Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-23

The present mortal attitude Of the
continental powers toward war
waged against one OF their number by
the United States Is. We think. correct
~ reported by tibet Russian journal
Novoe Vremya. The paper says that
IN such event Spain could count upon
the sympathy of Europe. II not active
~, at least in the way of CATEGORICAL
protests against President McKlnley's
course.
The reasons why are both special aud
general. In the first place, most of
the spanish debt is held in France and
by syndicates which are close to the
government, and are thus able to af-
rect public policy III matters that touch
the safety of their Investments What
ever Franco wants. Russia. of which
Novoe Vrcmya Is an official organ. is
disposed to favor, If 1t can do SO with
out vital sacrifices. Besides France
Austria has special reasons Cor he
friending Spain in that the queen
regent is daughter of Francis
Joseph
But interest in the welfare OF Spain
Is not the only factor upon which that
country may now depend. There IS also
the i'll VIII of commercial Europe to-
ward the United States. 1T is an verl.
well to talk OF traditional friendship
said the French premier to an Ameri-
can visitor some months ago. but
they do no; weigh against hostile tariff
policies" Germany was SO badly hurt
by the Dingley bill that she is now
wagng a war of reprisals. Italy and
Austria also hold II grievance against
the tariff, the character of which may
be inferred from the speech Of the Aus
trlan premier made some months ago.
wherein he said that Europe ought to
ggn1hinD AGAINST the TTnitaH Ctafag
the protection of its trade. When
these sentiments are massed with the
common detestation of the Monroe
doctrine abroad 1t is easy to see why
Spain finds friends In the present crisis
OF her fortunes and America little else
than cold disfavor.
But there are still other reasons. The
monarchies naturally stand together
against "A democracy whose influence
is leaveninE the politics of the world.
But for the success of the United States
there might now he no republic In pol
tiles save Switzerland, Andorra and
San Merino. Because of that success
there are twenty young republics, most
of them with constitutions modelled up
on ours and every monarchy save Rus
sin has been compelled to yield some-
thing To the doctrines they have spread.
Witness the continental parliaments
and suffrage. Moreover anarchy in
Spain socialism In Germany and nihil-
ism in Russia have their roots In the
spirit of opposition to kingcraft which
the true republic typifles. What can
be more natural than for the banded
soverelgns of the Old World to turn
against the source Of their misfortuncs?
The strongest Of them did SO during
our Civil War and might have gone to
extremes hut FOR the belief that the
United States would be destroyed from
within. For that they hoped and intri-
aad HHFAN ne haN Il hos
what may their approximations not be
now, when every year adds to our ma
tional wealth and strength, and to the
prestige of our government in the af-
fairs Of the world?
To attack Spain for cause that the
common sense Of Justice could find no
way to excuse would inevitably rouse
the passions Of dynastic Europe. We
could not count with safety upon
pause at Categorical protests" Flu
rope might go further; might inter
vene with arms. Certainly 1t would
States should begin to loom up as a
disturber of the peace. Since the time
of Napoleon, peace has been the object
the aim and the keynote of Eu-
ropean diplomacy. Time and again
other states have kept England and
Russia from war. and they are holding
France in the leash lest II should
attack Germany. Turkey maintains
its armed camp in Europe because Il
process of election would set the pow
ers at mutual throat-cutting. When
Greece broke the bonds of caution and
went to battle. Europe stood by and let
her be soundy punished ms an exam
pie to all other states. 1t is not to be
supposed that nations thus learued for
the worlds peace would look with In
dieffrence upon the rise Of n great mil
itnry power on this side of the ocean
which. for the sake of jingosm. or
through entrance to quarrel between
European kingdom and one of its
dependencies, or for a grievance that
might have been honorably settled by
diplomacy. should attack member OF
the Old World community and break
the peace OF the Mediterranean with
the thunder Of its hroadsides. The
rule of tranquility which Europe i'm
poses upon itself it is not likely to sus-
pend for the benefit of foreign re-
public which 1t fears, and dlslikes be-
cause OF that fear-San Francisco
Chronicle.