The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-13

is a living actually; not only every |
man in the armies and naV1es OF the |
great powers expects to take part per- |
Sonally, but every individual with any |
hold on life expects to be a witness.
This imminent war bids fair to in
volve all of the six great nations of |
Europe, a population of about $4,000, 900, |
of which about "A 100000 are capable of
bearing arms, possessing over 2,OO0,00O
tons of war vessels af1oat- In all this |
population there is a strong fire of pa
triotism, and efforts for putting forth
entire strength will be aroused by all
the great passions, ambition, hate, re
venge and fear of determination. The
war will be on a scale ncomparably
greater than any in the worlds history.
in Determining the historic rivalry of the
western nations and the equally historic
cy. The Franco-German struggle prom
ises to eliminate by irreparable disaster
to the vanquished,a s does also the French
English rivalry in African and Asiatic
colonization.
Asia will be decided forever in case of
British defeat, and will be determined for
defeSt. years to come IN case OF russian
But there is. a more far-reaching issue
Slavonic race, the last Aryan race, tina
has arisen in Asia and eastern Europe, is
lively much more formidable than any of
the Aryan waves of the past. all of which
the waves that had gone before and in
overthrowing a higher but less rugged
Recent foresight has led the Russian to
cultivate the friendship of France, and
among the western nations has been taken
awe 6er %edg anq home at tRe
when France also attacks the other ma
lions. The wedge would be driven home
indeed by Franco-Russian victory, for
France left alone would be powerless be-
issue i invoiVes not only the perpetGation
pire and of the central continental pow
European
soil. It will determine whether the west
ern civilization, like the high civilizations
of the past, has lost the ruggedness adapt
ed to and necessary in this rugged world
of
Lieutenant Hobson says in conclusion:
On examining further into the events
to follow the fulfillment of the aggressors
easily, as. just Indicated, or by one Of the
other probable ways previously discussed,
the situation takes on an awful aspect.
How. would the spoils of three condiments
be divided by France and Russia?
80 10000 that of Russia more than 27.Oo0,-
900. The French population has been in
| (from 1876 to 1S91) at the mean average an
| popula ton has been increasing over a
lapse of twenty years from 1867 to 1850 at
| cent The Russian population is thus
nearly three and one-fourth times as large
| as the French and is Increasing four times
as rapidly. During the last fifteen years
| the rate of increase in France has been on
| 1876 to 665 in 1891 At the latter rate Rus
! sian increase is twenty-thr times as
| great.)
French temperament is and long has
| been strongly opposed to colonization.
| The Frenchman who leaves France usual
| ly returns. France does not care for large
| increase in colonial territory,and would be
| territory While Russia is steadily expand
| ing at rate not approached by Rome
when she was advancing to her conquest
| of the world.
For the coming war passion dominates
! in the bosom of the Frenchman, who is
| looking for revenge; ambition animates
the Russian who is looking to the extern
that that to Russia Would fall the vast territory
on two if not three continents
| If Italy should sit at the feast of vic
tory, which she may do, she would be sat
istied and well pleased with "a a COMPARE pa
| modest part of the territory now belong
| ing to Austria and some territory in AT
After the feast France and Italy would
| perceive that they had waged the frari-
| ready, inevitably, after a short respite.
| to swallow them also, both at time, or
TO check this somber onward rush of
| events, there are no means on which much
| edy, the dissolution of the dual alliance
| ed on complete community of immediate
interests. is come to stay, and IS grow W
| day. Only disastrous war, realized or i'm
| minently threatening, can dissolve it.
No combina ton in Europe without Great
| Britain's sea power could threaten in
! fiict such war. This sea power at the
|
the opportunity is rapidly passing away.
| There is scarcely a shadow of hope that
there is but the barest hope that she will
| throw her, power into the triple alliance
itself from the very nature of its exclus-
lively defensive compact, cannot, while the
i've and insure the later Joining Of the
British sea power in the event of adversely.
Great Britain, and the necessity is urgent
| for her immediate action. Each day sees
no mill i1rr in 7TaT1 nd
nearing completion. Fifteen months hence
the preponderance of power will have
ance will be beyond the possibility of disso-
luton; the one Opportunity of saving her
quence of this ALLIANCES, will have passed
| the day of her greatest exposure to a
| stronger, aggressive enemy; each day will
the refuge of the triple alliance; each day
will render more inevitable the deSertiOn
| of Italy and her passing over to the en-
| envy.
If self-sufffciency or conservatism, or
want OF senIiig;htenment or Of foresight, or
| bined, cause Great Britain to neglect the
and in the worlds history; if she fails
! soon to throw her fleets against the enc
| is stronger and while the enemy could be
| disin tegrated, leaving the enemy to choose
! dissoiubIy united. and if she fails also to
/ adopt the less desirable but only other al
alliance in time for acceptance and in
| time to save Italy, thus leaving the road
clear for the plans of the great aggressive
| alliance, then may heaven prepare to come
! down on earth to work miracles by the
hands of men,, may host of guardian
| angels hover close over freedom and civ
| ilization as they tremble in the lands
/ of their birth.
In another article several years ago
| Lieutenant Hobson maintained that the
| armor on warships should be carried lower
| on the hulls to protect the vessels when
rolling in a heavy sea, and his suggestion
| has been adopted.
DR.. Larabee Dead.