The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1888. PROSPECTS OF WAR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1708, 8 March 1888, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1888. PROSPECTS OF WAR.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Czar has recently intimated hie desire for peace, that Prince Bismarck has given an assurance that there would be no war, and that our own Agent-G-eneral recently telegraphed to the Premier that there was no immediate danger of hostilities breaking out, there is every appearance that the time is drawing near when the most of Europe will be in a blaze. It is scarcely possible now to avoid it. ! Every nation in Europe is armed to the teeth, and if they are all drawn into it, it will be Buch a terrible war as old prophecies have told us shall precede the millineum. The preteit is a miserable one. Russia objects to the election of Prince Ferdinand to the throne of Bulgaria, and insists upon his removal, but if her insolent demands in this respect were complied with she would very soon find some other excuse for quarrelling. The fact is, Eussia wants to go to war to crush out the rebelliousness of her own people. Russian society is honeycombed by conspiracies and secret societies, and the Czar hopes that by going to war he will distract attention from home politics and thus stamp out disaffection. The latp Napoleon, the Emperor of the Ereuch, went to war with Prussia for exactly the same reason, and the Czar's greatest enemy could not wish him worse luck than that which befel Napoleon. He was ignominiously defeated on the battlefield, and the rebels he had hoped to conciliate and pacify became masters of the aituation, It would be a good

thing for the peace of Europe if a similar fate awaited the Czar. To him is due the everlasting uncertainty which has manifested itself in the tremendous preparations for war which have been made by every Power in Europe, and peace can never be assured until his rotten system of government is wiped off the face of the earth. It is perhaps well for us that Bulgaria gives him an excuse for the exercise of his martial talents in that direction. A couple of years ago he turned his attention towards India, and it is probable that only for having the Bulgarian excuse he would still persist in his efforts to reach that territory. But it is still more likely that he does not like the outlook there, and he prefers to try conclusions in Bulgaria. His avowed objections to Prince Ferdinand are that he is a Eoman Catholic and that he was illegally elected. He could not have any such excuse for removing his own brother-in-law, Prince Alexander, a short time ago, so we must conclude from this that his objections are merely pretexts for going to war. Things have come to such a. pass now that he cannot well avoid it. A short time ago he offered England that if she would refrain from interfering in his little Bulgarian game he would cease to harass her in India. Only one answer could be given to such an insolent proposal as this, and that has been given* England has commenced to fortify Herat, which is the key to India. He has also demanded that Turkey shall depose Prince Ferdinand, but Turkey refuses to do so, and, therefore, unless he is as great a coward as he is a bully he must fight. It is stated in the most recent telegrams that he is preparing actively for war, but doubtless the non-success of the loan will greatly harass him. The war cannot at any rate commence for a few weeks longer, as the snow and ice have not yet melted sufficiently to enable the troops to be moved about. Next month, however, the season will be sufficiently advanced to enable hostilities to be commenced, and judging from present appearances we are inclined' to think the trouble will begin about that time. Farmers who can afford to do so can do nothing better than hold their grain for some time longer, for it is possible that with the breaking out of the war prices will rise.