ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1973, 24 April 1885, Page 2

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

(Qmtrihted.)

There is one phase of tho present Anglosu,Bsjan frpubloß. wjijoli is, worth flßtioe—that jf Russia djd, np.t'hqlcj sqcj} an extensive grasp of the world's SM'fyce, England would have, in all probability, a serious combination of Powers arrayed against her. As it is, these Powers are about equally divided in. Ihelr aversion, This is on Hie assumption, whioh we think is well grounded, that such an extensive monopoly as England and Russia hold or strive for, must cause among the other Powers that envy which is akin to hatred. Of all progressive, or, according to Western ideas, civilized Powers, the United States alone can look without this envy on England and Russia's development. into tee Empires, And tho United States will only do this, as long as their territory oxceods the requirements.qf their population. If a man has a good dinnor in hand he will not envy his neighbor, who may liave an extra sauce or finer tablelinen. But the other progressive Powers (happening to be neighbors of England

and Russia) have no good-dinner for their surplus energy and eonse- \ quently they envy thoso who have. So N wo arrive at our suggestion, that England is better off with a rival such as Russia, for without this rival all the accumulated envy would centre on England, pljjfefche hatred which follows that very 'Man passion. Imagine, atthis momont, with the hostilefeelingsin existence of whichWef have of late heard so much as being directed towards England's colonial chujils'j what that hostile feeling would be"like if England stood alone as an" Empfreseeker. Imagine England,.. just now, going to war with some smaller European Power on the question of colonial acquisition, and we might well dread the combination of European-.Powers which would-cry " enough of;this Hectoring." If we examine the .position of the European States, on this questuittj taking into consideration the present universal feeling in Europe in. favor of ut colonizing, and we find . that they are .£■ nearly all in accord in thinking that * v English enterprise has made the world too small for them. The old, idea..of the balance of power still holds some sway in Europe, and undoubtedly England's increase of territory and power is balanced in the minds of statesmen with the fact that Russia has also assumed great proportions. This idea .a&ctfl Germany largely, and Germany jusflflw largely. affects Continental ■'■ Europe. England cramps German trade 4thd colonization schemes, and Russia-cramps her European schemes. Out 'of these complications we can at least see clearly why Italy and Turkey must side with England in wishing to keep Russia from the Mediteranean and Bed Sea. A few months back it seemed as if a -European league wore forming with, the object of humbling England, but fortunately any such league would feel the danger of. weakening Russia's great rival. The 'impending struggle for Asiatic empire must be watched with keen interest by the European States, almost all of whom have in their day raised a hand towards the golden '.-., apple. To give another version to / "Dame Europe ! s school" the present state *■ : of affairs looks like two big and unpopular • boys of a school stripping for a .fight, while the other boys are devoutly wishing that, if fight they must, they will at least both get a rough mauling.