The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-25

wit ior Tho nsxk By that tYfs there wnrsDs
Northern heaven ameng them su1hclens 70
leaven the whole lump. Tims aad enigratloa
Eurepe-CsminG Revelation. 'sirsss
II i now no longer doubtful that Europe is
ON the eve Of one OF those great crises which
have been periodic in her history, and which,
whatever else may have been their effects, have
never passed away without materially affect
ing her political Boundaries. Since the dawn
Of civilization in the West, at least, till within
. comparatively recent period, the hisJ5ry OF
Europe has mainly been the history Of series
of governments in which each in turn Is seen
rising to supreme authority, then sinking into
decay, leaving its place to be filed by a
younger and more powerful rival. The Per-
sian ascendency 10 Eastern Europe sank before
the rising sun Of Maeedon. The immense en-
pire built up by the successes Of Alexander,
and which, had II been possible to transfer the
reins Of power toss hand Of equal Armness to
his own, might easily have been perpetuated,
became prey, at that princes death, to aerce
internal discussions, and left the mastery Of
Europe and Of the world to be contended for
BY the rival Powers Of Carthage and Of Rome.
The genius and determination Of the elder and
younger Scipios triunphing over every obsta-
de, llaide Carthage in svins and LEFT Rome un-
disputed nistress Of tho nations. Hut ne
powerasf Rene. thssgh 1910 enduring &han
that q ID esedsosssors, M mot destined 20
last forever. Wealth and luxury, andStHs
Aslashnsss and Incidence which luxary bessts,
accomplished fer her what the most powerful
Of her enemies had attempted in vain. The
division Of the empire in the time Of valentin,
after series Of inglorious reigns, marks
the period Of its fall; for although galvanized
into little temporary vitality by the genius
and vigof Of Theodosius, its dissolution
was not long delayed The centuries
that follow become increasingly dull
and uninteressins, chiefly because no one
Power has energy enough to take the lead. It
f. ths feisn Or darkness and Of death. AT
lsugthy however. the dulness Il relieved by
the appearance OF Chariemagne and his brave
Frsnhs, under whom the Western empire was
re-established. But 90 much did that empire
depend for its existence on the arm which
created 1t, that when that arm was removed It
crumbled to pieces. The next period Of com
manding interest in European history il the
reign of the Emperor Charles v. For many
years Charles was undoubtedly the most
powerful prince in Europe But the power be
welded was the accident Of ONCE and not the
result of the ascendency Of any one people.
hereditary possessions, the Netherlands, Spain
and the Indies; but no could not transfer to
him the imperial Drown. The empire Of
Charles'y therefore. persisted with him. Uni-
versal empire, which has been the ambition Of
30 many warriors and statesmen in all ages Of
the world, was. perhaps. more nearly reached
in our svn day than at any fsrner, period. 10
the genius Of the First Napoleon, backed up
by the energies Of France. this certsiniy did
not seem, ct one time, impossible. But the
fates we're against il, and not even by. Nspo-
leon was this prize to be won .f
Since the downfall Of Napoleon and The re-
arrangement Of territory in 1876 and 1916, the
European system, with certain slight exoop-
tions, has remained intact till within . recent
date. That system, however, within the last
few years has been seriously disturbed
Changes OF most material kind have alreedy
taken place. The paltry despots 10 the south
ern peninsula have been dismissed Wholesale.
The much talked Of boundaries have at length
beSp rssliz9d, and ltsly g free, united and in
dependent from the Alps to the Adriatic. 10
the north the nurseries Of royal bridsr ard
bridegrooms have one BY one been cleerSd oft,
and 4 powerfdl German monarchy Of the first
class has sprung into existence. Forces
have long been ip operation WHICH TO
intelligent observers clearly proved chat The
treaties of 1916 could not long be binding
II was well known that in certain quarters
they we're openly aud svowedly detested, and
thai In other and less interested quarters the
feeling wss more q less general that they
ought 70 be reoonsidersd TIE sfst aerious
blow dealt against these treaties was at Ma.
eents and Solfsrinc, and II may safely be said
they were buried under the wreck aud ruin Of
Ssdowa. Without consent OF the contracting
parties these treaties have been Hung to the
wiaA Of heaven. AT the present moment,
therefore, the European system is bound
together only BY rope Of sand, II there be
any rope at all.
This Circumstances would be entitled 10 iess
confederation If q feeling Of contentmsnt were
general But contentment Is nowhere, neither
among princes nor people European ques-
tons have not all been settled, either by graft.
hcation OF Italian ambition or by the success Of
Prussian arms. There are quarrels among The
princes themselves and there are quarrels be-
twIxt princes and people. The future is fall
OF uncertainty. The present il all anxiety.
We acc thfs In the watchful attitude of Franco