The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1901-05-02
A CONTINENTAL UNION.


There have been SOME changes IN
the mutual relations II the eentin-
entail powers ~ Europe since the
r,rancc-Gegman war that should al
he grouped together and contemplate
"a IN the mass In order 60 understand
their fuW Significance. aud the im-
portancc 80 the revolution in Europe
as q whole which has taken place.
Before Germany crushed the Sec
ond empire. France and ENGLAND had
been auiss Tor quarter OF a cen
tury. hut the latter impotentlv or
sninshly watched the collapse g
France without uslng anything mon
than soft words &c helm her. The
fact convinced every power IN Eur
ope that Great Britain vas II little
concern thereafter in purely eontin-
entail Affairs hows0ever great a ftH=
ure she might cut upon the seas ana
in colonial matters. Al immediately
looked 60 securing friends on the
continent e. guard them from future
dangers. bismarck brought about
the triple alliance as a protection
awainst possiblc French reveuss,
rersuadlng Ausuta-fiungaFF that
she needed tfisa1 against Russian
nmbitlon in the raikans. AMI eaere-
inR italy BY threat b bring about
a concert In the iatesest af the pope.
l}nt Inv chancellor. M the same time,
game 60 an understanding With Rus
sia which assured The latter that the
hapsburw connection was IN NJ way
tniuleal 20 her immediate ambitions
France was lefg cut IN the cold with
out a friend. and when England &c
cupied Egypt. could nnd no voice 70
second hers In demanding a retreat
from the Nile valley.
Bismarcks scheme to isolate
France was completely successful.
and the latter vas placed IN a posi-
tion where any movement 10 reeoV-
er her lost provinces would have
been suicidal. Eventually came her
alliance with Russia. which vas AZ
nrst greeted by the world as men
ace To- Germany. II really crowned
TIA long Efforts ef Bismarck to IN
sure beyond al danger the security
OF peace on the Rhine. although e
happened after his death. While Il
guaranteed France against the at
tack from Germany. Il vas effected
with the entire goodwill = Germany.
Tor Il also guaranteed her against an
attack from France. Russia e0uli
not afford 70 see either of her friends
attack the other. This achievement
secured peace throughout Europe.
end the ambitions q the powers
were turned 20 colonial and CONNER.
csal directions.
IN course 81 tiue. Germany having
M further fears Of her Rhenish bord-
err. ard italy having discovered the
folly - her suspieions against her
republican neighbor. there was left
NJ reason why France and italy
should keep up the commercial tariff
war which had grown out - their
political suspicious. and We have
seen within a few weeks the affair a.
T0ulon- IN which Russia. Italy ana
France have embraced one another
with the cordially Of old friends met
again after long years Of estrangs-
ment Russia. in the meantime. aft
er the close u tfrr last Greeo-Turiish
war made an arrangement with
Austria for the division q their
spheres % influence In the Balkans.
and thus removed al the occasion Of
Hapsburg fears IN that direction.
Thus. we now have the triple ALT
ance between Germany. Italy and
Austria Hungary; the old traditional
alliance between Russia and Ger
many. which has been uninterrupted
for nearly a hundred years the dual
alliance between France and Russia !:
the Balkan understanding between
Russia and Austria Hungary. and
finally the new friendship between
France and Italy. with Russia or the
side as the mutual friend All Of
which looks very much as II the con-
tinentai powers had at last achieved
a mutually Of interests and a anal
distribution Of territory with which
all are content.
Great Britain does not appear to
be In II. az the only rivairiea now
are as TO which power will take the
largest share Of her commerce from
her, and. in case Of disaster. the
largest share Of the earth which she
pretty nearly owns.