New-York tribune., 1867-03-30
TIE NEW PRINCIPLE ~ EJROPEdN
IITI(S

Congress of Vienna Is last cllmDiilS lo pi'',''
Until tbe great movements of the year 1913, the
leading statesmen could delude themselves Dy
fine belief that partial changes like the cOnsttu-
tion of an independent Greece and Belgium
might vet save the structure OF the WHOLE
Since then. the decomposition has been gong on
at n rapid rate, and the irrcpressible character
of thc national tendencies has become more ana
more apparent. The French revolution OF le4S'
and the establishment of the Second Empire
the liberation and the consolidation oil the
Italian States. the demolition of the old Ger
man Confederation, and the aggrandnement OF
Prussia. were not mere repairs Of local defects
brd q reconstruction of very large portion
of the cdfice, forebOding, moreover the
spcedy collapse of the remainder, and
the rearing of European State system
unon an entirely new basis. Heretofore
the relation of the European states to
each other had not been regulated by any llXcu
moral principlc. The SOvercigns generally held
To the opinion that the frontiers ol every ota'e
ought to remain as they had been flXed III
Vienna When changes seemed to be uh1Noiu-
able, the principle which guided the poiay oi
most or all of the great Courts was the pres
crvation of the balance Of power, when meant
that each of the Governments Ol the
five large Statcs-Russia, Prussia, AuSlfla,
France. and Great Brtain--was anxious TO pre-
vent an increase of power to any OF It's llVaiS
which would iuiure its own rank III the iamiiy
or rotious As TO the grievances of nations
like the Italian, German, Polish, they were
either treated IA entirely imaginary, OF only
used rs prctcxt for making political capital
or crrccting the aggrandizcment of the Power
which volunteered patronage OF the oppressed
nationaliticS.
The principle of nationality which was first
openly advocated by Louis Napoleon. was a
stutlinc novelty. If carried through, u might
seriously affect all the great Powers. IL nat
urally anickcned the revolutionary mOvcmcntSin
most of the European countries, ana III case oi
war France might expect gmtitude from the
nations which it had. aided in establishing
tleir national unity. The effects of the new
principle during the last fifteen years lie open
b.fors the ewes of the world. Every one knows
that il has had a large share in promoting the
unity of Italy and Germany. H. therefore,
Louis Napoleon, from advocating the mover
principle. expected radical changes III the MAJ,
hi he nGRa2%nes ls %e HhPSaa hR{s SSS@ rG% G1 o
means of if. France would attain higher
7
position in Europe he has been woefully dis
appointcd. italy and Germany have both he
come more powerful than can De- agreeable to
Napoleon; and the prospects of his admIniStra-
tion for the future are anything but favor
able.
During the past year IN particular the
foreign policy of France has been 50 unSuc-
ccssful that it was expected that the Opposition
-.
would use it for a powerful attack upon the
Government. The speech of IhicN does not
fully realize this anticipation. He undertakes
to establish two points: first. that the principle
of nationalitcs which Louis Napoleon Is en-
deavoring to carry through in European poll
ties is altogether false; and secondly, that 1t
has been most injurious To the interest OF
France. The second point he easily es-
tablishes in the opinions of his hearers :;
but in bis attempt to prove the FIRST he
si.nally fails IN order 10 attack the puncl-
ple of nationaitics, hc undertakes the dcfcnSe
of the monStrOus theory of the Balance oi
! Power. According Ia VI. Thlcrss own cN-
| planation, the adoption Of this theory 10y the
| Government of France would mean opposition
| to ony movement that would Increase the
power of another especially neIghborlhg)
nation, while not the least objection would
be made To the largest possible cNten-
sion of the frontier of France. 1t Is
plain that the adoption of the same
principle by other great Powers would make an
era of peace impossible for each one ol them
would naturally seek to outgIow and ovcueach
thc othuS For nations torn aSunder ana OPP
pressed rs Italy has been been for so many years
Thcrs does not feel the least sympathy. lie
would have been willing to give the Italians
liberal institutions, but mty-ncycr. The
same feeling is shown toward the Crctans and the
Christian tribes of Turkey. lie does not like, he
saws the Turk, but he thinks his rule preferable
TO that by which the Christians now try TO
replace it. These revolving sentiments were
promptly disowned by Gamicr Pages, one OF
fine members of the Provisional Government of
1913. but they were, nevertheless, very detri-
mental to the position of the Liberal opponent
Of the Government The French policy of
Louis Napoleon had never before been more
liable to attack, and it was Therefore unfoltu-
nate that the frst great speech against 1t was,
on the whole, n failure.