The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-29
WHAT THREE CAN DO.


likely to oyerestimate either the personal
or military significance of the action Of
the new king of England in comforting
the title of field marshal of the British
army on his nephew, the emperor of Ger
many. The action is more in the nature
of token of personal thanks and re-
gard for the advances of filial love made
by the late queens grandson, of course,
than it is recognition of military great
ness such, for instance, as Lord Roberts
see fit to represent It.
The political significance of the incident
may not of itself be much; but no one
will think of denying that the increased
closeness of relation which is certain Of
being established between the two coun-
tries as an indirect result of the queens
death is rot unlikely to have the most
far-reaching results.
1t is not usually regarded as an i'm
portant factor in international relations
that the representatives of royalty In
given countries are closely related by
family ties. Indeed there are few of the
reigning families of Europe at the present
time that are not closely united with
the others through marriage connection.
But with two men such as Edward VII.
and William III. bearing toward each
other the relationship of uncle and
nephew, and always attached to each
other by warm personal regard, reigning
over the two most important powerful
nations of Europe, and two nations, too,
which have not in recent years been dis
tinguished by the kindliest feeling toward
each other, it will be surprising if the
altered circumstances do not produce ma
terial changes.
No doubt the event will bring the Ger
man and English nations more closely
together. There is little of political rival
ry between them in any event What
rivalry does exist or is likely to influence
the currents of national life of either
are the rivalries of trade and commerce.
The two rulers are, first Of aI, men of
the world. Their influence or the govern
ment of their respective countries is of
course somewhat disproportioned; but 1t
Is reasonably certain that it will be ex-
ercised in each case for the drawing still
more closely together of the ties of feel
ing and interest which unite the two
races more or less closely at the pre=ent
time.
1t may indeed be said without thought
Of successful dispute that The destinies
of Europe are in greatest measure in
the hands of three men at the present
time who are closely allied by family
relationship, and who are all distin-
guished by their close touch with the
pulse of national and International feel
ing-Edward of England, William of
Germany and Nicholas of Russia.
Two of these men, so far as public
utterances enable enc to judge, repre-
sent the antithesis of national policy,
Nicholas being the great advocate of
universal peace; William, of war; while
Edward is generally recognized as a.
sensible well-balanoed man Of the wor d
who probably regards war as at best a
g,iev.ous necessity.
With three such men united in The ad-
vocacy Of peace, the dream CT all hu-
name men, that war may one day be
discarded for peace in the adjustment of
national difficulties, would be well on
toward practical realization before the
first quarter of the new century had ex-
pred.