The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-21
France a Stumbling Block.

France a Stumbling Block.
Supposing, however. there were some
doubts on this point, think they would
be disposed of if it were made clear TO
the minds of European diplomats that
the question put before them is nothing
else than the existence of France.
In the sphere of colonial interests,
the French Republic blocks the way to
the expansion of the British Empire
and is met by the latter on every point
of the globe Were it not for France
the British diplomats would not care
a straw about Germany, so far have
they surpassed her in the race for colo
MES. But having to fight France, the
English are bound to conciliate Ger
many in the same manner as they late
ly pushed forward Italy in China. The
existence of France is now at stake,
the more so as Madagascar lies on the
way from South Africa to the East;
and we hope that Emperor William will
not repeat the mistakes OF Napoleon
III. England is playing with Germany
the same game as that played In the
former days by Bismarck, who endeav-
ored to hull the suspicious of the
French Emperor while the Iron Chan
cellor" was at work in the north and
| in the south of Prussia building up an
| empire. Napoleon was so short-sight-
ed that he even fought the battles of
England against Russia in the Crimea
and finally got his due. In the pres
ent case, England realizes plainly that
an assault on France, bringing her
within the sphere of English political
| combinations, would give the English
new vigor and colonial possessions and
| restore to Great Britain the political
| power which, according to some, is
| shifting to the West and to the East.
| Such an assault on France, however,
| no responsible politician of Germany
| and Russia would tolerate. When
say assault mean not only actual war
fare, but an attempt to crush by polit-
ical pressure the political power OF
France for English benefit as we'll
Were this to be allowed, the power OF
| resistance of the European Continent
to England's encroachments would be
diminished, and, in consequence, Ger
many's power would also be on the
wane; the great fleets of Germany are
things of the distant future.
Probable Combination of Powers.
. The immediate future holds a prob
ability of some combination of Powers
when the idea gains ground that th'
balance of power is disturbed, in thu
Indian Ocean and in the countries lyins
in it's vicinity, and that the growth o
the colonial military forces of Grea
Britain is standing menace to thu
{ whole world. Nobody can tell in wha
: direction the colonial regiments will b.
i sent next time, especially when Grea
t Britain is on the eve of developing he
J military resources at home.
:. At any rate, whatever the issue of tn
present campaign, whether it be favor
! able to England or not, all the attention
5 of the world Powers must be centere'
/ now on the Indian Ocean. Some actor
is imperative in this direction. Wha
S form this action shall take is a matte
Y of secondary interest.
a AS to the effect which the crimina
e campaign against the Transvaal ma
+ have on the English people themselve:
i 1 will say this: The good angel c
: England is flown away; Gladstone
r dead, quite dead, and now his country
e men are il the act of driving new an
: heavy nails into his coffin in order
d hold its lid well down.
l. VLADIMIR HOLMSTREM.
It P. 81 approve Mr.. Holmstrem
l. ideas on the subject of which he treat
RI PRINCE OOKHTOMSKY.