The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-16

Lasting Peace. OaIy IN Arsisstces
The London Conference has resulted success
fully. The peace treaty has been duly signed.
The process of disarming on the part Of the
threatened belligerents has already COM
menced. Royal and imperial visits Are to be
made To- the Emperor Napoleon, and Paris
will be more brilliant this summer than If war
had been less imminent. To England, and
to England's Queen, the graft
tude of the nations is due. If war
must ensue before reconstructed Europe
settles down on . firm and permanent
basis, it is desirable that the pretext for
unsheathing the sword should have at least
the appearance Of justice. War ON account
OF tue Luxemburg difficulty would have
had no such reason to recommend IL; but
war was Inevitable if some friendly and disin-
terested voice had not been raised for peace
In this instance the voice Of England has not
been raised in vain. Whether the London
Conference, with its happy results, is to be set
down solely to the good sense and kindly feel
ings Of Queen Victoria or to the iarseeing
wisdom as well of Benjamn Disraeli, time will
best explain.
Now, however, that peace 10 secured and
that the question Of general disarmament
is likely to be raised. it is not inopportune
to ask, what 10 the probability Of continued
amly among the nations Of Europef In
answer to this question we have to say at the
ou'set that IL viii not surprise US II . proposal
for general disarming be made by England, IT, as
the result of this proposal, ano.her Congress, on
Q larger scale than the present one, be convened
In London or some other Of the European capi
tails, and II rs the result Of this second council,
the process Of disarming be- gone into by all
the Powers represented with much apparent
sine erity. All this, we are willing to be-
lieve, may take place in the early future.
Nay, more; It Is not impossible that at this
second Congress questions Of immediate dit
fculty may be raised and 80 disposed Of that
the peace of Europe will seem to be secured
for period Of considerable though indefinite
length. We are sorry, however, We cannot
add that firm and lasting peace may safely be
coun ed upon. The condition Of European
society and the temper Of tn, different gov
ernments forbid us arriving at so desirable .
conclusion.
No one who has made himself familiar with
the history Of Europs since the days Of the
Romans downward can fail to perceive that
that continent is on the eve Of il 1t has
not actually entered upon one Of those
transition periods which have been periodic
in its history. For some generations it has
been the great object of European st tesmen
so to proportion the strength Of the lead
ing nations-in other words, so to balance
peace should necessarily be
the result. So far, however, as we have
ever been able to understand the so-called
balance of power, it has been more-a name
than reality. It did certainly SECURE 70 two
Or three Powers preponderance Of authority;
but 1t did not prevent those same Powers from
among themselves when occasion
offered. The balance of power, in the sense in
which it has usually been interpreted, has
never been an efectual guarantee for the
peace of Europe. In spite Of specious appear
ances, which the great Powers have vainly
tried to preserve, the struggle since the
dawn Of civilization In the West has been
and ever must be for the commanding
position. Intervals, certainly, have occurred
during which no nation had courage or
strength enough to take the lead but thee
periods OF inactivity have uniformly passed
away, the struggle has been resumed,
and out Of 1t some one Power has
emerged the acknowledged master Of |
he Continent The empire Of Charlemagne,
lrising out Of the ruins Of Rome, the proud
position acquired by Spain in the time Of |
Charles ", the glory Of France in the days
Of the Grand Monarque, Louis XIV, and the
all but universal empire built up by the First
Napoleon, are illustrations in point. In each
Of those instances dulness or species of
dead equality preceded the struggle which
resulted in the temporary ascendancy OF one
Power. Since the downfall Of Napoleon,
Europe, till ut least within a recent date,
has been at rest No one Power has stood
out towering above the others. II is our
however, that the period is again
close at hand, If not actually reached, when the
struggle tor supremacy must be resumed.
The European continent within the last few
years, has been completely transformed. The
old boundary lines are no more. Since the
Crimean war, but especially since the triumph
Of French arms ct Solferino drove the
Austrians from the plains Of Lombardy and
virtually set Italy ffee, the European equili-
brium has been seriously disturbed. France,
Austria, Russia even, are no longer what
hey once were relatively to each other
Dr. TO the rest Of Europe. Nations strong as
hey have sprung up at each OF their doors
What ID to be the position Of these younger
Powers in the European systemf How is tie
growth Of their strength TO affect the older
nationsf Which OF all the Powers or what
combination Of them is to take the lead, In
what shape and by what means is the Eastern
question TO be set ut restf What is to be
the destiny Of the Iberian peninsulaf What
A..