Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JAN. 9. 1896. Will There be War ?

Manawatu Herald, 9 January 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JAN. 9. 1896. Will There be War ?

" Wa';s, wars, and rumbnrs of war--." npppura to be the pnaition todiiy, hnfc two thirds of all the news thii will Hp flii^h^d out h^rp may h quietly put aside br all bunkum. \V hnvp got to the point of a " menacing fonce»"t ''f oth^r Piw^ra njfrtin-J 1 Gi-otit ]B-ita''i," n it <>f whif. mom »i ir * tW ? Fo- »>^ ; hf« P.»w-f3 in L'ethpi- i.o diff.ri 1 wilh any one Powj. is a verj simple matter, but for them to attempt to agree on any common purpose where thpir own interests are concprm'd would prove a differen' ftnle. We m«y take it as ha\ np hof-n sh'iwn durins th j past year thvjt Rnssi-i rp'onts ih» ni'ppenc 1 f f h lar»e English fle»t in Chinese wafer* and slip would d ■"» all sho could to «pcnre au oppn«wntpr port on tho K>rean v or Chinese coast?. She growlpd away at the British dipiom acy dnrinq thf> China J.-ipan w:iv, and worked hard behind tho scene? to «ecnre her «'hj c f . but hor »n<«cp*«« i^ not, apparent. Ku<sia also hold--, or is supposed to hod, a d»«irp to rnlp over a Inmp portion of India of which mi'-'Qipen is Bmnress. If tlvvd wpiv dintnvbinff cirfium-st'inee-in Europe-' w^ Itnnw-thn*'. Rn«sia is willing to occupy part of Asia Minor, and she woyld most likely not object

to possess Constantinople. Therefore Russia would be gladly against England if her other interests were

-■^..y;.o b"j inieifaxd v/idx , ty ■hv> oij'ei: I\)V.vr, As v fact thei"

is some other Power ready to take immediate advantage of Russia provided England is too occupied to protest with eflvct. France is popu Idriy Rtippoaed to be the natural enemy of England, a great piece of nonsense however, which is slowly wearing away. France has, we may say, excusable objection to the, rue ce.Sfful occupation of Egypi by England, and she is unhappy at the aptitude shown for colonization by England in comparison with her unfortunate attempts. An earth hunger seized all European Powers some years back, and in Siain France is endeavouring to set up an Empire in opposition to India and Burmah and unfortunately the boundaries of States protected by England are too close to those protected by France and too undefined, leaving an excuse of war ready at any time. Germany has in this Transvaal business gone considerably out of her way to show an unfriendly feeling to England, and may cause very much damage to President Kroger ih the long run. No prpnt Power pv^r showed more hasce, than England has done, in admitting to a smaller Power that a mistake had been made, and the incident might easily have been left between England and the South African Republic. Italy has done and said littlp, being one of the Triple Alliance, Germany and Austria being the other two, which nre supposed to keep the peace of Europe. Italy has a good navy and little money, so it may be taken as probnblein the event of war arising i'ha Triple Alliance would be nowhere, and Italy ally of England. Then to crown all we have the President of the United States attempt ing to bully because England's statesmen's hands are full. Look ing all these facts in the face they look bad, but we are sanguine there will be no war just at present, or from the incidents now causing so much excitement. We are also sanguine that were England involved in a deadly fight with the combined Europei! n Powers, our cousins across t,lm water would cry "blow Venn ziicila, let us chip in and hi-lp O.d .vi-iiiud." Tiit Europe in Powers Know this as well as we do, they also know of the wealth and population of the colonies, and the wealth and population of the reliable portion of India, so that tackling England would not be quite the fun in pracice as it seems to be in talk. How-i-vcr, the European Powers have m j ver been able to trust one another and cannot do so now, and war would soon place each one agiin.st he oth^r. Rassia would want to crush the Turk, Austria would ohj cfc to Russia advancing that way. France would remember Si-dan. Germany wou'd have all she knew f.o watch her. Russian and French frontiers. It may b.^ urged th^y w.ui'd all be united ngaio^t England, but they would all bear in mind hit if Eng and was crushed there must bo soim one other P.nver i.hiv wou'd hold a similar position to what England does now, which would want crushing, and it is hound to occur to them who is to be the crush-id and who is to do the

vtHbing. Europe would be a* iris -ruble a place to live in then as h was during the years Njpoleon .v.ia u^irjg it for a fi.ahung ground. Eng'and may get abused, and will, but, giv< j n calm, resolute Statesmen n< are now at the head of affiirs, he abuee will be ignored, and thn 'idministration of England's portion if the Globe will bf carried on a*s heretofore. In times pa^t the horizon has phown as dark, but in •he words of Shakespeare we can ay now a^ thf>n : —

'' Come the three corners of the world in

arms, A.n<l we -hall shock them. Nought shall make as rue, If England to itself do re«t but true."