The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-08
The New German Confederation.

great work and made the work nearly perfect.
II is only few years ago since Prussia was
reckoned among the second or third rate Pow
ers. In the German Diet she was only one Of
many Powers who had right to vote; her
voting powers were on the highest platform;
but although she was equal to Austria in
voting right and privilege, her position was,
after all, secondary. The Emperor of Austria
was President Of the Diet. The year 1866
revealed Prussia in new character. In tho
name Of Germany she, along with Austria,
drew sharp distinction between Germans and
Danes, or, if the broader term Is preferred,
Scandinavians. Poor Austria was blind to the
Schleswlg-Holst mystery, and before the
year 1866 was ended Austria was expelled
from Germany, the Diet was destroyed, and
Prussia doomed up as Power of the first mag
nitude. Sadowa marked the commencement
of new era in the history Of Europe.
North Germany, willingly or unwillingly,
became from that great day unit, both in
political and military sense. South Germany
entered into the unit not politically, but militia
rily. Prussia, after Sadowa, became, in point
of fact, mistress of Germany. Sadowa fright
ened France; and, since the treaty of Prague,
which Napoleon believed he helped TO shape,
France has been trembling, willing to fight,
yet fearful Of the consequences. The Luxem-
bourg question revealed French feeling,
but it also revealed French timidity.
Prussia was ready for war then,
but France was not. 1t has been
manifest to every thinking and rejecting
man, since the Treaty of Prague was signed,
that time only was necessary to bring France
and Prussia into open collision. Since that date
France has made demands upon Prussia but
every demand has been set aside. Napoleon
first Of all spoke of the Rhine provinces; but
Bismarck would not listen. He next spoke
about Luxembourg but Bismarck, knowing his
strength, was stubborn as before. Once again
France had to yield. France, however, feeling
and confessing her inability to meet Prussia in
the field, begins to set her army in order. Mar
shall Mel did France good service but the
Marshal died, leaving the carrying ont of his
plans in other hands. The rest is known to
every reader of the newspapers. The Span
ish throne was begging an occupant. Prim,
in his despair, after doing his best to please
the French people and the French Emperor,
fell upon German prince who was not I'M
willing to accept the Spanish throne This
German prince happened to be Hohenzol-
lern-a distant relative Of the royal family of
Prussia. This was too much for France to
bear. A German prince, and he q Hohen-
zollern, on the throne of Spain was making
Prussia too strong, was direct insult to
France, and was not to be tolerated We all
know how Prussia yielded. We all know how
know, too, that, in spite Of Prussiaa courtesy,
France declared war. The results Of the war
are before our readers Prussia has been
gloriously triumphant France has been most
ANONYMOUSLY defeated. The German armies
to-day are besieging the French capital, and
South Germany seeks admission into the
Confederation of the North. The result of
the whole is that Germany has become the
largest and the most compac. nationality on
the face of the globe.
Tho new Confederation, which will i'm
mediaiely include no fewer than forty millions
Of souls, and which, when it gathers in, as
it must, all the outside Germans on her
borders, viii number population Of some
sixty millions, gives US striking and sug
gestive illustration of the new era which has
dawned upon the world. The old-fashioned
system Of small natonalities and many gov
ernmcnts is dead, or, If not dead, is dying
fast Up until the time Of our American war
il was not believed that large territory and
large population could be held by one govern
ment Oar war made an end of this doubt
ing. II was fell all over the civilized world
that, while We had made q gigantic leap, we
were acting in perfec. harmony with the spirit
Of historical progress. The moral of our
war-large nations and few governments
was caught up in Europe and Germany, IN
der Prussan lead, has made bold and most
successful stride in the right direction. LII
few months, we cannot say years, Germany
viii be a unit which will imply population of
some sixty millions. The next great step will
be the union OF Scandinavia, taking in Den
will follow, If it is not first, will be the uniica-
ton Of the Latin races in Europe. Great
Britain is already talking of her difficulty aud
considering the propriety OF grand federal
union which will embrace all her remote
dependencies-an arrangement which, if it can
be carried out, will secure to her her old posi-
ton as mistress of the seas. The Germans,
the Latius, the English-speaking peoples
these are to be the great Powers Of the future.
IL is not our business to-day to say which viii
win, but. remembering the fact that the whole
of North America speaks the English tongue,
we cannot help arriving at the conclusion that
the time is approaching when there will be
nnlu ono GRAND nnvernmpnI and one common