The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 1893.

Waikato Times, Volume XLI, Issue 3345, 5 December 1893, Page 4

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 1893.

Equal and exact justice to all men. , Ot whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. ,-;*;■"'. ;Mii : - ■•■■y i - .-"■■• ' ! "

Papers to hand by the last ! mail frorri Europe give details of the'reception of the Russian Fleet at Toulon, Marsielles and Paris; The proceedings have been of a most extraprdiiiary nature.'/, The '; ] French' people seem to have entirely lost their head?, a misfortune : which them on very small provocation. We read of ladies alighting from their carriages and in: gratitude for the cry of" Vive' la; 'France "ima Russians sailors kissing ; ,them all over their broad features amidst the cheering of the populace. We read also that the visitors \ were invited to inspect one of. the great shops in Paris, and that all the prettiest girls of the staff were formed in Kne in order that the visitors might pass down the line and kissthem in turn. A. describer of the scene so writes that the girls seemed to 1 like it. These are, however, 1 only some of the absurdities to which the volatile French people have been incited by sentiment. To the world at large it is the expectation which 'produced the sentiment which is of. interest. It is stated on the, one hand that the courtesies of-Russia have raised France once more to the position which she formerly held in the estimation of Europe,: and thatrgratitude is the source of the enthusiasm. On the other, that' hatred of Germany is the strongest tis which binds the two countries together. Some politicians assert that the alliance: is only natural is it re-es-n tablishes the an end, to attain which modern history teaches us so much blood and treasure have been expended. Official;. France states that the/alliance has for its motive the', preservation of peace. This claim is strengthened by the of,a\Russjan; Minister, who is reported to have said; " Only amadtnanor,any adventurer would think of a policy of aggression when we have our hands' full with domestic affairs," It has been stated that has: tendered; a Mecliter-, ranean port fqrutheuse and equipment of the Russian navy., In this; connection it is a notable fact that] at the very time that tho Russian officers were entering Paris the death of Marshall McMahpn ■ / was cried by .the,news-boys, » ! :lUwas he who stormed the taking of which and the defences of Sevastopol led to the treaty of Paris which, provided: j tIM Russia should not establish a naval arsenal on the shores or keep a fleet on the waters of the 3 BUck Sea.fWe: all know that Russia has loiig since ignored this treaty,; That the alliance is considered a source of danger to- European statesmen .is evident, Lord Salisbury,; who-speaks with all the responsibility of his position, in urging the increase of the ; , British: navy 'said,• H'ido not wish >to point the moral ; by speaking to6 ; muchj6ri ! whatisgoirig6n buV you cannot have heard of the combination ol fleets and the friendly intercourse of other nations without being sensible of.the fact that other nations place a high: value on this navy." It has' been openly stated that the Russian Emperor-would hot have allowed liis fleet to visit Toulon had it not been that he contemplated floating another loan in Paris, the only money-market which is open to him, The cable gave the rumour, a ; few days back tjiat if thu loan hung fire the Tsarevitch .would visit Paris. We never heard that he is specially gifted as a financier, the objectof 'such a Visit 6ould'on)ybe to keep uptlieexcitementand float the loan under its influence, alrispite, of all officials protestations to the' Contrary, there .cm be no question but that the present stated Europe aives grounds for theinost serious jwriensfon 1 ;; 1^

down under the strain,; Austria is inVlittle, better plight, and 'the biirclen of armed peace is sapping' the prosperity|of.Germany; \Therej is every indication that the'day ia ! rapidly approaching when the allied; powers must either,demand disarma-l mentor end the present war. Neither France nor, Russia \ would bein the',leMt;lilfely.t6 accede; native, j The visit oftho fleet has its comical] aspect Outfit ,alsp affords matter for very grave consideration. If the Russian' 'people were ;as mercurial a 8 their allies, and jit's 1 desirous of revenge, \ peace wouM aI short duration indeed;':' 11 , V', n