New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-23
appearance Of Oh years, the German Empire
will rise again us the leading power Of Central

VIII rise again us the leading power OF Ccntrai
Europe.
The dissolution of the old German Empire
in 1900, after IN existence of a thousand yesEs,
was the death of hopeless consumptive.
From the time when the Imperial dignity, re-
newed by the coronation of ChaIlemagne, be-
came permanently connected with the royal
crown of Germany, the German Emperor was
universally recognized as the first among the
chiefs of the Christian world. He ruled not
only over what il now German territory, but
over Northern Italy, Switzerland, Holland, and
Belgium, and large portion of Northern and
Eastern France. His power ard influence stead
lily extended, until, under Frederick Barba-
rosa of the house of Hohenstaufen, the Ger
man Empire attained the zenith of its great
ness, extending over an area of about 100000
square miles. A race like the HOhenstaufens
might have succeeded, as the rulers Of France
and England did, in building up strong,
united nation. But Germany never had a
prince wise and strong enough to overcome
the centrifugal tendencies fostered throughout
nearly all the parts of the Empire. The En-
pcror was more and more Invested of all real
power; even the decisions Of the Diets could
not be enforced, and all attributes Of sover-
eighty fell to tho heads of the numerous
divisions Of which the Empire was composed.
Some OF the parts of the Empire, like Switzer-
land, established their entire independence !;
other portions were lost to rupacious neigh
bors, especially to France. Thus, at the close
Of the last century, the Empire had been re-
duced to n territory of about 2j5O00 English
square miles. with population of 20,O0O,0OO.
If one State, it would still have held front
rank among the countries of Europe; for it
was second, in point of territory, only to Rus
sia, surprising France by at least $4,000 square
miles, while, az regards population, it stood
on a level with both Russia and France. But
while Russia and France were strongly cohe-
sive bodies, Germany was nothing but loose
confederation of nearly 800 States, and the i'm
perial dignity little more than symbol of ma
tOnal unity and a venerable relic of q better
era of German history.
An empire thus constituted fell an easy prey
to the military genius of Napoleon. But if
the soldier found it easy to destroy the de-
caycd house, the statesman made grave mis-
take in expecting that he would be able to
root ont at the same time the inmates Though
their Empire WAS dcfunct, and they were split
into a number of States, the German people
soon achieved their independence from a for
cign yoke. But now they found it, in their
turn, more difficult to reconstruct national
union than to secure their national independ-
ence. The Clasling interests of Prussia and
Austria seemed to be an insurmOuntable OBJ
stacle to the establishment of German In
pire. Strauss, in his admirable letter to Re-
nan, well compares the Confederation which
was established in 1914 to n vehicle unable to
move, as one horse was pulling ahead and an
other back. Bismarck and Motke, in union
with Louis Napoleon, have now solved the
problem. After the wars of 1866 and 1870, and
the consent of the German Governments and
Parliaments to the restoration of the Imperial
dignity, no one will deny that there is again
in Europe q powerful Germany. Some, conf
dent of the ultimate success of the union
movements would have preferred to wait un-
til the Republican party of Germany could
have performed the great task many more re-
greet that for the accomplishment of q union
which, even in its present shape, is cordially
accepted by them, measures have been en-
ployed which they cannot apprOve-but the
great fact admitted by all is the establishment
of German Empire which now in European
pOiltlCo mas IttI Dtsluts hHsSid
The new German Empire will be composed
of IS States, of which four are Kingdoms, three
free cities, and the remainder grand duchies,
duchies, and principaltics. Its total area at
present is 204,7 square miles, or only two
thirds of the German Empire at the time of
Frederick Burbarossa, and four-ffths of the
German Empire at The close of the last CEN
tury. and its population in 1867 amounted to
S8,500,0O0. Both in point of territory and pop
ulatiOn it would still be nearly equal to
France, which had 100000 square miles and 49,
100000 inhabitants. IT, as is now generally
expected, France will have to cede Alsace and
pant of Lorraine to Germany, the latter will
have a population of about 40000,O00, while
that of France will he reduced to about 49,
100000. Counting in, however, the French col
onies, which have population of about $780,
0OO France would, even after the cessiOn of
its German provinces, retain population little
superior to that of Germany. The Constitution
of the new Empire will bear more resemblance
to that Of the United States and Switzerland
than with that of any other European States.
The Federal House of Representatives is
elected by universal suffrage at the rate of one
deputy for every 100000 inhabitants while
the. Federal Council consists of the plenipoten-
tiares of the several States, not, however, rs
in the United States and Switzerland, in equal
numbers, but varying according to the popula-
ton Of the several States. Prussia, however,
though she has more than One-half of the total
population of the Empire, has only II out Of
about 90 votes.
The union once fully cOnsummated, it may
be expected that the struggle for liberal re-
forms will be resumed with new vigor. For
long time to come this struggle may, however,
he greatly affected and modified by a desire
Of both the Governments and the people to