The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-12-27
The Ne9c German Era pil.e.

The instincts Of men and nations are
too strong to be crushed out by any trea-
ties or political arrangements which
kings and emperofs may make. The
treaties of 1915 We're as detestable TO
Germany as they were to France, and
they are of no more power to restrain
her when she is ready to put forth her
strength than were the green Withes
to bind the might of Samson. The
hearts desire and prayer to God Of the
Germans has ever been for a United
Germany, which should present Il for
midable front to the world and give her
due weight in its affairs. And the half
her prayer is already granted, and it
will not be long before she vii! receive
all she asks. In the PLAZA Of 1915 for
the everlasting settlement Of the Balance
Of power ia Europe, the wise men who
adjusted the weights maintained the
small states and encouraged their fede-
ratiye union rs :, eeanterbalance to the
power OF the larger ones. These small
er powers We're a.s a general thing, nests
OF tyranny and oppression. 1t WAS like
the despotism Of tho plantation, in slave
times, compared with that ola Kingdom
or an empire. All Germany ionged to
be united into one great European
Power, with institutions modified by
the advancing spirit OF constitutional
liberty. Ia ISIS ii was hoped the time
had come; but it was not set. The
hour has now struck
Perhaps It was necessary that this in
terval Of TWO generations from the
downfall Of the old German Empire in
1906 should occur before the Inaugural
ton ef the new. Sixty wears is bat q
brief time III che lifetime OF a nation,
and may not be more than lis education
into a new life demanded. The last
sixty years have certainly been fall OF
teachings to kings and peoples, if they
will but lay them to heart. In 1906 the
German Empire, established by Charlie
mango in 500 died after an existence OF
more than a thousand Years. The son
of q COrsican lawyer smote il with the
edge of the sword, and it crumbled into
its first elements. The House OF Aus
tria, which had possessed that throne
for about three hundred and seventy
years was obliged to fail back upon its
hereditary doninions and take the style
AND title OF Austria instead ofGermany.
" n i437 to 1866 the House Of Haps-
bMrr had worn the imperial crown,
which its founder, Rodolph, had achiev
ed century and half before, nominal
ly by election, virtually by descent.
The only exception, we think, was that
of Charles VII, when
1.-The bold Bavarian, in luektess hour,
Trod the dread SUBMITS Of Cnsarian power.
and held them for a few years, till Ma
ria Theresa,
"The queen, the beauty, set the world in
arms
and, prevailing against him, the unhap-
py prince died of a broken heart.
His foes derision and his subjects blame,
He stole to death from the anguish and from
shame.
What could seem more steadtast than
the imperial throne of Germany in the
days of the Empress Queen, little CEN
fury ago, and what more fixed than the
power and pre-eminence of the House
of Austria? And in a quarter of CEN
fury the throne had crumbled into dust,
and now the House of Austria, defeated,
bankrupt despised, is only waiting for
the receipt of fate, sure to come, which
is to doom lis political extinction!
That Prussia is soon to be mistress of
all Germany is a fact which needs no
gift of prophecy to predict. 1t is by
the force OF political and moral gravita-
ton that its scattered parts will come
together into one body. and not by me-
chanical compulsion. The north of
Germany already acknowledges the
sway Of the king of Prussia, and the
south will not remain long beh!nd.