The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-16
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 1e. 1900.
s INTERNATIONAL GoLD-BHIcK.

Z When we talk of foreign policy we are
apt to Imagine that the foreign policy of
nation is as fixed as the law of gravita-
ton. and is as far removed from all human
influence as any Of the forces of dynam:cs.
Yet, as matter pf fact the foreign policy
of nation is nothing blu: the concensus of
opinion among the leading statesmen, or
rather among the statesmen In power. as
to what is wssest for the nation to CO at
that time. and a statesman is, after all
only man, and as such is influenced by
the same causes as those which guide their
weaker brethren.
Now the statesmen of France. who re-
Gently yelled themselves hoarse with de-
light over the Franco-Russian alliance, are
beginning to ask with wonder and amaze
ment whether they have not bought gold
hr3ck. and If they have. whether the
French people Will not hold them response
BILE for il. The gold brick consists in this.
that after 1870. when Germany was so
rapidly consolidating under Bismarcl1s
masterful policy. France found herself ter
uably alone. and looked around for some
strong ally. 1t SO happened that Rus
STA, despite her enormous resources and
greatness. was heavily in debt, had e2-
plotted to the last every known means of
raising money for the lavish expenses of
an empire, whose chief characteristic from
a business standpoint is mal-administra-
ton. Minister after minister had issued
paper currency, and then recalled the is
SHE by substituting one rouble for three,
and still the rouble deprecated, and still
the Government was met each year with
naturally increasing deficit Why the
deficit was So great. and why it naturally
increased need not be discussed now, but
the fact is that il was 20 great that Rus
sian per cent. bonds were selling in Ber-
lin at a discount of &c per cent, and only
then in pitfully small quantities.
But the astute Slav saw goose with a
golden egg, rich beyond the dreams of
aHarice. and for that goose ne set his
snare. The goose was the French peo-
pie, who. driven by their hatred of the
Germans. their sense OF isolation, their
national pride and their e2citable fear of
betrayal. OF which the world saw SO bril-
liant an example in the Dreyfus sensa-
tion, proved an easy prey for the bandish-
ment Of the Russians. The golden egg
was the savings OF the poor French peas
antTy. and OF those savings the Russians
have managed to borrow sS65. 900 900.
This money has been used in Russia for
current expenses. for increasing the feet
and for building the TTans-Siberian Rail-
way. and all that France has gotten back
are deprecated bonds and interest.
In another column We print a letter from
foreign correspondent. which shows that
France Is beginning 10 wake up to the
situation existing between herself and
Russia. NJ. de Cassagnac points out. accord
ing to our correspondent. that economi-
caaly. as wei, as politically. Russia is
treating France as an enemy The French
say that Count Won Waldersee was ap-5
aooit,fed commander-in-chieI at Pektn
tArpuSh Russian influence. and to-day
Russia has raised the duties on French
xtnes 50 per cent. and-the French people are.
wondering wha. they paid those millions OF
s,ra,,,,,es for, and the Russians are wondering
wheflaer they will be able to find a golden
arr In China. now that the market for
aid bricks seems exhausted.
81 After ALL no nation ts secure against the
.cnaduf,ty and excitablity Of its leaders.
hen ,he nation, as a whole, Is Itself sub
t.ct 10 those characteristics. and France
Iii dnd sooner or later that valuable all
;,,.,,ces can only be bought with money. SO
.,.,e 4. the money holds out. lesson which
r.,,s,.,red the unready learned IN England
3.1csps thousand years aso wien ne made
ss.s... s...,.nra,ed compact with the then big
1870 ef me North.
== -;:=-;====
.-s suErkAGE IN t,oHTo RICO
Axtalssapn q nox being calisd BY thu
csnfs o ths recommendation q Sec
lseot that ability 70 read and write
~