THE OUTLOOK EUROPEAN by H. P. Holser

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal., Kansas City, and New York · Nov 29, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, Nos. 48, 49.

THE OUTLOOK EUROPEAN

By H. P. Holser

By Pastor H. P. Holser, Basel, Switzerland.

In the growing troubles of Europe the Papacy sees her opportunity, and, through her priests and the Jesuits, fans the flames, in the hope that, driven to desperation, the rulers will appeal to her as arbiter, and thus restore the pope to his ardently-sought supremacy. The power of the Papacy, whose subjects constitute nearly half the population, united with the laboring classes of all creeds, is a standing menace to the thrones of Europe. The failure of the Peace Congress will strengthen the pope's claim that he alone is the true arbiter of nations.

Another factor contributing largely to the state of unrest, is the rapid increase of the saloon. Even among farmers, alcoholism is making terrible inroads. The nations are aroused to combat this evil, but in vain; its destroying power increases unabated.

Among the items which will mold the future of Europe must be noted the flocking of the masses to the cities. Nearly all large towns have in an incredibly short period doubled their population, while some have quadrupled. City life, the excitement of business competition, and the employment of the masses in factories, tend to impair health and increase nervousness and irritability. Add to this higher wages for fewer hours, the multiplication of saloons and places of amusement, the enforced idleness caused by overproduction, the intrigues of politicians and the Papacy, and we have some of the chief causes of the rapid increase of Socialism and the general state of unrest. As these elements are constantly growing, their unfailing effects will continue to increase till the explosive point is reached.

A potent element of disturbance is the heavy and increasing tax to support such large standing armies, and to increase and improve armaments. The land and sea forces of the chief military powers are:—

	Army footing in peace.	Army footing in war.	War vessels, all kinds.
France . . . . .	650,000	4,000,000	487
Russia . . . . .	930,000	3,400,000	380
Germany . . . . .	607,000	3,600,000	215
Austria . . . . .	390,000	1,880,000	138
England . . . . .	325,000	850,000	730
Italy . . . . .	275,000	1,250,000	385
Totals for six powers	3,177,000	14,980,000	2,335

Taking an average of the last three years, the annual cost of maintaining the peace footing in Europe is $693,461,540. The total debt of Europe is twenty-six billion dollars, making $69.20 per capita; the amount is greatest in the chief military powers, France heading the list, with $161 debt per inhabitant. These facts the Socialists use with telling force, hence the annual budget is one of the most troublesome items for parliaments, frequently causing riots among the people and crises in cabinets. That these nations have reached the limit and must have relief from some source is evinced by the unprecedented Peace Congress. That having failed, relief must come from another quarter; and from the present situation what else can result than war abroad or revolution at home? As any nation would prefer the former, it is not hard to foresee the outcome of the present expansion policy, with the nations dangerously near one another in foreign territory, and each striving for the mastery.

Closely connected with the colonial extension policy for the relief of Europe is the Eastern Question. After the vast expanse of the Dark Continent had been disposed of, the remaining territory of Asia became the next object of seizure. Russia, the central figure in the Eastern Question, had advantages over all other nations when the general rush on Asia began. Far from being content with this, she made it the pretext for seizing more.

England, whose interests in Asia come next to those of Russia, is no less zealously guarding them. Every advance of Russia is followed by a similar move by England. When the Russians approached the Pamirs, England hastened to establish military stations in the Pamir heights; when Russia gained Port Arthur, England secured a port in the vicinity. These two nations are now face to face in China, in the Pamirs, and, to the west, on the borders of India and Persia, while Germany, France, and Italy are strengthening their hold in the East.

Russia has advanced so far, and her interests in Asia are so great, that she is becoming unusually sensitive, and, backed by France, is growing very bold. See how unceremoniously she seized Port Arthur, against the threatening protests of England; and when England, in retaliation, seized Wai-hai-wai, in the vicinity, Russia growled loudly at this as an insolent act, claiming that it was a menace to the interests which were hers by right. When the Siberian railway is completed, Russia will be in a position to execute her designs with still less regard for the claims of others.

The nations of Europe are advancing dangerously near one another in Asia; and under the pressure of commerce and social relations at home, they are not likely to retreat; it looks more probable that the great struggle of Europe in settling the Eastern Question will break out in adjusting their mutual relations in Asia. This is apparent to the politician; and the certainty of it is sealed by the prediction of divine prophecy, which declares that in the final struggle the kings will come from the East,—east of Palestine, hence from Asia. Rev. 16:12.

Perhaps still more weighty in molding the policy of nations than the elements already named is the ambition of the great powers to hold the balance of power in Europe, and hence of the world. England is acknowledged by all as peer on the seas, and she controls the largest portion of the land on earth; but Russia, France, and Germany boast respectively of the greatest land forces. All are about equally near the point of holding the balance of power; the present alliances are only for the purpose of holding one another in check till the supreme moment to strike arrives. Evidently the territory in the far East will be brought under their control before the domains of Turkey will be disposed of; hence the Ottoman Empire is likely to become the last bone of contention in the settlement of the ambitious designs of Europe.

Reading the future of Europe in the light of present conditions one is forced to the conclusion that by the state of unrest of the masses, by the excessive taxation, by the strength of Socialism and the resultant embarrassment of the governments, by the intrigues of the Papacy, by the overproduction of manufactures, and by the unbounded ambition of the nations to become greatest and for their own security to hold the balance of power—these nations will be urged on and on in their colonial and expansion policies; and that thereby their international troubles will be increased till nothing but appeal to the sword will settle them. How far arbitration will succeed, the recent Peace Congress illustrates. The principles now developing in Europe can not but end in trouble. The disease is upon the nations; it is too far advanced to be checked; it is running its course and must soon break out. While man deceives himself with the fancy that this outbreak will purify the body and lead to renewed health, prophecy plainly declares that the disease is fatal; its only cure is the Gospel; all who reject its healing balm will surely be swept away by the all-devastating plague.