South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1889.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4909, 18 January 1889, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1889.

The forces which have been so long preparing to play Tarawera with the nations of Europe are manifesting themselves in hissings and splutteriugs at various points, but common sense has so far been able to weight down the weak spots where these leaks appeared. The leaks are becoming more numerous. One has even broken out under the United States, and that is a bad one at Samoa, so far from the centres of supply for preventative appliances. The area of possible disturbance is extending, and it becomes more and more difficult to foresee where the eruption is to begin. Begin it must, somewhere or other, and soonjeveryone believes that. Some Man of Affairs will get tired of patching the garments of Peace, frayed by the friction of opposing interests, and will decide to —let them rip.

The despatch of United States vessels of war to the Isthmus of Panama (or of Darien as the Washington correspondent prefers to call it) is a strong measure of remonstrance’ against the proposal that the French Government should take over the work of the De Lesseps’ company. It is quite on the cards that this remonstrance may determine the French Government to do it. The nation is full of enthusiasm for DeLesseps and his work, and moreover “ full of fight,” and to submit to be bounced by the Americans would be inglorious indeed. Yet the Americans are undoubtedly right. No European Government should have control of the Panama Canal, nor any other Government, no matter who makes it. Such works should be made neutral, protected by all, controlled by none. To damage or block them should give ground for an action for damages to any, against any, nation.

It is remarkable, when one comes to think of it, how clearly separated are the military and diplomatic worlds from the everyday worlds of commerce, industry, and society. These have nothing to do with anticipations of war, and pursue their courses as if no such thing were possible. The militarists, a few among the millions, make use of commerce, industry, and society, the trilling troubles that grow out of the friction among them, as excuses for their baneful operations. As a little mistake or carelessness in fixing or working a big mill results in the heating of a shaft, and this to a fire which destroys the whole, so a little friction between the working parts of the great industrial and commercial machine creates a destructive political fire. Looked at in this way it does seem a remarkable kind of wisdom to keep a huge stock of combustibles ready to ignite whenever the friction exceeds a certain margin. Instead of a water supply and sprinklers, the nations keep tanks of kerosene ready for an outbreak. And all the while those who will have to suffer from its use do not object, but think it quite the right thing to do.