The evening times., 1899-04-24
Dutch Di.tru.t of Russia.

When the Cars proclamation first as
tonished the world, the idea 1t presented
was received in different ways. While
each government hastened to make courte-
Gus acknowledgment, for the Cars friend
struck by the moral beauty Of the peace
proposition and lamented that it was who'll
ly impracticable and others could hardly
conceal their contempt for a world with
out wars. Apparently nobody believed any
thing could come of 1t. The second circu-
lar was more hopeful. 1t was surely time,
in this inventive age, to place some new
limitation on the destructive agencies that
might be sanctioned Even dynamite had
not been successfully used, although there
were dynamite guns. but it was coaceiva-
BILE that some of the later explosives, per-
haps liquid air itself. might be adapted to
lOng-range guns and single shot destroy
a whole city or an army. This is not the
way the Car favored for reducing the size
of the European armies. After our expert
ence in Manila Bay and off Santiago. it
was apparent that the American armament
and gunners could do destruction enough
without new projectiles with more power
full explosives.
This second issue gave cause for hope
that the Peace Conference at The Hague
might accomplish something. Recently,
the condition in which Great Britain is
said to have found herself. made it i;npera-
tive that there should be an agreement by
which the standing armies could be dimin-
ished. She had no other way to adjust the
income and expenditure without adding
more to the burdens OF the people than they
could bear. There is hardly doubt that
her statesmen have been active in promOt-
ing the purpose of the conference. Now,
however, clash is threatened. because
gates a man of great force of character,
who is an ardent advocate of war. He does
not oppose an arrangement that will di-
minish the size of the armies. provided
Germany is allowed what she. herself,
thinks is a fair number of soldiers as COM
pared with these of other countries. But
there is a more serious obstacle in the way
of harmonious gathering. The Dutch are
slow 10 wrath. but they are still slower to
paclncatiOn. ney nave come 10 uOuUt Tue
sincerity of the Car. They regard the call
as intended to stop the enlargement Of other
armies. while Russia is rushing in an i'm
mense addition TO her own before the dele
gates assemble.
The probable explanation is that, while
the Car is sincere. his government is not
and never has been favorable TO what they
consider his sentimental scheme. HIS min
listers have probably represented to him
that Russas force was far below that Of
other European powers in relation to her
extent of territory and the comparative
Importance of her interests. It is undeni-
able that while the time is near for the
Peace delegates TO assemble, at the call OF
the Russian ruler. his own nation is rush
ing work on new warships and gathering
many recruits for the army. The Dutch in
Africa have not been invited to send rep
and this adds to the wrath
of those who are TO be the hosts to enter
tain the party. There is now a fear that
the commissioners will be coldly received
at The Hague. and their proceedings viewed
with distrust.