The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-31
THE CARS PROPOSITION.

II &c not too much 10 say that the
oroposition Of the Russian Emperor 10 the
o,her crowned heads OF Euorpc that they
shall dlsband their armies and reduce
ornaments 20 a peace footing IS the most
stunendous event Of the century since
the fail OF Napoleon Bonaparte. II was
o. ba oxpected that such proposition
would receive comments Of many kihas.
Naturally its good faith would be queS-
TONED. and somo would say with DIT
Charles Dixie that peace fooung ior
Pussia meant a million OF soldiers, while
a peace footing for France and Germany
together might not mean half that mum
her Others would say that hussia's
ability to borrow money was weli-nigh
exhausted, and that finding herself so
situated that she could not maintain
foreign war she wanted 70 reduce all the
other powers TO a state that would make
them unable 10 best her in foreign
war.
Cynical views OF tho situation such as
these. were inevitable. and many more
will crop up as the discussion proceeds.
For ourselves we are utterly unable 70
suggest an explanation. it is impossible
TO imagine anything more startling or
surprising than the Cars suggestions.
A clap Of thunder from a clear sky Is
nothing like so surprising, for We have
seen such things before. But nobody
ever heard Of a Russian Gar entertain
ing the thought OF q general disarma-
ment. for popular thought has always
connected Russian sovereignty and MILF
tary despotism as insoparab.e. IT IS hard
to believe that the Car IS sincere in his
present interest in the welfare Of the
human race, and yet it seems incredible
that a powerful sovereign such as he is
should have taken a step ike this one for
d theatrical play.
We have no idea that anything material
Is going to come cut Of tho move. few
years back the Now York Herald had q
number Of prominent Europeans inter-
viewed as TO the probability Of @ general
disarmament. and we were very much
struck with the answer Of one who said
that as long as there was an acre Of land
a loaf of bread. and one woman men
would be fighting.
France will say that she chershes the
hope that she may at some time be able
10 wrest from Germany her lost Prov
inces-Alsace and Lorraino-and that she
cannot think Of disarming unless Ger
many. in addition to disarming. will re-
store her provinces TO her.
England would DO very willing 10 cis-
band her military forces, for she has lit
tle more now than would be allowed her
as a force upon the peace footing bur
ghe would never agree TO dismante her
battleships. Tho rest Of Europe would
hardly agree 10 disarm leaving England
undisputed mistress OF the seas. though,
for that matter she Is such and Will.Te-
main such in spite OF all thatsah Of them
may do, singly or in combination. Ger
many wiz say that she cannot oisasm
while France remains armed and,
strange though it may seem, 1t IS very
questionable whether Inc majority OF inc
German people would look with favor
upon the disbanding Of the army. IL IS
an admirable school for Germanys young
men between the ages Of eighteen and
twenty-one. and the people Ike for their
sons 10 serve that length Of time at that
age in the army. 1T teaches them habits
OF obedience and restraint that exercise
a wholesome influence upon them in all
Of their after lives. it is questionable
il the youth of Germany could get as
good an education for the money out Of
the army as they get in 1t. The army
certainly has a stronger support amongst
the people in Germany than in any Other
country ana It IS by no means certain
that a proposition to disband 1t would DC
a popular one.
Just what IS going 10 be the outcome Of
the Cars proposition, therefore, II IS
hard to say, but we have no idea that
there is going to be any general disarni-
ament.