New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-20

ne had the populace of Paris shouting
"A Berlin" con to Berlin!") and Ma
poleon III forced, with the utmost re-
luctance. by the will Of his people, into
declaring war upon Prussia and in
vading Germany. The French EN-
peror knew better than any one else
that his army was unprepared for any
war, even with Prussia by herself. still
less, therefore. for a struggle with her
and all the remainder Of Germany. He
realized that he was not In any con-
dition Of health In the summer of 1870
to assume the direction OF military OPP
erations or even to determine great ma
tional issues in Paris.
WAR OR A THRONE LOST.
Possessed Of considerable political
sagacity, he was able to appreciate that
in declaring war upon Prussia and in
invading Germany he was playing Bis
marck's game by arousing popular sem
( timent in Southern German states to
such an extent as to compel their UNI
willing rulers to throw in their lot with
Prussia for the defence of Teuton soil,
thus paving the way for the creation Of
a German empire, with the King OF
/ Prussia on the throne. In one word,
| Napoleon fully measured the conse-
quences and the prospects Of defeat.
But. on the other hand, he also knew
! that public sentiment in France had
! been aroused to such an extent against
/ Prussia that unless he yielded thereto
and complied with the excited and rest
! less demands of his subjects they
the throne as incapable Of championing
and defending the national honor. He
was face to face with the alternative
Of revolution at home or war with
Germany. There were some few, but
| very few, chances that he might sue
coed in the latter. There was no
chance Of his saving his throne in the
event of an instruction at home So
/ he chose war, just in the same way as
the sOvereigns OF the Balkan States
have done in the case Of Turkey during
the last few days.
These Balkan monarchs. indeed. have
, shown a greater amount Of courage
/ and of fortitude than Napoleon III:
| for, whereas the anti-German craze in
! France broke out only two or three
weeks before the declaration Of the
war Of 1870, the profound resentment
| against Turkey has been seething IN
the Balkan States for years.
RULERS WHO LOVED PEACE.
,, Indeed. It has been kept under con-
| troll for so long only by the cleverness
! and the courage Of these various rulers
concerned, who have been obliged 10
+ sacrifice many ministers and cabinets
/ and to submit TO the constant danger
/ of the loss Of their thrones and Of as
/ sassination because they declined u
/ give way and persisted in maintaining
peace. Ferdinand Of Bulgaria, in par
/ ticular, has had repeated attempts
made upon his life. owing to his refusal
! TO WELD to the demands OF his subjects
| that he would march his fine army into
l Macedonia 10 protect the Bulgarian'
! of that Turkish province and their
! Christian Co-religionists from Moslem
( cruelty, oppression and massacre. on
/ two occasions conspiracies To kidnap
his two boys when in their childhood
I were frustrated in the very nick oil
! time, while at least half a dozen OF MS
! Cabinet ministers have been murdered
/ in the streets Of his capital because
! tbev were believed to be obstacles to
the Bulgarian invasion OF Macedonia
Ferdinand like King George Of Greece
lilo King Nicholas Of Montenegro AMI
Peter Of Servia. has repeatedly pointed
| ont TO the great powers OF Europe thaI
his position was rendered not only IN
toIerabIe but untenable by Turkish
| n,isruIe I'm Macedonia, and has urgeh
,beir effective Intervention at Constan-
tinople. But it has been without avail
And nov these Balkan sovereigns, con-
tronted nv the same alternative as
Nono,eon III in 1870, and by that
which King Milan Of Servia faced
IN 1915 and King George OF Greece IN
1sa6 have yielded to the clamor OF
! chair subjects and have emoarkea
unon war with Turkey rather than lose
their thrones by internal revolution.
THE UNKNOWN QUANTITY.
II is this potency Of popular senu-
mont that must be taken into account
n a far greater extent than mas
bitberto been the case in considering
( tho future relations Of this country
] u,,th Japan and those Of Great Britain
With Germany. There is no prejudice
t. tho limited States against the people
or Dai Nippon, and the authorities at
Washington, irrespective OF politicai
Marty are imbued with the friendliest
! foo,ines toward the island empire OF
tho Pacific. But while the new Mikado'
u,e his predecessor on the throne, re-
o,nrocates these sentiments, which are,
narrower, shared by most OF the lead
ING statesmen at Toxic, the japanese
,,oonIa at large entertain a greater de-
oraa NJ hostility toward the United
states than for any other foreign
nover-even than Russia. Their pride
q Inundated by the American policy
,hicb excmdes them, like the Chinese,
fr-t-.- 1aA tNFit