The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-09
BISMARCK ON THE ALLIANCE

BISMARCK ON THE ALLIANCE
Prince Bismarck may be justified in
maintaining an attitude Of skepticism
in the matter of the Franco-RuSsian
accord. The opinion of a statesman of
his experience is entitled to great weight
and the Iron Chancellor merely confirms
suspicious entertained by careful OBJ
servers in expressing doubts whether a
formal treaty Of alliance between
France and Russia exists. AS to the
ears employment of the words ''allied
nations" in referring to the relations be-
tween France and Russia, Prince Bis
marck recalls from his diplomatic eX-
perience similar obscure expressions
which were not unpleaSing TO the ears
of those they concerned" 1t is possi
! bic. however. that Prince Bismarck is
mistaken in speaking too lightly of the
alliance" and the submission of the
/ German government to the French
! premier's encouragement Of treason"
! in the reichsland would indicate that the
powers that be at Berlin have informa-
ton which cautions them to avoid tempt
ing a challenge from France by insist
ing upon an explanation of NJ. Meline'S
dispatch to the Alsace-Loraine society.
Whatever be the character of the ar
rangement between France and Russia,
and whether it be recorded in a treaty
or not, it has sufficed to restore TO Eu-
ropean politics the familiar aspect Of
the two decades succeeding 1871. The
French spectre has again become the
bugbear Of Germany and the German
semi-official press has been constrained
in its welcome of King Humbert, who
is the guest of the Kaiser at Homburg,
TO adopt the tone of former years and
descant upon the need of maintaining
the Triple Alliance. Prince Bismarck's
remarks on the situation created by the
Franco-Russian sOdality are sufficiently
apropos for quotation: 1.-The French pot
is moved nearer to the fire, and might
more easily than ever boil over. This !
ought to deliver our rulers of any il |
lusions they may still cherish, and warn |
them against altering the basis Of our |
national defense
The clamor of the Kaiser's servile en-
tourage for big feet, and colonies and |
the evolution of Germany into a
worlds power" is condemned by the
banished diplomatic giant and the race
of political pygmies, who imagined that
they could supersede him, are warned
that ''the most important thing for Ger
many is TO have strong army. That
was the opinion of Won Moltke. who
shared my conviction that we shall have
to fight upon the continent of Europe
battles which will be decisive for our
colonial dominions.' Willy-nilly the
Kaiser, who lately arrogated unto him.
self the role of ruler of the worlds des-
TIMES, who alternately bulled Japan
and Greece, encouraged the Sultan,
Great Britain in South At
RIGA and contemplated the purchase Of
the Danish West Indies in wanton de-
sire TO test the force of the Monroe doc
trine, has been bound to keep the peace
Dy the vision of the French nation re-
stored TO its former confidence in itself
and in its strength. This is one result
IF the Franco-RusSian entente which
cannot be explained away even by the
diplomatic finesSe of Prince Bismarck,
md which that statesman accepts as a
factor in continental poll
les.