, 1898-08-31
TIE BROSsELS CONFERENCE.
(Chsrcb Family Neospopar.)

1t is quite clear that any international
conference on tbs question Of sugAr bountieN
10 disappointing and unAvNiling, aud in thus
respect the great Sugar Question resembles
the great Silver Question The Brussels
Conference, however, is not without its uses.
We know now that France and l<uasi are
the only nations IN Europe who stan m
the way Of the abolition Of Ill bounties on
sug ~. Austrl"-H Hungary aud Germany were
perfectly ready to % operate in the demand
TO tnd some new departure, but the French
ana Russian delegates persisted in thoir
refusal. The Conference. therefore, for oil
lntenta and purposes 10 at all end. LORD
Salisbury. however, in his instructions 20
the British delegates. gave q very broad
mint shat Che RESOURCES If civilization arU
not exhausted. her Mniesty's Govern.
ment." he remarks, sincerely trust that the
result OF the deliberations at Brussels may
relieve chem from the necessity OF pro.
scouting any ~uIterlOr measures which might
be renderei necessary, especially in regard
90 ths British colonies, IL the system of
bounties should still be returned 2" This is
olsar notice 20 al Instructors on the Uonki.
nent that Engla ID does not intend to allow
her sugar.gr0wing interests to be al the
mercy Of France and Russia. There 10 no
reason why, In concert with the other Oon.
Ginental Powers, we may not enter into
some alliance against tue entry Of bounty
fed sugar into markets other than those OF
France and Russia. Ii not prohibited they
might be made temporarily subject 10 u
opumteryAiling duty. Vhero is no rea son
why this country should not sigA such Il
convention, and, after it hal been in opera
ton FOX some time, Il lssia and France woul
Hn1 tho mo, kora Son fI,ojr nvn Awnok; III
closed. Whilst thu principles OF FREQ Trade
might be- i~nfringed for u short time wo hare
no dolbt that in the enl the struggle would
result i'll Il longer extension of free YChdo
action with regard to sugar.
The death Of Prince Bismarck has followed
closely on the death Of MIR. Gladstone. Both
had curio i>Iy enough, retired from their
sphere OF active politics before death. The
prodigiouS achievement Of Bism0rk's life was
frat the gradual ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Prussia,
and finally the formation OF the German
Empire with a member of the House Of uo.
heuzollern on the throne. To this he devot-
ed his life, and in doing SO trained and per-
foctSd perhaps the greatest political mind OF
the Century. 1t is not too much to soy that
thu great German Chancellor in his day out.
witted and defeated with their own weapons
every great diplomatist in Europe. No one oan
forget the dexterity with which he neutrsIiz.
ed both Russia aud France, whilst he direct
ed the whole military fOloo of Prussia Against
Austria in 1886. When the seven weeks
campaign was over England discovered that
Prussia had become u great Power with Italy
for an ally, while Bismarck had successfully
jockeyed Napoleon III, IN the proceAs. Agalu
the best proof Of Bismarck's foresight was
the unexpected union Of all the German
States in the war with France. Here tho
best informed Frsnchmen were entirely mis-
taken. They believed Prussia would be
their only foe. Whether the Iron States
man did not demand and take TOO heavy q
price for peace is another question which
only Che future can decide. The formation
OF the Triple Alliance was another tlemen-
dous' stroke of policy, and the part which Bis.
m0rok took In the Congress of Berlin after
the Russo. Turkish war was a similar instance
of the mastery diplamocy of tire Chancellor.
It was impossible for him to e~o-exist in Ger
mar politics withthe present Emperor, aud
the rupture was short, sharp and decisive;
but ia the hearts Of the German nation be
will always live as the great designer of Ger.
nan gnityy and as q statesman who left his
country strong in arms and Formidable
alliances.