The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-23
THE IMMINENCE OF WAR.

Every once in about so often the peO-
pies of the respective sections of this
little world rise up and kill each other
off. The nation which survives a hun
bred years without a war is the excep-
ton. Countries founded upon the idea
of peace have regularly, in the course
of two or three generations, either
raised their hands against some other
power, Extensively or defensively, or
otherwise raised a row among their
own peoples. The result has always
been the same, the slaughter Of human
beings. Universal disarmament is the
only guaranty of continued peace. All
Europe is fearfully near the brink of
war. The causus belli are various But
behind it all is a long peace period and
the disposition Of mankind, from racial
hatreds and material interests to kill
each other off. France hates Germany
no less than Germany hates Russia,
which latter power is ready for any
thing. being especially anxious to join
France in either a bout with England
over the African affair, or in downing
the Triple Alliance. There is the Aus
trian, the Grecian and the Turkish sit
uation, full Of menace to the peace of
Europe, to say nothing of the Egyp-
tan, African and Chinese speculations.
Russia and Germany have already
fleets in the Yellow sea and on Thurs
day last England ordered her North
Atlantic fleet TO the same waters.
Whether To be ready to take a hand in
the Chinese situation or to swoop down
on Hawaii in the event of the United
States declining to annex those islands,
Is hard to guess. In the mean time,
Japan puts into commission one of the
most powerful naVies of modern times,
ready to join England in anything.
From the least expected source, from
the most insignificant circumstance
and at any moment the civilized world
may be plunged into war. Unquestiona-
bly, the situation is menacing and the
clouds of war hang low and heavy.
Prominent in all this array is the new
German empire and it's newer Kaiser.
Outside Of Italy, Austria and Turkey
the war lord Of Germany is without
friends or sympathizers among the
powers. But he has a splendid army,
and at its maximum. and his ambition
IS for war. its conquests and possible
glory. If France and Russia hate him,
no less does England. English papers
speak Of him as more or less Of a fool,
and occasionally they intimate that he
is insane. Rather strange expressions
when We consider the close relation
ship the Kaiser bears to the reigning
family Of Great Britain. John Bull is
always jealous, and cannot readily see
N s,4,
with his trade or makes commercial
advancement that harms the profits Of
English manufacturers. The Kaiser
has been most energetic in promoting
the material development of the Ger
man empire. Mulhan, the British sta
tistician, in the latest number of the
North American Review, tells us that
the industrial advancement Of Ger
many in the last twenty years has ex-
ceeded relatively that of any other
country in Europe. Her population has
increased from -. 80. 600 in 1875 to 81
$4,000 in 1895. The city population
grew from 100000 to 91S000o, an in
crease OF 96 per cent The working
power Of the nation has increased to
such an extent that two Germans now
do what three could do twenty years
ago. And SO the Kaisers brag is not
all wind. his bravery not all bragga-
docio.
If the present century. closes without
a war involving all Europe. and with
out clash between the United States
and Spain over Cuba. the world of OBJ
servant men viii be happily disap-
pointed. and the recold for long con-
tinued peace broken.