Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07
TO STUDENT OF POLITICS
Peculiar Situation of the Thrones Of
Europe.
CONTINENT A FIELD OF CATTLE
Intrigues Of the Court Life-Sequels
to Intermarriage - Pope the
Most Powerful Agent.


Special Cablegram TO The Star.
THE HAGUE, July 6-The hypocrisy of
The Hague must be apparent to any stu
den; OF international politics who looks be-
meath the surface of things. ldealists like
Andrew Carnegie who found temples or
peace undoubtedly do have some faith In
the good time coming when the battle hass
of the world furled at a parliament OF
nations. but 1t will not soon be forgotten
by more practical men that the first peace
conference was suggested by the RUSSIAN
car and that he has had more trouble
since the suggestion of the conference
than his ancestors before him. from the
time he first preached the peace confer
ence down to the present he appears 10
have had the great lesson that 'lnterna-
tional law is only brute force brought
home to his attention in thousand ways
foreign as we'll as domestic. ne has been
compelled to confront what was probably
the greatest since the American civil
warm the extent of its operations GER
tainly greater than the Franco-German
war of 1S7o-and he has had one continual
round OF turmoil from one end OF his 90
minions ever since he mentioned the peace
conference number OF years ago.
1t is of course, impossible within the
limits Of a modern press dispatch TO trace
all of the troubles in connection with the
various thrones of Europe, but the inter-
esting question is raised-a question or 1ar
greater import than the question OF arma-
ment or disarmament-the question OF no"
wars are really to be prevented in the 1u-
ture unless the various nations club TO-
gether to suppress rebellions and reVolu-
tons And If so the question is naturally
suggested whether this would mean tne
greatest good for the greatest number the
world over OF course. those most Inter
ested in these international peace confer
ences almost always declare that 1t Is not
the intent of the promoters OF these peace
parliaments to interfere with domestic ar
fairs.
But these men forget how the thrones OF
Europe are locked and interlaced by things
like intermarriagethey forget the thou-
sand and one racial. religious and family
reasons which are likely to cause one rul-
ing family to interfere IN the event OF
trouble in an adjoining state. Continental
Europe may best be described as a field or
cattle. And when the cattle commence
with the hooking It is difficult to even ven
ture a guess as to where the hooking VIII
stop.
The Kaiser's Position.
Leaving out of the question the fact that
the kaiser. for instance opposes disarma-
ment as much on account of the socialists
rs because of the fact that he Is practi-
cally sandwiched in between Russia, Aus
tria, Italy and France, 1t Is curious to note
what a revival there Is Just now of the
activity of pretenders to certain thrones.
And all of these things suggest serious
problems far beyond the reach of The
Hague For instance Dom Miguel of Bra
eanza has allowed himself to be inter-
viewed. and has intimated that he would
not be disinclined to direct the destinies of
Portugal: q meeting of 1850 Carlists has
tust been held at Madrid to consider the
interests of the Spanish pretender, Count
Won Meyrenberg. who has put forward
claim to the throne Of Luxembourg, while
the partisans of Comte d'Eu both in France
and South America are actively agitating
the restoration of the empire Of Brazil
These are only a few of the many things
which might upset the most carefully laid
plans Of any peace parliament ever held
For while Il might be very pretty In theory
to say that one nation need not interfere
with another In the event Of domestic
strife, the history OF the world shows that
most of the great conflicts between nations
have had their origin in Just these things.
In Portugal. for instance, the rumors OF
q dynastic crisis may have been exag-
gerated. but there Is trouble enough to
eatisfy any person fond Of intrigue and
trouble. It IL true Senior Joao Franco. the
premier, has against him the majority of
the peers, a strong minority OF the cortes,
the council of state and the republicans.
He has cut a Gordian knot by dissolving
the chamber and has been governing the
country in a fashion that suspiciously re-
sembles dictatorship. All this would ap-
pear dreadful in constitutional state. but
In Latin countries such trifies are taken
for granted and do not trouble the party
In power very much. The opposition usu-
ally shrieks treason until 1t gets into
power and then 1t proceeds to do the same
chapter. after the fashion of the endless
chain.
Would Govern Without Parliament.
Senior Franco, however. has taken care
TO put himself technically in the right so
ic cd lie
a1versaries declared that he intended to
govern without parliament for the next
three years. but ne has given them the
lie by fixing the elections for November
next 1t is true that this Is the latest
date allowed by thu constitution and that
In the six months that VIII elapse before
his cabinet is under control good deal
may be done by a man who is practically
In the position OF a dictator.
II must also be admitted that the
changes which have been made In the
Franco cabinet are not calculated to add
TO its prestige. For instance. in the Sc
lection of the minister of finance-the most
important portfolio OF all when 1t comes to
the running of country without budget
the choice OF Senior Franco fell on Senior
Martins de Carvalho a deputy whose prop
erty had to be seized in March last for
the exaggerated dilatoriness he showed in
paying his taxes.
This somewhat cavalier fashion of treat
Ing public opinion has reused the fury
Of the opposition to such an extent that
a deputation rushed off to Seebenstein in
Austria 20 ask Dom Miguel of Braganza
10 accept the crown of Portugal. Dom
Miguel promptly signifed his Willingness
10 do so. II cannot be said that the bluff
but good natured. Don Carlos is exactly
adored by his subjects, but between mild
unpopularity and deposition there is a
wide gulf However. it can readily be
seen that from things like these might
readily spring international complications
between Portugal and Austria.
A Pretender's Chances.
A pretender who has much more serious
chances OF success IN his claims than Dom
Miguel OF Braganza is the Count of Meyren-
burg the claimant for the throne of Lux
emburg. though 1t is rather difficult to see
on what the claims based. The pres
ent Grand Duke of Luxembourg. as is we'll
known. Is a dying man. The ministry has
already commenced to consider the ques-
ton of the succession. II has been proposed
that he shall be succeeded by his eldest
daughter Cthe grand duke has no sons), a
girl thirteen years of age. and that a re-
gency be appointed till she comes of age
Against this Count Meyrenburg has pro-
tested and claims the throne the nearest
male heir. This he undoubtedly Is to a GER
tain extent hut not IN q fashion that would