The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-24
THE FRANCO-RussIAN ALLIANCE

This week has witnessed one of those
Nicholas and the president of the French
Republic which are intended to convince
the outside world that the alliance be-
tween France and Russia is genuine and
means business. -: . ..,.->>- g..
Loubet is the second French president
who has visited the car since the alliance
was contaminated, and such visits Of cere-
mony are immensely pleasing to the
French people, who take great pride in
The compact between the greatest despot-
ism in the civilized world and the third
republic. The world was somewhat aston
shed when this alliance was announced,
Tor the two nations have no common prin-
;!iples Of government and in the past have
nntagonized each other notably in the
Napoleonic wars and in the Crimean war.
Modern France has been the chahlpio of
liberal ideas and hostile to the encroach-
ments and conquests OF Russian autocracy,
but, after the alliance of Germany and
Austria in 1879, when the anti German
feeling was strengthened in Russia, the
although Russia had never had any conf
dence in the stability OF French politics.
So the alliance came about, based upon
the common hatred of the two toward
Germany and England. .-- a4T-. +
The Russians forgot the invasion of
their country by Napoleon l., in 1912, and
forgot that it was his nephew, Napoleon
III, who purposely quarreled with Russia
to get the keys OF the holy places at Jeru-
salem and drew the sword to protect the
independence and integrity of Turkey as
against Russia, and weaken the power Of
Russia in Europe. The French formerly
thought much of being the protector Of
the Latin church in the east, a fad which
was one of the procuring causes Of the
costly Crimean war, but it has no impor-
tant place in French political programs
now. The alliance with Russia was based
upon the desire to have support in case
Germany undertook to trouble France
again and with view to strengthening
the latter's purpose to reconquer Alsace
and Lorraine To-day the craze for re-
venge on Germany is losing its sting. 1t
has given France great and costly army
entailing crushing taxation. That is about
all.
The triple alliance Of Germany, Austria
Hungary and Italy, about to be renewed,
is an effective check upon any active ag-
gression on the part Of Russia and France
against any one member of the triple al
lance. That alliance was made for the
prevention of war and 1t has worked that
way very effectively 30 far as Europe is
concerned. In case of war 1t is difficult
to see how Russia and France, separated
by Germany, bristling with bayonets,
could effect conjunction of forces.
Meantime President Loubet's visit to
the czar is evidently intended to be kind
of celebration OF the stability of French
politics, revealed by the remarkable sue
cess OF the Waldeck- Rousseau ministry in
holding together for three years, an un-
precedentedly long life for a French min
istry, as they usually go to pieces in few
months or q year. The fact, at least,
strengthens Russia's confidence In the sta
bility Of French politics. The Franco
Russian alliance. at least, makes it more
difficult to plunge Europe in war
Ever since Napoleon's hobnobbing with
Alexander !. in 1907. when he proposed