The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-19


are adrift, and it viii take some time and con-
and thither to put them into new form as q
party for the future. Meantime the republic
cans have 1t oil their own way, and may, If
they are prudent, hold the government for
twenty years to come.
Napoleon's Now Game-Freedsm Of Alliances
/ I'm Europe.
Europe cannot settle quietly into the new
relations that might result from the Prussian
triumph Of the past summer The reconstruc-
ton Of the German confederation, with closer
/ and more forced cohesion in the parts and
different head, is not to be the end and only
| result Of the war that has driven Austria out
OF Germany. This is evident from what is
heard of the readiness of some great Powers
to push at the present moment traditional
policy, and it might be inferred from the
necessities that other Powers will be under to
secure their safety, not to say their existence. in
accordance with the new conditions Of national
| life that are likely to prevail. The most OBJ
vious result Of the German war was the de-
! struction of the established order-the rupture
| and abolition Of that fundamental public com
| pact in virtue of which the several Powers
were known political quantities.; and as this
order has been destroyed without regard to
the common consent Of Europe, without
recognition by all the Powers of its necessity,
so there seems no general authority anywhere
to limit The results, and to say what may or
must be the only consequences and changes.
The arrangement Of Europe such as it was
established by diplomatic assemblies at Vienna
and Paris, that definite balance, has been
thrown into the air like handful Of coppers,
and at the new balance is to depend very
| much upon scramble. When the causes that
Immediately induced this war were first in
operation the Emperor Napoleon proposed
Congress, in order that common uttefance,
representing the power Of Europe, should lay
down the rules of conduct under which the
several States must act. But Earl Russell,
with short-sighted smartness, opposed that
proposition and killed it, and consequently
Europe has now no general authority or I'M
derstood line of action to regulate the changes,
and each Power pursues the dictates Of its own
ambition, knowing no other limit than that of
it's power.
This state Of affairs is recognized by the
Emperor Napoleon In the declaration that
"the new principle that governs Europe is
freedom of alliance freedom Of the courts to
choose their own associations and make their
political games wherever they can see the great
est advantage, as opposed 10 that definite and
often homogeneous classification and association
Of Powers hitherto regulated by international
congresses But the sentence by which the
Emperor recognizes the new conditions
in Europe also dimly indicates the
means by which he apparently ex-
poets to keep pace with the game for supre-
macy Of power and influence. IF the prin-
ciple Of the freedom Of sovereign Powers to
find their own future places in the continental
| system is dangerous, a. 1t opens the way TO
vast combinations that may throw the Euro
pean world into the hands Of Powers that hap
pen to be at once the strongest and the least
scrupulous, II has also the advantage Of forcing
together for mutual support Powers assimi-
lated for any reason whatever Thus II seems
| probable that we are to have an alliance Of
Russia and Prussia for designs against Austria
and Turkcy-designs that would combine on
one purpose nearly the whole tremendous
power Of Northern Europe. But the very
principle In virtue of which such coalition
could be secured makes 1t possible to unite
nearly all the rest of continental Europe
against 1t; for In virtue Of this principle
France could at once boldly pass that gulf
Of traditional hostility that has separated her
from Austria through such terrible wars, and
consistently stand before the world as the
ally Of her most ancient and inveterate enemy.
| Ccriainly it, Is in that direction the Emperor
| Napoleon glances when he tells the world that
Austria, enfranchised from a pasta German
| past-tbat was hostile 10 France summoned TO
new life, governed by principles French in
1 origin, and animated by those sentiments Of
| progress that are the peaceful bonds Of mod
ern society, should no longer be looked upon
as the enemy OF France, since "nether hos
tility nor interest" separates the two countries.
But this principle will act In other directions
far more strongly than between France aud
Austria. II will tend to force the coalition
especially Of all Powers assimilatcd by race,
history or aspiration. In this way It will
assist the Emperor Of the French in carrying
out what has several times seemed 70 be one
Of his favorite projects-the more or less init
mate consolidation of the various branches Of
tho Latin race. Prussian prepondcrance--
unincation TO a certain extent Of Germany
had already made this possible. At ono time
any steps toward an intimate alliance or union
Of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal would
havobeen regarded jealously in other parts OF
Europe. But Germany has gone further In the
creation Of great Power, and Europe has
looked on in silence. Germany cannot object