The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1893. France

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 92, 24 January 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1893. France

The position of affairs in France, con sequent upon the exposures which have been made in connection with the disgraceful Panama scandal, is such as justifies considerable anxiety in the minds of lovers of peace. The symptoms of the beginning of a revorevolution such as that of 18-19, are precisely similar. The only thing wanting is a " man of destiny " like Napoleon 111 to seize the opportunity to make himself a Dictator. Fortunately, perhaps, such a man has not yetgiven any indications of his existence. Whatever occurs i:i Paris will be accepted as a good example for the provinces to follow, because that capital city is the head as well as the heart of France. The great danger we have to drea<l from a revolution is that other countries would certainly bo involved. With the absence of a strong Government, or the want of confidence in any form of Government at all, unless that of an emperor or king, the French would certainly be precipitated into a war with Germany, because the first cry which any new leader, who hoped to gain anything approaching a strong following, would be revenge for the ignominy and defeat sustained during the hist war with that nation. Germany, on her part, has long been prepared for a second contest with her old foe, and nothing tends so much to bring on a conflict between two warlike nations than preparedness for war. Besides, there have been so many improvements of late years made in weapons for the destruction of human beings, that there exists a not unnatural desire on both sides to try what the actual etlects would be in, so-called, civilised warfare. Last week we were told that the Czar of Russia had been praying to the Almighty Giver of all good for peace for at least another year, no doubt because his armies and legions may not be quite ready to take a share in a European war until some months have elapsed, during which he may con-plcte their efficiency both in arms and drill. Of course the situation of England as regards her Indian and Colonial possessions, is surrounded by threatening dangers, but for all that, the Ministry now in power, although under the leadership of a " peace-at-any-price " politician like Mr Gladstone, appear determined to show no signs of weakness, and those Powers which looked upon the change of Ministry from Tory to Liberal as likely to give them an opportunity to humiliate KngLand, have been grievously disappointed by the vigour displayed on tli« part of Lord Kosubery, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Still, these are merely trifles compared with the main question at Ssku<», whether France in about again to suffer from one of those terrible ininrn;t\ convulsions, or whether the law-abid-ing and peace-loving middle, dussi-s niJ) be able to gain possession of tlie reins of Government, and thus avert a possible horrible catastrophe.