In any summary statement of this kind Russia will have to be left on one side as a doubtful case, for reasons to which the argument may return at a later point; the prospective course of things in Russia is scarcely to be appraised on the ground of its past.

Spain and Italy, being dubious Powers at the best, need not detain the argument; they are, in the nature of things, subsidiaries who wait on the main chance.

And Austria, with whatever the name may cover, is for the immediate purpose to be counted under the head of Germany.
There is no invidious comparison intended in so setting off these two classes of nations in contrast to one another.

It is not a contrast of merit and demerit or of prestige.

Imperial Germany and Imperial Japan are, in the nature of things as things go, bent in effect on a disturbance of the peace,--with a view to advance the cause of their own dominion.