New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-28

SOURCES OF DANGER
Among possible sources of danger, one must
not rorget TO mention the state Of the European
dominions of Turkey. Macedonia is a powder
magazine, from which the efforts of the Russian
and Austrian governments have for the last few
years succeeded in keeping all matches at
distance Nevertheless. the powder is there
and spark might ignite it, There is Marty
in Bulgaria anxious TO rouse an instruction in
Macedonia; and 1t need not be said that the de-
testable Turkish administration always fur
nishes ample grounds for instruction In these
Macedonian provinces the Servian and BuIga-
rian elements bitterly hostile so that anv
rising might probably draw in servia and Bull
garla anc light confagration involving all
southeastern Europe.
Thus, in the midst Of a war which though
Maseo Iar away from Europe excites all Eu-
iOPS' anu Win new preparations for war active
y uSodIeu IN TWO great States. and with the
minds or all the nations TREMENDOUSLY ouiyerinp
10 runors or further troubles, the century draws
10 IT'S end Its Aast year is indeed not so terrible
as were those with which the eirbtaantb 80 90
fury closed for then Europe itself and tba seas
all around ii. were the scene of a sarg,iro-T,
CONNECT In the end Of 1899 even the sn0wfeJds
OF the Alps were dyed with French and Russian
blood But a hundred years ago there was one
ground or hope on which the eve of the philo-
sophie optimist might have been fixed The
French Revolution and the terrible struggle
Whlch Followed 1t might well seem a necessary
part OF the passage from the old state of things
when monarchs played at war for their own
pleasure and liberty scarcely known on the
european Continent, to a and better settle
ment or the world. in which nations controlling
their own destinies through popular rovern
ments, should recognize that peace was their
highest interest and live side by side unaruaed
SOME GREAT GAINS
This hope was so far realized that free con
situations have now been established in coun
tries which formerly groaned under TYRANNY.
and the principle Of Matchmaking has been wide
", II not universally recognized Tho ,,,i+-- -
Italy and Germany. the emancipation of Greece
Servia- Bulgaria, Montenegro, are gains to be
grateful for. Indeed. the struggles for liberty
and nationality almost beginning to be for
gotten by the new generation, which has no
such enthusiasm for these principles as men
had forty years ago. But the harvest of peace
and goodwill which liberty and nationality were
expected to bear has not come. Popular gov
ernments seem just as ready to engage in war
the old monarches were. The press. which
expected to promote peace by making ma
lions know one another better too frequently
its power TO assail neighbor peoples to
vaunt the greatness of its readers and to spur
the masses on to strife. The laudable pride of
a people is easily turned by these stimulants
TO arrogance; and patriotism is supposed to con-
sist in the desire TO assert the national power
and extend the national dominiOns on all oc-
casions This, which the temper of France
after the Revolution a century ago, has become
a temper widely spread through Europe-indeed
through the civilized world. So, in spite Of the
immense progress which has been made in mans
knowledge Of nature anC in his power over her
il may well be doubted whether the moral prog
ress of the world affords grounds for like
satisfaction.