Mobile register and journal., 1845-01-22
COMMERCIAL CONSOLIDATION OF EUROPE.

COMMERCIAL CONSOLIDATION OF EUROPE.
 The great movement of the present century is ua- doubtedly the ascendancy of commercial interests over every other. War, as a means of strength and aggrand izenent to nations, ceased with Wa,erioo. From that hour the progress of commerce has been gradually iecomposing Europe inlo one vast empire, governed by mutual interests, canented by railroads, connecting every considerable point The first great step towards freedom of intercourse was taken by Prussia in 1927. That power, by the disunion of the German States brought 10 the brink of deslruc- ton under the strokes Of Ma 'oleon. On the promu- gation of peace ia 1915, Germany was cut up into numerous petty gn ies, each having its own custom house, surroun Ing their few or terro ry cnileC. ing scarcely suicien, revenue to maintain their guards and prevent smuggin under ile oner- taxes imp0 'ed upon trade. The gri-v,us incon- yenience and expense of such system was so se- yerey felt in 1926, that eleven of the small States whose total population was S94 ITS, entered into a union called "Der Mitted V rein,' fir the purpose of consolidating the customs, anl having bu line of custom h.nses around their extreme frontier. Ths event gave direction 10 the enterprise of the King of Prussia, who, since tee calamilies of the war, had become thuughtful and laborous, and with the ex. perience Of the past before his eyes, was eagerly looking for means of strengthening the power of Germany by union of its material Interests.- This WAS presented m the plan of the " M iddle Union" and ovcrtsres were made to all the powers Of Germany 10 join in general union. IL appeared, however, that furmer ealousies not yet extinct
 
 mined not to enter into union in which the weight of Prussia would give her the preponderance. Prus- sa, however, with infinite skill in the mse of the events or 1850, viz: the Polish reyoluii ion--lhe French revolution, and the Belgian revolution, all the result ofihe growth of popular rights, succeeded in drawing all the German States into union for m,,- tual protection, By this means Prussia seized the control of affairs in the north of Europe. In fact ie Il commercial form, sine has succeeded in recompss. ing the ancient Germanic eppire of 30 900 900 seals for her own advantage. and Belgium and Holland have made overtures, which followed by the assent of Denmark and the Hanse towna. will eventually throw the whole coast from Danzic To the SeheIit open to the interior states. 'H wv
 This has led to movement in the soash of Europe of equal importance. Austria did not otsesard without extreme jealousy this continuous aggrandzement of monarchy long her inferior. but her equal. To coun'eraci the movement, or parsske of iia sdvan- tages, was long her object. To ioin the League and overshadow Prussia first proposed. Her agri- cultural aristocracy, however, nreseDted the removal of the barriers rais against the German Staies-J Another project presented usel,. Austria has mag nicen' ports the AdriatIc, Trieste in partcular and the Adriatic opens to her the Mediterranean, On the shores of these two seas exist n number of small States, tue combination of which, eommercial- ,,under Aastria. ollj form corntrpoise to the Prussian League, The st,,.esman the head of the Austrian goye, immediately seized this plan-' preliminary treaty has been concluded with the diff erent lta Han StsIes, drained by the Pc, we Il the Sardnan States, the object of which is to re- move the duties that obstr the nav yigaton of the ryer. and IS tn be followed by conyeation for the establishment of uniform tariff for the south af Eu- rope, The opulenl city of Trieste will thus become the centre, of vast commerce, and of a prosperity which may in some degree restore The rnertantils hsnors of the Adriaic.e ..,s 1,.l ns.e,,9 .l.,uit The two leagues thus formed will embrace 50,00e> GOO consumers of goods France occupies cepirsG position, and her government i. already preparing closer commercial alliance with both. She draws large agricultural supplies already ffbm the SaEds- nian States and necessity exists for removing some Of the existing commercial relations. The march Of events is rapid, that, disant day. the Bser- course between the States of Europe will be as isee as between the States of North America. The war of boodshed ceased m 1875, and the war of custom houses will also be extingushed in few years; and, with the expiration of The latter the meaps of feviv- ing the former will have psrshed. The ppr"sperity which Europe must enjoy under the increasing iber aiy of her governments, ill involve great benefit to the United States, and seemingly calls for a prompt response oa our part The late accounts from England state that a commercial treaty between the Prussin League and the Braxils Is on the point of ing concluded, on grounds of reciprocity, similar io hose contained in our own rejected treaty. The Gerinans offer an extensive market to the sugars and ;odee of Brazil who, in her tura Is a large c',nsu ner of those goods in which the Zollverein is now 'iyaIling England. Thus while England is playing 'f her an,i-savery pranks. the Germans will save