The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-19

only restore domestic harmony once more, but
would elevate the character of the country in
the eyes of all nations.
The European Congress-Impertalism in
the Ascendant.
By the Vanderbilt we have four days later
news from the Old World The prominent
event of Europe at the time of her departure
was the proximate meeting of the general Con-
gress at Paris, which is announced to take
place on the 9Th Of next month.
This Congress presents several remarkable
features which are worthy of attention. First,
it is to be formally attended by all the Powers
which met at the celebrated Congress of Vienna
in 1915, with few additions of secondary
States, and is the first formal gathering of those
Powers since that time. Second, France is re-
presented in it by the Napoleonic dynasty,
which all of these Powers bound themselves at
Vienna forever to exclude from the French
throne, and the Congress meets under the agis
Of the Napoleonic, and not of the Austrian
eagle, as before. Third, that England takes
very little part in the Congress, sending no
special representative, but merely authorizing
her ambassador at Paris to take sufficient in
terest in it to know what is going on, and to
explain her views when occasion shall ,rise.
No one knows, probably not even the pri; .,ipal
Powers themselves, what the Congres viii
do; but it meets under influences widely
different from those which ruled at tn. Inc Of
its predecessor Then the nation aad Just
come out Of struggle with the first Napoleon,
to which the dynasties had excited 'e peoples
by the promise of constitutional forms Of 60
vernment. Some of these promises were rati-
fed by the Congress itself, but few of them
were ever performed. Now Europe has just
recovered from the shock of contending empe-
rors, and imperialism meets 30 lay down the
chart Of dynastic politics for perhaps genera
ton. That is as long as its determinations can
be expected to bind the development of the
| age, if, indeed, they endure so long.
| The circumstances under which the Congress
meets render unnecessary any formal RECESSION
| of the covenants of 1915. The admission of
France under its present ruler is the practical
and most effective abrogation that could be
had Of the pact to exclude the Napoleonic dy-
nasty from Europe. 1t not only shows that it
is non-efective, but in requiring no previous
declaration that it is void, the Bourbon claims
are treated with silent contempt which marks
their approaching extinction. In the adhesion
Of England to the Congress we have formal
remuneration Of the old tory policy on her part,
which, under George the Third, endeayored to
change the destinies of the Continental
nations and dynasties and in the almost
silent participation which she has deter
mined to accept, there is evident a
disposition to have as little connection as
possible with the political combinations of the
unlimited monarchies. Europe is thus left at
the mercy of three men-Louis Napoleon,
Alexander and Francis Joseph. Their counsels
will determine the action Of the Congress; and
from the conflict of their different interests may
we alone expect any concessions to the aspira-
tons of the people.
From what has already transpired it is not
probable that they will force the italian
duchies to receive their banished rulers, and it
is very possible that they may consent to their
annexation to the kingdom of Piedmont This
will create strong Italian power in the north
ern part of that peninsula; but it leaves the
Legations at the mercy of the Pope, and Naples
under the rule Of one ofthe worst ofdespotisms.
Thus the leaven of revolution will be left
in Italy to work out the results begun in Paris
in 1889, and continued in 1880 and lS4S. The
Congress may renew towards her the profess
sions which its predecessor made to Germany;
but the PaPacy will resist their being fulfilled
as sturdily as Austria has resisted the constitu-
tional reforms which were promised to the
smaller States around her. England has steadily
| declined to intervene in the Papa question.
and Europe has, therefore, no hope Of safety
from the dangers with which she is menaced
by the retrograde policy Of the Court Of Rome,
supported by the Emperor of Austria, but in
! the common sense of Louis Napoleon and Alex
| ander of Russia. It is no doubt in view of
this state Of facts that the sessions Of the Con-
gress are SO generally expected to endure for
some months The imperfect understanding at
villafranca will be discussed and referred over
and over again, until the winter has passed
and the season for military operations is again
at hand, when a new series Of events may COM
bine to overthrow all the calculations Of tie
high priests Of kingcraft.