The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-04
THE FUTURE OF EUROPE.

Prussia. but few centuries back, MAS fef OF
| Poland The latter was then one of the most pow
crful kingdoms of Europe, while the Hohenzol-
j lerns were scarcely known out of ths immediate
vicinity o; their petty markgraviate. Now Poland
is no more, and Prussia takes rank as frst-class
power in the family Of European States. Tho dis
membermont of Poland, and utter annihilation OF
it's national existence the only case of its kind
that We know Of, that has occurred IN modern his
tory. Tie great FREDERIC, it is said, first propos-
ed the Partition Of Poland, and was mainly instru-
mental in it's prompt and effective execution. The
principle of ssnatonality," now fast becoming re-
cognized as one OF the organic principles of public
! law in Europe, had not then been born. Success
sion. " and the interminablo wars growing out of
that principle ever so fertile in disputes then set
tied all questions of sovereignty. Poland had a
distinct, well-deHned geographical existence, and
population as homogeneous, perhaps, as any other
State of Europe of tho same c1tent yet neither the
stipulation Of trcaties nor the utmost aversion Of
her people to their foreign conquerors, could pre-
vent the disintegration OF that country; nor hav-
ing once lost their national existence, have they
been able, in struggle OF hundred years,
to take single stop towards restoration
There wae a quasi Kingdom of Poland under
Russian dominion, and there was also Prussian
Poland; but oven this semblance OF respect to na-
tional prejudice has recently been Withdrawn; and
tie late Kingdom of Poland is now mere Russian
province, and Posen has boen Us thoroughly Prus-
! sianized as Brandenburg or Westphalia. There is
now 4 large admi1turo of Germans in tho Prussian
1 II thiN1r fbara a
any serious opposition to, or even discomfort with,
Prussian rule in that part of the dominions. It
is otherwise with Russian Poland. Tho Gear, s'the
natural ally" Of the great American Republic, has
no zqueamish qua;Ins about oppressed nationali-
tics, nor any sentimental prejudices in favor Of
Polish patriotism. The Pope has received his
walking papers. The Gear thinks himself quite
competent to govern the Catholic Church in the
s;District" that was formally known as the King
dom Of Poland. Russian is to be the language Of
tho people, and the Greek ere long to be their re-
ligion.
One Of the results of the French Revolution is
tho acknowledgment of the doctrine that govern
ments are for tho benefit OF the people, and can
therefore only exist with the consent Of tho gov
crned. It took two revolutions to engraft this
principle on the English Constitution. Tho trainers
Of tho American Republic were the first, perhaps,
who set it forth clearly and distinctly in ipssss
verbis Three French Revolutions have since reite-
rated, in letters OF blood this same dogma; until
now, at length, it begins to be quoted as public
maxim In 1859. tho Emperor ssof the French
cspoused tho italian cause, against Austria, osten
sibly upon this ground; and during the past year,
there was non-nteryeLtion on tile part of tho same
monarch, in a renewed quarrel between Austria
and Italy, and tor tho same reason. The people
have right to say who shall rule over them.
This, however, within certain limits. The ssPeace
Of Europe" is not to be disturbed without cause
and the incipient would-be nationality must haro
some reasonable ground of success, whether from
inherent strength or political complications Of the
oppressor.
When Italy rsso to throw off the yoke of Aus
tria, she had the sympathy OF the world when
Ireland rises periodically, she is put down, the
rebellion is stamped OUT" just the rebellion"
was in the late Southern States Of this Republic.
Had Franco and En-, land felt assured of our ulti-
matc success, there can be no doubt thoy would
have boon fully convinced OF our right to choose
our own political relations, IS weas our own form
of government, and this, Exeter Hall, stite,ts,
egatate ETC.. to The contrary Notwithstanding.
The oppressed inhabitants of tho isles Of Greece
have risen against tho Turks, and desire ncorpo-
ration with Greece, their mother and their kinfolk
This desire must soon bo fulfilled. There will be
much war and great bloodshed before it's accom-
plishment, but Greek unity is as certain within
few years as Italian unity is now, and as united
Germany will be within very brief space of time.
Even Russia, VINO s'cannot sec it, in tho case Of
Poland, sheds scalding tears over the woes Of the
poor Candiots, who ruled by Turks, Christians
oppressed by Mussulmans. That Catholic Poand
IS similarly situated in regard to Greek Russia is
neither hero nor there"
The tendency in Europe at present is to great
States, aud it is u great stride in modern civza-
ton that homogeneity OF population, rhther than
wars, conquosts and diplomacy, fixes the bounda-
ries. True, tho sword has been frequently called
in Of late to enforce this right but tho probability
s that when onco this present transtive period is
past and the several nationalitios OF Europe have
formed their respective Stntos, there will then be
such an equipose Of political power State
surrounded on all sides by equally powerful coun-
tries, that there will be little no temptation to
war. The immense 'speace establishments" OF Eu
rope, disgrace to the age, may then, to great
extent, be dispensed with; for if Soveregns arc
afraid to so to war, on the hand, or have but
little induccment to do SO, which amounts to the
same thing, there is no reason for keeping q large
army on foot; and thero is no reason why, in few
years. there should not be confederation Of Euro
poan States, who should determine by convention
the extent Of military forco to be kopt BY each.
In fact, the army would then be indeed, as it al
ways has boon in theory, more constabulary
force, needed for the proper execution OF the laws
But before the flldlment of this beau ideal of
the Peace Congress can be reasonably expected.
there must be somo important changes in the
Map OF Europe as at present constituted. Ger
many must become one under Prussia, or govern
ed BY q Parliament, as circumstances and events
may develop j; Pant Gcrmanism will be the measure
Of the new Empire; the German provinces of Aus
tria will therefore be detached from THAT country,
and incorporated NTH the faihcrland,