The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-25
BOnaparte and BiSmark.
From the ". Y. World.

From the ". Y World.
1t is a sad mistake to suppose that in the
game which for two years past has been play
ing between France and Prussia for the pri-
macy of Europe, all the points, or even the
most important points, have so far been made
by Count Bismark. After the campaign which
ended with the great victory of Sadowa, and
which gave Prussia for a moment the supreme
control of the destinies of Germany, came the
peace of Nikolsburg-the work mainly, as is
now conceded, of the French Emperor-by
which the Prussians were arrested in their
triumphant achievement of German unity.
How serious check was administered to
the ambition of Prussia by the peace of Nix
olsburg Europe is only just now beginning to
appreciate. 1t is true that for the gravity of
the consequences which have since developed
themselves from that peace the vehemence
and obduracy of the Prussian Government in
attempting to ignore the state of things crea-
ated by the peace must be largely held re-
sponsible. Where Prussia might have con-
ciliated and cajoled she has chosen to brow
beat and to ALLEVIATE the South German COM
munties. She has over-estimated the force
of attraction towards herself which resided
in the influence OF her brilliant military sue
cess upon the South German Imagination and
in the awakening of the historic and tradi-
tional yearnipgs of the German heart for an
Imperial German unity. She has under
estimated the force of repulsion from herself
which resided in the spectacle of Prussian
authority ruthessly crushing out local inde-
pendence and trampling upon provincial pre-
judices as we'll as in the severity of the Prus-
sian military regulations and of the fiscal sys-
tenn of Prussia-suddenly applied to popula-
tons long habituated either to really pros
porous and comfortable autonomy, or to easy
going forms of uneXacting despotiSm.
But even had Prussia made no such mis-
foly cha has la ia toin
that the South German States, which were
protected by the peace of Nikolsburg in their
independence, contained within themselves the
seeds of an inevitable opposition to the Prus-
sian scheme for reorganizing Germany around
the Prussian throne. Those seeds might per-
haps have been easily killed, and the mistakes
of Prussia neutralized, had the Emperor Napo-
leon permitted himself to be carried away
either last year or the year before by the in
tluence of the great events in Germany upon
the popular feeling in France, and upon the
minds of men who, like M. Theirs, were
trained in the craftsmanship of former age.
But the Emperor Napoleon had the good sense
to 60 to Germany in 1867 himself, and the
GOODNESS to see with his own eyes the actual
condition of affairs in the Southern States.
Fortunately for himself and for France, and it
may well be for Germany also, he has since
had the firmness to adhere to the policy OF
patience and forbearance which in that visit,
if never before, suggested itself to mis- judg-
ment as the only policy by which France could
hope successfully to reconcile the development
of German unity with the maintenance of her
own position in Europe.
A striking speech delivered at the recent
grand German Schuetzenfest in Vienna by the
leading journalist of Stuttgart, who is also a
conspicuous member of the Diet of Wurtem-
berg, shows us plainly how much ground the
Emperor has already in this way gained for
the idea of free German Confederation, upon
Count Bsmark's theory of a Prussianized
Germany as set forth in that constitution of
the North German Confederation which Mr..
! George Bancroft has been foolish enough to
| liken to the American Union.
In response to toast given to the "early
restoration of the Fatherland," itself a sufi-
! GENTLY significant form of words DR.. Meyer,
of Stuttgart, after aludipg TO the impression
that German unity would be attained by the
fusion of the whole Fatherland into the "North
German Confederation, " went on to say boldly
and openly, speaking for myself, and in the
name of the majority of the Suabian people,
let me tell you that we hold the firm convic-
tion it is another way which is to lead to the
unity and grandeur of Germany. AT all
events, it is certain that my country cannot
continue to exist long under the present
regime. In 1866 it happened that race OF
German people was violently expelled from
Germany with foreign aid. But necessity is a
/ statesman even stronger than NJ. Won Bis
mark; and it will be, | hope, that statesman
who shall in the end make the unity of Ger
many"
These words, we are told, were received
with immense applause, and the unmistakable
allusion to the violent extrusion of German
Austria from the German family was especially
| cheered.
However important it may be to Prussia, in
this state of the case, to precipitate a conflict
with France, in the hope that such a conflict
may be easily converted from a Prussian into
a German war, it is equally clear that it is mo-
less important for France to postpone such q
conflict. Not to do so now would be fol
Napoleon to sacrifice wantonly all the advan
tages which, at the price of a good deal O
! gIumbing at home and of more OblOquy
| abroad, he has been quietly winning over hif