Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-10-05

The alliance between France and Russil
is clearly ono of opposition to England
| Russia is a traditional foe of the island
and for centuries has looked upon the ag
gressive policy of the English with ill
disgusted enmlty, and on several oooa'
sions has attempted to revenge herself
she French and English, as nations, have
never mixed much better than oil and
water, and their armies are ready to cross
swords at any time should a favorable
opportunity offer. The "Dreibund" OF
Germany, Italy, and Austria is certainly
anything but cordial in its regard for
England. The head of this trio of ma
tions, Germany, through the emperor, is
almost Ill open enemy. Italy, if left to
itself, out of some feeling of gratitude
for help rendered in the past, would un-
doubtedly be disposed to look upon the
English as friendly power, but the little
peninsula cuts very small figure in the
affairs of nations as they are managed by
the tr1umvirate of which it is member
In fact England cannot lay claim to the
friendship of single power on the other
side of the water. So far as the United
States is concerned the distance ia too
great, and to be honest about it the
Americans, as nation, are not as warm
in their regard for the mother country
as they might be. And this feeling is
somewhat strange when the thoroughly
cosmopolitan character of the population
is considered. When all of these condi-
tions are understood it is not difficult to
see that England is compelled to stand
alone and look after her own affairs
without the possible hope of assistance
from any of the great powers of the
world should trouble arise.
And after all, looking at the matter
from an unbiased standpoint, is it not
better for the safety of the British en-
pire that such is the case. There are no
embarrassing entapglements to be
watched; no fears from unexpected
troubles arising through the quarrels of
other governments; and no fencing is
required to keep some apparently friend
ly nation from deserting at critical nc
ment.
There is no questioning the fact that
England is mistress of the seas and holds
by far the greatest number of strstagetic
points ON the various coasts of the world
which are fortified to impregnability.
Her standing army is not nearly SO large
as those of the other European powers,
but the reserves are capable of rapid
concentration and massing, and 80 far as
force to maintain her position as it now
stands is concerned she is amply equip
ped. In order to maintain that position
without recourse to arms in the present
state of isolation it Is only necessary to
let the brolls of the other powers alone,
there is no necessity for an alliance with
any other country
So much cannot be said of single
continental nation, except perhaps, Rus
sia. Germany has lost much of her pres
tlge since the death of the present kai-
ser's father, and is the subject of con-
jeoture among the statesmen of the world
how much longer the German states can
be held together. Austria has for many
years been on the offensive, and is very
careful to allow her big 'neighbor on the
north do all the aggressive work, while
Italy, the third member of the "Driebund"
is only a remlniscence of once mighty
nation. France is constantly counting an
alliance with some great country, and
has not yet fully recovered from spell
of Mysteries over the sealing of compact
with Russia. The smaller kingdoms and
republics of Europe are only sure of ex-
istenoe so long as the jealousies of the
great prevent their disruption and alb
sorption.
England is safe in her isolation. There
is only one combination of powers that
could possibly cause her harm-that OF
Germany, Russia, and Franoe-and the
| possibility of such an alliance is too re-
mote to be looked upon as practical
possibility.
The isolation of England and America
is much alike, and the people of both
lands are to he congratulated that they
are thus free to work out their own des-
TIMES without any fears of interruption
power.