF vicw.. IL Is different since tho toast
offered at tho breakfast on Aug. 90.
IhG toast, ~ should be Aoticed. was read, not
f mfiife force rSS ahS to oy det mStnS eIss.r N Hras sis 1G saTs e.
1t was therefore deliberately, and after weigh
ing the meaning OF every word he uttered. that
the Russian sovereign addressed his guest for
the first time as his ally. The word received
all the more Importance on that account. Every
one has understood that IL was uttered under
circumstances which gave 1t no ordinary politi-
cal meaning, and that it could not be takcn as
a new phase in the equilibrium OF Europe.
,b a,vsiT rgn ag,, hG dpls to. 6 si,r., Witness T. nj in io fact
what il was before. The idea Of selecting Tho
flagship OF the French fleet for the scene OF this
manifestation has an Importance and meaning
nt IN M mi NAV ha All TINT II hAa hRan
understood and felt Eeeniy at Berlin. The
Cronstadt toast accumulated in a. manner
ence between the reccp; ion given to the French
guest and that met with by the young German
Emperor a few hours before, as 1t were, in the
same waters from the same hosts.
William III. must have felt the contrast be-
because he had allowed himself to yield TO the
illusion that the r~esult:would be far different.
vac ha af e iSe s snU%n IN n, a b Tath min naive IN wa t %hat
where he went SO far as 10 place the Russian
army above the German. That was certainly
He must have regretted this fattery later, and
We may feel assured that he bears a grudge
STA. This feeling Of his is a point in the new
diplomatic situation that must not be lost sight
Of: The Prus.ian monarch, on entering public
ute power. The check he has received is The
ies" D m nS dfT % SUBMIT a so #. he Is therefore the
.Assuredly it is the intention. Of neither Rus
STA nor France to seek in the Transformation
thO POhtA a VI
Yet circumstances may arise which will dc:
that no one wishes. The position OF the hun
dreds Of thousands of Germans settled in Rus
STA Is the cause Of some apprehension. They
have not succeeded, 1t appears. in making them.
selves liked everywhere BY the people. and there
are fears Of conflicts which mutual ill-wil might
The essential idea Of the Franco-R Russian ALI.
ance Is, however, one OF general peace. and it
has been developed and strengthened during
the last years. Let us hope that the future will
bring only new guarantees to this IDEAL. Even
by some political SPECTATORS, all the nations OF
Europe sincerely desire that the future may
Of affairs. Doubtless a different thought must
have mingled with the enthusiastic celebra-
national impulse, we can aa" say, ~ greeted q the a P pros,
pect OF rehabilitation. But If the Russian ALI.
a nics opens out new vist1s be before us, it Ike
will be listened to-. Our country has now re-
gained the place il held among the powers
wisely prepared combinations Of diplomacy.
One point there is in what has been just &C.
complished, to which no one for the moment
seems to pay attention, though its consequences
even the international point of view which our
own situation has caused us to consider first
il hn See s . Of % seeen ID GsFi impor, q srs1 Mh oas cS Ss.
pared to the metanorphosis which must take
place in the progress and position of Russia
The spectacle OF the Russian people applaud
Ing the Marseillaise" and singing il alter
nateiy with the national hymn in its :enthuiasm
Is one which the boldest spectator would not
have dared to imagine a few years ago. Moth:
the Neva touched in any degree the prestige,
the authority ar the effective power OF the Gar.
1t is possible, on the contrary, that he may find
a new force in the events to which he has in a
manner thrown wide the gates. That will de-
pend on the consequences and the direction he
will give to the evolution so calamity brought
about in his traditional policy. One thing
Is certain even now. 1t will be an ac-
quircd gain. whatever course events may take.
The applause that greeted the 'Marseilaise
and the tri-color banner In the streets of st.
Petersburg has inaugurated a new era, and the
future alone can tell us what 1t has in store for