New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15
THE NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
FRANCE AS THE LEADER OF THE
LATIN RACES.

EUROPE FEARS SHifIl Of EAlSllNG
u1JaNCEs-CAUsEs OF THE ITALIAN
REvoLT-HOPEs OF A SHORT WAR
-IIQUEFY1NG HYDROGEN.
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
London. May 14.-Public attention is CEN
red upon the nlaneuvres Of a small but fast
md powerful fleet against stronger but scat
,Ared squedrons, whose speed is that of their
lowest ships Every naval expert has his
.hsorv respecting Admiral Cerverass objective
oint whether il be San Juan. Santiago Ha-
yona or Key West. but conjectures require no
,..ention when news OF a decisive battle for the
.unrannacy in the West Indian waters may come
@. any hour. Criticism after the event will be
,oore informing than futile guesswork based on
individual capacity for naval strategy. The
chief lesson Of the week. with daily broadsides
n, war information. is that the Spanish Gov
eminent has a brilliant talent for keeping its
secrets misleading the American press and
making war in the dark 1t Is we'll served by
ifs secret agents in the West Indies and in
America and by its abs dilute control AZ home Of
press and telegraph has succeeded in concealing
the real l.ne Of operations Of its fighting squad
ron.
One point on which there is general agree
nen; is that the appearance of Spanish feet
In the West Indies is a sign that the war will
be shortened. II the squadron obtains some
temporary success by attacking inferior force
OF blockading vessels off Cuba menacing Key
West. the Spanish Government will have bet
ter chance OF recoEciling the public at home 20
the negotiation OF peace Spanish hcror having
been saved II the Spanish fleet be disabled or
destroyed the continuance Of hopeless strug-
gle will be out Of the question. and European
Madrid against battling with the inevitable.
Whatever may happen In West Indian waters
will send up Spanish As by promoting the
chances Of peace and with the terrible signs Of
social unrest and organized revolt against the
Government and law in Italy this result will
be welcomed with a feeling OF relief throughout
Europe The Italian revolt is regarded in Eng
land as a movement almost as mysterious as
the struggle from darkness to light Wit
ressed in 1S4S. Tne agitation for cheap bread
is not attributed TO wheat speculation in Amer
lea. nor 70 the exhaustion OF the worlds re-
served stock Of food supplies; 1t IL described as
a movement partly Socialistic. partly religious
partly sectional but wholly inspired by discon-
tent with existing political conditions, by which
the masses are overwhelmed with taxation and
poverty
Socialist organizations are known to have been
making great headway during recent years In
Northern Italy. and the Clerical party is charged
with encouraging the movement The main
weight of taxation has fallen upon the northern
provinces which have become dissatisfied with
the costly policy Of arnaments and the results
Of the uniiicat.on Of Italy. Every traveller who
spends the winter in Italy returns with the con-
victfen that II is a sef-centred country. igno-
rant of what is going on in the world and wholly
engrossed with It's own misery and with the re-
ligious controversy over the re-estabnshment OF
the temporal power Of the Vatican. That the
American attack upon another decaying mon
archical State has been the signal for an anti
monarchical movement in Italy Is an assuinp-
tion which cannot be reconciled with the inoii-
ference OF the people to what IS happening
abroad; 1t is more reasonable 70 believe that the
Italian mobs have been starved and taxed into
disaffection until they are ready to hght the
troops In the streets
The Ministers are afraid to let the truth be
known. and have recourse to stern measures OF
renression. The most ominous signs the
wide diffusion Of revolutionary ideas among the
poor. who are armed only with the courage OF
dasnair. and the incapacity Of the governing
classes TO consider grievances until the only
method Of meeting them is by bayonet charges
Apart from the apprehension caused by the
democratic revolt
bread as the war cry. there is a clear perception
here OF the truth that the forces OF Europe are
now in process Of Encouragement France is as
surning the leadership OF the Latin races. sym
pathizing with the Italian Government In us
hour OF fiery trial and openly favoring Spain at
Martinique in defiance Of neutrality and iend-
ing money to the Madrid Government Ihe
Triple Alliance IS well-nigh shattered when Italy
Is honeycombed with socialisuc discohteh'.
France, with Russia in alliance Italy Drawn
toward her and Spain dependent upon ner' iooihs
UP with new resources Of power and pTesuse
Lord Salisbury is quick TO perceive ner IN
creased Importance. for he has appaheo 'he
well-fed London bankers with an oIninous u'S-
play OF pessnsm. and has reopened the pie''
discussion OF the questions at issue IN boussa
and the Lagos Hnterland. NO Minister uhieS'
Il be Mr. Chamberlain, seems to kno" "het'ei
there is really ground FOR hgnung i" "e.'
Africa bu, every diplomatic expert understands
clearly that French ascendancy ahohs e
Latin races. with a disturbing Of the Triple Al
lance. will carry Germany towaro Ehe'anu anu
the AnpIo-saxon side What Is unmistakabie Is
the fact that Europe is profoundly anecteo oy
American Intervention in Cuba and the Phihp-
nine. md nv the evidence that its own security
depends unon an uninterrupted cheap food sup
ply from the United States. SO great Is the
area OF disturbance L1at the Continent oes"eS
TO have the war brought 20 an end as quicKi! hS
possible for its own peace OF mind peiore Ill
existing diplomatic combinations are sha''e'e''
The Liberals have won In South Norfolk the
most notable victory since the generai eieo
tons: at least thousand Unonists have turned
around. Many explanations are offered for the
Tory overturn. but the most satisfactory one
Is that with a gradual disappearance or the
Home Rule question. oldtime political coho'-
tions are restored and Liberalism regains the