Show CURSE it will be remembered that shortly after the visit of the german emperor to the pope a rumor was started that the former had bad agreed to consider a proposition lor for the disarmament ol of europe to be placed before the gov ornaments ern orn menta ments ot of the leading powers the austrian premier count kalooky is IB now reported as a having expressed big view that such a scheme la Is an utter impossibility but that it would be a benefit to all if the constant effort at increasing the armies and navies could be stopped the situation in europe has hag for foi many years been such as to lead even the most moat experienced statesmen to expect either a terrible war or something greatly different perhaps a general revolt from the iron rule of militarism with a subsequent disarmament but years roll by anu nothing particular transpires the tad tact seems to be that the leading powers are as much afraid that war will come as if they had no armies at all the people of germany certainly do not wish any mure more bloodshed in the last campaign against prance france the germai a completely wiped out in crimson torrents whatever stains 01 01 defeat and dishonor they might have hav thought were dpn them in former years tike the empire was built up the hereditary eu enemy my lay prostrate at their toot feet their revenge was complete and they have no mure more to gain why should they wish to go to war france it 16 is true mourns the loss of an important part of her beautiful domain and aad might have a secret desire for revenge but so as long as that country is gov arned in a republican spirit it to Is not likely to risk the lives of millions of its inhabitants in order to regain the possession of 0 a tow few square miles ot of territory which now is almost thoroughly austria and italy can have no desire as an they have not the power to engage single banded in a combat with their mighty neighbors and russia to is about the only oue one of the great powers that really Is in a position to contemplate an aggressive war prom from czar peter the great that i rys rulers inherited as a sacred trust the obligation to push forward toward constantinople an object of which they have never lost sight and probably never will until their victorious hordes have planted their eagles on the shores of the the greatest danger to the peace ot 01 europe is therefore in the oriental question that is a gordian knot that will yet have to be cut asunder by the sword of an alexander but the time is probably not yet at hand for the final stroke and it to la not hot likely that a general disarmament can take place ISOO before that problem has hag found a satisfactory solution the following figures recently pub dished show the military strength and 11 its 1 0 9 growth in europe 1869 1892 france germany 0 russia austria italy england spain turkey 0 o other countries have endeavored to follow suit the total number of soldiers in europe during 1892 was an increase of more than three to one since 1869 to maintain this vast number of armed men a total expenditure pend iture of la Is required divided in francs franco as foil owL 1869 1892 1891 russia france england germany austria italy spain OW holland belgium switzerland portugal sweden Ro roumania denmark greece 2 Ser vla this enormous increase in expenditures is in altogether out of proportion when compared to the increase of population and resources the financial condition to is even evea worse than it was twenty years yeara ago in many respects particularly among those on whose whole shoulders the burdens of mill fall most heavily the limit seems to be reached and a reaction ought naturally to follow |