The record-union., 1898-02-12
OUTLOOK FOR WAR.

S. G. Crouch says in "Gunton's Mag
azine'' that the peace period has been
exhausted in Europe. This is in ac-
cord with the theory of bluff old Ben
Butler, when he prophesied war on the
ground that peace intervals are very
strictly limited as to average duration.
Mr.. Crouch may be very nearly prophet
ic, though it needs just now no prophet
to hint that Europe is in danger of war.
The most recent dispatches clearly in
dicate an unrest that may bring on
war soon. England views with alarm
the threat preparations of Russia for
advance southwark towards the India
frontier Austria Hungary is liable to
domestic turbulence that may mean
breaking up of the Empire. A rupture
of the triple alliance is expected in
every court of Europe; the movement
of Russia and Germany in the Orient
will certainly force England to side
with the protest Japan is certain to
enter and that will mean war.
France is assuredly trespassing upon
what England has considered as her
preserve, the upper Nile region. Rus
sia has shown the teeth of the bear
menacingly to the Turk in the emphat-
ic declaration that Prince George must
be accepted as Governor Of Crete
whether the followers of the Prophet
like it or not. The distinct, unconcealed
hatred of the Germans by the Russian
Slav is pushing on the Car to a point
Of offensive conduct that threatens a
rupture of friendly relations between
Germany and Russia.
There is not one of the Slav States
to-day, nor one of the Asia Minor
provinces that is not ready to engage
in revolutionary movement if the Pow
ers set at each other and become so
engaged as to be unable to prevent re-
volt against the Turk, and unable to
ize more thoroughly the States of Tur
key in Europe.
France may be said to be anxious for
a war simply for the exercise Of the
q
Power, she issa military force, a nation
of soldiers, and when the melee begins
will be potential force in it for mar
tial glory, if for nothing else. The
born of the Wrestling Of Alsace and
Lorraine from France is, we are as
sured by close observers on the ground,
stronger and more menacing to-day
than at any previous period. 1t
is not vulgarly manifest, nor blatant,
but it is more intense and deadly.
So with the seizures and occupations
on the Chinese Coast, the appeal of the
Korean King, the war preparation of
Japan, and the French aggressions in the
great bay of Tonquin, we may conclude
with Mr.. Crouch for the reasons he
gives, and those herein added, that a
great war is not only possible but that
its nearness is probable, and that when
it breaks it will prove to be one of the
most disastrous and gigantic known to
the worlds history.
Nine. Sarah Grand is still battling
with the critics who will not understand
her Beth Book" as she intended it to
be understood She says in a recent
letter: Il know I ought to be crushed,
of course; but there is something within
me that won't be crushed; it will be
heard and will rise up" All of which
is bad for the author of the Beth
Book" We believe she is right; that
she has been misunderstood, and in
some quarters purposely. But what is
the use, Sarah? The sooner you cease
protesting, the sooner the things said
against your work will be forgotten
The average critic, having rendered
judgment, will not reverse il or even
modify it. Even when disposed to cor
rect his error the newspaper publisher,
as rule, forbids the critic doing so un-
der the silly notion that newspaper
must never confess itself in error, be-
cause 1t would be sign Of weakness, -
and tend to lessen confidence in
the judgment of the paper What folly
-as If publishing a newspaper renders
mans judgment infallible or lifts him
one whit out Of the line Of liability to
err.