The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-26
Europe
VIII Not
Interfere

Wilhelm Liebnecht is the Charles
Stewart Parnell of German socialism
What he has to say in Judgment upon
and prophecy concerning our war with
Spain would, in any case, be Of great
interest, and the American reader win,
it is believed. struck by its clear In
sight into the status quo. bS inclined to
accept his predicted results as highly
probable.
"As war pure and simple. writes
Liebnecht "the Hispano-American
passage at arms plays no role at all In
the arena of universal politics Even
our stock spectators, whose nervous
ness is ever commensurate with their
ignorance Of international affairs, ap-
preciate that, for despite q variety Of
bearish maneuvers the money market
has remained firm. This state of affairs
is easily explained by the absolute cer-
tainty of the outcome. Two things are
clear as the light of day--in Ats contest
with the giant republic the 'proudest
and most orthodox monarchy Of Eu-
rope is as mouse matched against :
cat, and not one Of the European mon
archies will be quixotic enough TO enter
the lists against the giant plebeian TO
public and thus itself commit suicide.
1.-The threatened Intervention Of the
powers will be careful to remain ont
Of cannon range and will at best seek
to cover the certain defeat Of the synost
orthodox monarchy with a golden plas-
ter and endeavor to prevent the entire
collapse Of its rickety throne-if indeed
80 much be possible, which IL very
problematical and inconsequential. For
who would care were this 'proudest and
most orthodox Of all the European mon
archies' to collapse? Surely its fall were
well deserved.
"That this historic Nemesis seems
about to overtake woman Of relatively
sympathetic qualities and her helpless
child may, humanity speaking, seem
tragic, but in politics sentiment IL as
much out Of place as sentimentality.
Such catastrophe would by no means
be an adequate atonement for the i've
centuries of persistent crimes against
humanity and civilization Of which
this 'proudest and most orthodox mon
archy Of Europe has been guilty, nor
can q mere high school boy even have
occasion to lament the fact that in the
final accounting, when the times at last
are ripe for the inevitable catastrophe,
the relatively innocent must suffer for
or with the guilty-as the sins of his
SoxIo~c ~x,a~, ~y;s;<ad x,x>ov, kho hood ~
Louis XVI.
From this standpoint, repeat it,
| the Hispano-American war presents no
| novel aspect, and still it is about to
usher in q new era In international poll
tics; for hitherto the American repub-
lic has maintained steadfsst neutrality
in matters not involving the western
hemisphere. That policy is now of the
past.
"Since gaining it's national independs
ence through the successful issue Of the
Revolutionary war and It's commercial
Independence through the war of 1919
both against its mother oouutry-as q
| nation the United States has consistent
ly refrained from meddling in European
affairs, however intensely the generous
sympathies and resentments Of its peo-
| pie may at times have been aroused. In
the year 1848, to be sure, the nations
intervention for q time seemed immi-
nent; yet, in the end, the adoption Of
resolutions Of sympathetic encourages
ment was all the succor vouchsafed the
European revolutionists.
"But during the recent war between
China and Japan America for the first
time addressed words Of earnest warning
to the European powers When Russia
frustrated Japan's enjoyment Of thl
usufruct Of its victory by securing thu
connivance of Germany and Francs
with its interference Warrington issued
q proclamation which, without circum'
locution, entered most significant
protest, in which It affirmed that 10 al
European powers conjointly-even Eng
land included--a rcadjustment OF the
balance Of power in eastern Asia was q
less consequence than to herself.
"And now the United States hal
crossed the Rubicon of neutrality. TC
be sure, the casus belli was an Ameri
can one, but it is European power up
ON which they are experimenting witt
their new departure. Nor will this firs'
attempt remain the last. The beginning
having been made in the West Indies
the continuation Of this new policy will
most likely take place in eastern Asia
In America, as In England and in ia
pan, silent forces have been for yea
at work in behalf Of new 'drcibund,
and when it shall have become an ac
oomplished fact tho deathkmell viii
have been sounded over the traditional
international politics Of the great pow
ers' Of continental Europa "-Milwau'
keo Sentinel.