New-York tribune., 1905-01-01
Prospecfs Of 1905.
of the Foreign Powers Are Likely To BePeace
the Theme of fNevvY Speeches Hopes

highest order. and It Is thanks mainly to his ef-
forts that every French manufacturer every
RENTER" every petty trader and even the very
peasants feel that their material welfare and
their prosperity depend upon the maintenance
Of friendly relations with England. Moreover
French national pride. which has always played
so great role IN the shaping of her policy, has
been profoundly gratified by the part which
Great Britain has taken in securing the recog-
milton of her supremacy in Morocco. which she
proposes TO rule as she does Tunis, namely
through the native authorities Indeed by this
virtual acquisition of Morocco, added to Algeria
Tunis, and to her West and Central African
possessions. France has secured q colonial en-
pire the magnitude and grandeur of which would
have been regarded as pertaining to the realms
of wild phantasy and dreams quarter of
century ago. On the other hand. England
may be said to have received valuable quid
pro quo from France by the latter's recognition
or her supremacy in Egypt, Frances action in
the matter having been followed by most OF the
other powers.
Adams birthday" as New Years Day is often
styled, finds Italy drawing more and more away
from the Triple Alliance. Her relations with
Austria are more strained at the present junct-
ure than at any time since she became q party
to the alliance in question. while she is much
less inclined to submit to dictation from Berlin
ship with England. and especially with France
has become much more close and intimate. This
has proved of such inestimable advantage TO
her trade and industry that her financial equilib-
rum has been restored Her budgets nova
days show a surplus instead of enormous annual
deficits taxation is being reduced, and with
returning prosperity that emigration which for
so long sapped the vitality of the country has
diminished Indeed, the enigrant is beginning
to wander home again. and in the words of the
Psalmist is bringing his sheaves with him"
The year, moreover. has witnessed a notable
step in the direction OF the reconciliation OF
church and state in Italy. For the first time
since the loss by the Papacy OF its temporal
possessions IN 1870 the Church tolerated the
participation by Catholics in the general par
liamentary election held last fall, and sent them
TO the polls 10 vote for the King and his govern
ment thus cooperating with the crown against
the socialist element It Is needless to point
out the extent to which these altered relations
between the Vatican and the Qurinal add to
the strength of the italian government and 10
the grandeur Of the italian nation.
Spain at the present moment is emerging from
a ministerial crisis. resulting from the conflict
in connection with the revision Of the Concor-
dat with the Vatican. That her trade and in
dustry have prospered enormously since the loss
power ever rendered her a greater service than
did the United States when it deprived her OF
the Antilles and Of the Philippines in 1893.
She has failed, however. to put into execution
any Of the economic and administrative reforms
that were promised to the people after the war,
and owing to this the full development of her
commercial and industrial resources continues
to be obstructed, which of course tends to create
popular bitterness against the government,
though not against the young King whose
personal popularity is indeed one of the ele-
ments Of strength of his throne. During the
year his sister. the Princess Of the Asturias.
has died. and in the event of anything untoward
happening to him # is her little boy, about
two years of age, who would succeed to the
crown, this entailing another long regency.
which is always a source OF danger to the
throne.
In Austria and Hungary the obstructionist
methods of the legislative minorities have vir-
tually brought parliamentary government to
standstill. and have caused even the strongest
champions of popular institutions to doubt the
wisdom of attempting 10 rule the Dual Empire
any longer by legislative methods. Moreover
the warfare of the opposition in Hungary as
we'll in Austria upon the government has
been characterized by amount of abuse of
the imperial House Of Hapsburg which is with
out precedent in the memory of the present
generation. and which cannot fail to embitter
the closing years of the long reign of the sore
ly tried Emperor Francis Joseph It is impossi-
bic to predict anything with regard to the
future of the Dual Empire It Is difficult, in
deed. TO comprehend what is taking place with
in its borders. But 1t may be said that the
trend Of its foreign policy is like that Of Ger
many, away from Italy and in favor of closer
union with Russia. EX-ATTACHE.