The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-23

to prove a bar to Russia's natural ten
dency to Rain a firm foothold on the
Pacific inc to secure forever an all
year-open outlet on the ocean for her
Siberian railroad. yet. being still ac-
tuated by her old suspicious OF Rus
sia's designs on India, England APP
pears blind to the fac Of . new and
powerful antagonist having arisen at
her very elbow, as IL were. Truly.
whom M gods would destroy they
first maxi blind.
Ever since her political consolida-
ton Germany mas strengthened and
solidiied her manufactures-steadily
| treading the path toward supremacy
In that field over all foreign COMPETE
tion. At the present time Germany's
model manufactures In nan ways
defy competition, while she q extend
ed her net OF commercial ~afnlations
all over h world. has acquired large
colonies. and Is now bent on building
up a powerful fleet. Already the note
OF Germany's supremacy on the reas
is sounded by the irrepressible German
emperor and In that field she Is sure
to come into conflict with England.
Nowhere is this more evident than on
the Balkan peninsula. where England's
influence was once paramount. While
England was chasing there. as else
where, the ghost of Russia's antagon-
ism. and thereby alternating Russia's
public opinion. Germany has steadily
~entrenched herself In Turkey. having
k complete posses sion OF that pow
err. Turkeys army now IL oficered
by German commanders. Turkeys rail-
ways are built by German capital, Tur-
kish bazars are tocke full Of Ger
man wares. even the Turkish mall 10
ready to fall under German manage
ment. England win never be able to
reconquer what she has OF late lost
in hat ~region-and the same thing Ia
apt to be repeated In China Neither
Russia. which pursues quite different
interests In that part Of the world;
neither France. nor the United States.
with her newly born colonial tenden-
cies. presents any danger to England
in the far East. Her only antagonist
and enemy there Is Germany, and this
comes from the ~self-evident fact that
powers aims and interests are identi-
cal with those of England.
Were Russia to seize China to-mor-
row that country would remain Just
as open to products Of English manu-
features and would present just as
promising a field for the placing of
English capital for Russia's manufac-
lures are far from being extensive n
her capital is far from sufficient to
meet the requirement of China's vast
fields. But II. on the other hand, II
NC Ntlt Wei ~ slCoid aih q
firm hold on China, then, indeed. Eng
land wou have to say goodbye for
ever to all hope OF gaining markets In
that direction. And rs II is there so
IL is everywhere. Germany aim to
become the natural heir to England's
commercial supremacy. and possibly
she Will not fall far short of her aim.
This fact just begins to be appreciated
in England: IL il wen to be supposed
that this is what spurs England on In
her seeking the friendship of the Unit
ed States. Therefore, since the antag-
onlsm of France to Germany Is a well
established fact, and since Russia is
the ally of France, were Germany to
pursue the policy ~inaugurated by her
In the course of the Spanish-American
war and recklessly rush into a conflict
with the United States. IL is just pos
sible that Germany might find herself
one day facing a coalition of four great
powers.
Even were such a coalition to re-
main in the realms of fancy. still the
rivalry of England with Germany Is
bound to reach a serious phase in the
neal future. n then perhaps the En-
glish will realize at last h necessity
for cu~ltivsting the friendship of Rus
sia-a thing that is even now advocat-
ed by a great many far-seeing people.
1t is true that the question as to wheth-
err England's or Germany's supremacy
should predominant is of no vital i'm
port TO Russia; still, upon the whole.
the Russians have more reasons to
wish success to the former, since Ger
many is their nearest neighbor and the
masterful ways assumed by her since
1870 make her excessive development
rather undesirable to Russia. Again,
there is a certain part of Europe where
the Slavonian element of the popula-
/ tiOn oOnaaa In dfracf conflict with tho
local German element n where the
struggle for supremacy between the
two races gets sharper with every
year; and as the Slavs everywhere re-
ly on the support of Russia, Just as
the Germans do on that OF Germany.
II is clearly not in the interests OF
Russia to have Germany's prestige in
creased. Neither an-Germanism nor
pan-Slavonlsm has spoken h last
word.
And now let us ask with which are
the United States more likely to side?
VIII it be with England or with Ger
many? 1t would risky to attempt to
answer this question just now. We have
witnessed the attempts Of England
to draw the United States to herself:
we have also seen how Germany mas
repulsed the new great power by her
actions. Will this go on in the same
way further on? Will a formal ALI
ance be concluded between the United
States and England? Will a decided
rupture IKE place between h Amer
leans and Germans?
mo matter on which side the United
States will be found eventually, that
country cannot but profit by the rival
~ of these two great powers And the
sharper the rivalry between the Euro
pean nations the greater their mutual
exhaustion in their unceasing struggle
the greater, relatively as well as pos
itively-will grow the power OF the
great transatlantic republic. provided
she has sufficient wisdom not to take
part in the struggle herself. Many
have been the predictions as to the
coming greatness OF the United States.
and now is a fair chance Of their prov
ing true. The balance OF power may
be thrust in Americas hands. and II
will depend on her alone how she ac-