The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-09-03
WILL EUROPE DIsARMp

Il VI u SSAtuAy ANoSSio Ae&S hoN
very able ministries, and since the ad-
vent of Gortschakoff into power her d.
plomacy has been remarkably astute.
The Russian car dares to do what no
other European ruler has the courage
to attempt. No other ruler possesses
power so absolute. His dominions are
immense and, compact, and his subjects
are homogeneous in religious and po-
litical views. Solidarity Of the Slavic
peoples is the ruling idea. and is the
support Of Romanoff absolutism.
Russia is least dependent Of the Eu-
ropean nations, and is In position
where she can be less harmed by for
eign enemies. She is quite invulner-
able to attack on the land, except on
the side where Germany and Austro-
Hungary adjoin. The relations OF those
countries to each other are such as to
render combination improbable. and had
they the disposition to combine against
Russia they would be held in check by
the nations to the westward. in which
exist feelings OF hostility towards one
or both. The Balkan states are too
weak to be dangerous, and the Moslem
power in Europe is too far In the de-
cline to excite concern. If Austro- Hun
gary and Germany reduce their military
establishments, Russia would be as safe
as she now Is should she reduce hers in
the same proportion.
The direction of Russian ambition has
been changed. Formerly 1t was to pos
sess the Bosphorus and an outlet through
the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. In
attempts to accomplish this she has been
thwarted. Her ambition has turned her
efforts towards the east where there is
an immense population. which has been
rendered sluggish and effete through
twenty-five centuries Of non-progres-
sion. The four great nations Of Europe
are in struggle to control the COM
merce Of the countries on the thither
bank of the Indus, the countries lying
beyond the boundaries Of the Alexan-
drian empire. Russia's greatest ambi-
ton is to develop the resources Of her
Asatic dependencies and to extend her
trade with Eastern Asia and the islands
Of the Pacific.
Her most formidable rival for this
trade, and opponent to her Asian ag-
grandizement, is Great Britain. 1t is
the British navy, and not the British
army, that Russia fears. The propo-
sition of the car to reduce ornaments
applies to navies as well as armies.
Conceding that the car is sincere, it is
apparent also that his proposition is
clever, as it puts Great Britain in po-
sition where she cannot accept without
mperiling her supremacy upon the sea-
and consequently her Asiatic commerce,
and if she objects the car will have
gained the advantage Of having on his
side the moral influence Of the friends
of peace throughout the world.
1t would be an immense relief to the
overburdened peoples of Europe were
armies reduced to the dimensions of
considerable reduction will be regarded
as removing the props of heredity in
Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and
probably Denmark. In all these coun-
tries armies are relied on to keep the
masses in subsection. In Germany the
socialists have already become formd-
able in numbers, and the nineteen classes
of the population of the Austrian empire
are only held together by the pressure
of a vast army. Internal as we'll as
external conditions will weigh In decid-
ing upon the cars proposal to disarm.
Desirable as such a step may be, the
prospect that it will be Immediately
taken is by no means promising. 1t is
doubtful whether the proposition will be
considered so far as to consent to con-
gress to discuss it. Besides the general
obstacles to the success Of the measure,
| there are many intricacies in interna-
tional relations in Europe which are not
understood to any great extent by peo-
| pie outside of diplomatic circles and who
are not in the secrets of cabinets.
| Discussion of the subject will do more
good, and in time disposition may be
created on all hands and a way found
for avoiding the waste of human strength
| in forever being in readiness to engage
in wars destructiveness. and to sacri-
flee the happiness Of vast masses of peo-
pie to crafty the ambition Of the few.
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