New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08

.
in the scheme Of the universe but must
concede that he has drawn exceedingly
faithful picture Of the environment and conGi-
tons Of the peoples OF the various States.
At the present moment the eyes Of the whole
. civilized world are directed toward the southern
portion Of Central Europe-the Balkan States
and the student Of political conditions viii in
all probability turn first to the chapters dealing
with Servia, Bulgaria, Herzegovina, Bosnia and
their noisy mates. It is here. however. that We
discover one Of the weaknesses Of the work.
While there is q great deal bearing on the eth
biological. geological geographical and indus
. trial features. there is comparatively little Of
. Information in regard to the causes Of the PER
petual unrest Of ancient Macedonia the cond.-
lions which lead to the interEecine struggles,
and the ant-Turkish uprisings and the ultimate
effect which these conditions are liable 70 have
upon the remaining portions Of Central Europe
In comparison with the cons Iteration given, FOR
/ instance, TO the Polish problem these absorbing
questions are treated at all too little ength. I:
cannot be that Professor Partsch was not alive
to the important role the Balkans seem destined
| TO play in the shaping Of the future Of Europe.
and it is difficult to believe that this portion Of
| his work would be Unduly eXcised by The Wig
/ liant editor. The probability is that the
! thoTs pan-Geruan prOcIivities uncOnsCiOusiy
Influenced him in the direction Of paying espe-
cial attention to what concerns UnGeniably the
most important portion Of Central Europe This
question cannot be definitely decided one way
or the other. however, until the German edition
Is to hand
That he is proud Of Germany and somewhat
! biassed in favor Of Germany must be patent 10
even the superficial reader. Brief but nIumi-
mating is his account Of the conditions which
led to the fOrma ton Of the German Empire and
still more brief, II less satisfactory, is his
exposition Of the German policy. The German
Empire" he tells US. has natural and satisfy
! ing boundaries On almost all sides Extended
between the Alps and the North Sea, betw5e
| the Bohemian mountains and the Baltic, i
suffices to itself threatens no neighbor. covets
10 foreign territory. but is resolved 10 permit
no one to lay hands upon its own" The eco
| nouic conditions and the foreign trade relations
Of the empire are discussed at some length
| Professor Partsch finding especial cause f5r
! qualification in the thought that the German
| merchant service stands second in Europe only
to that OF Britain, while France and Spain
two countries far more favored in this respect
| BY nature. have been far outstripped in COM
| nerciaI development BY Germany"
or more than passing interest to the student
| OF world politics is the authors appeal for al
| economic alliance Of Central Europe. This ap-
| peal is based on his recognition Of the fact
| that the spheres of influence enjoyed by the
| powers in the heart Of the continent are
| cramped by the growth Of British and Rus
| sian imperialism and. furthermore, that the
old equilibrium of Europe is incIining more
and more in favor of the East" Foreseeing the
danger thus implied he writes this passage
which is well worth quoting:
| A new equilibrium can only be established If
| the powers Of Central Europe stand shoulder to
| shoulder for the maintenance OF the Tree ana
! peaceful economic development which must
reach ever further and further abroad, as the
| increasing populations find their homes grow
| ing too narrow for them The belief IN a per-
rnanent and intimate political agreement among
! the peoples Of Europe would be premature, con-
sidering the acute differences which history has
/ begueathed to them; but the position OF the peo-
| pies who surround the Alps Is such as TO warn
| them imperatively that they should reach their
| hands across the mountain tops one 10 another
/ In an economic alliance, for the common safe
| guarding Of their interests amidst the gredI
! powers Of the world
| In this connection his chapter on the natUra!
| defences Of Central Europe against foreign ag-
! gression viii be found to contain much food for
/ thought. as viii MS analysis Of the steps being
/ taken by Belgium and Switzerland TO insure the
| neutrality Of their countries in the event Of 4
/ Continental war. To Germany Professor Partsch
/ offers some suggestions in regard to the FORTH
/ cation and defence CT the Baltic coast; to
/ France he sounds warning against conspiring
/ with the giant empire of the East for the de-
! e+rrc+ion Of the German empire" act which,
bA asserts. would help TO bring about Frances
own ruin and the slavery Of her future genera
fCr he frFh lie Ca-