The New York herald., 1870-09-23

If the Right Honorable Benjamin Dlsraell Ii
not prophet or o prophets son there are
many sensible people who think that be ought
to be the one or the other or both. 1t Is only
few days since he congratulated the British
people on their being able, amid peace, secu-
rity and prosperity, to look abroad and ENJOY
the spectacle Of 'falling empires and rising
republics "Falling empires and rising
republics, 1t was universally felt, presented a
picture of the age which was too true not to be
recognized at once. The phrase has already
passed into the common parlance Of man.
kind-perhaps the best possible test Of its
merit 1t is only few short months since the
same gifted author gave to the reading public
his magnificent novel, ''Lothair"--s novel which
is a perfect photograph Of the age, more
perfect to-day than when it was first given to
the world. With AN insight and prescience
that belong to his race Disraeli prepared us
for the catastrophes of to-day. When
'Lothair" was published how many believed
that the Ecumenical Council would dare to
proclaim the Pope infalliblea How few were
willing to regard his Madre Nasura, his
Nary Ann and other secret societies az
other than the nero inventions of an enthu-
siasts brainp But the Pope has since been
declared infallible by the Ecumenical Council,
what seemed the most powerful empire In
Europe has fallen-an empire which especially
stood in the way Of the secret societies Of the
South Of Europe; and Rome has become the
capital Of Italy. In spite Of the infallibility
Of Pope Plus the Ninth the secret societies
victories of the armies of Germany they
have accomplished two Of their prln-
cipal purposes. Rome is now Italian for the
first time in many centuries, for the first time,
in fact, since the first invasion Of the barba-
rians of the North; and the greatest enemy Of
the secret societies is reft Of all power. If
Napoleon had been true to Mddre Nature
and Mary Ann in 1859 and 1866 1t is not
improbable that he would still have been the
powerful and honored ruler of the French
empire and people.
What has taken place within the last few
weeks encourages US to believe that other
forces are at work than those which we see.
This sudden collapse of the French empire is
not explained merely by saying that Prussia
was better prepared for war than was France.
A deeper cause must be sought for this sudden
paralysis of the French nation. The right
arm of France is weak. She nervelessly
grasps the sword because she yields to the
influence of power unseen-a power mightier
far than Napoleon and, as may yet be
found, mightier far than King William
and all his German hosts. The fall
of Napoleon has given Rome to the Italians
and thus crowned the edifce of united Italy;
it has given freedom of action to the Iberian
peninsula; it has completed the work of uni
fcation in Germany and although there are
those who will not see 1t it has made possible
a universal republic. The forces which have
made this present revolution are still at work.
In France, in Italy, in Spain, where effort has
In those regions the work will 60 on. But
effort will next be concentrated upon the Bri-
tish Isles, upon New Germany, upon the Scan
dinavian kingdom, and even upon Russia. The
old spirit of the Commuasros, Of the Carbo-
mari, of the TWgend6und, is again alive. Now,
however, 1t is somewhat purified and elevated
by experience and suffering. Divine Theodo-
ras and mysterious captains are pray ing and
working everywhere. Society-political, So
cial, religious--is, all over, feeling and
yielding to the unseen power. Men see the
rottenness of the past. They feel the forceful
impulses Of the present. The late demonstra-
ton in London helps us to know what would
be If it were not for the power of the sword.
The International Workingmen's Society would
make Europe unit tomorrow but for the ex-
change will come we know not. 1t may be
sooner than we are willing to believe possi.
BILE. But, be 1t soon or be 1t late, no one
intelligently looking abroad upon human
society can refuse to admit that he sees falling
empires and rising republics; nor can he deny
that the tendency is toward vaster and
vaster unity.
1t is all vanity to imagine that after peac.
shall have been established between Prussis
and France the crisis will be over. The politi
cal, social and religious revolution must go on
All old things must pass away. All thing
must become new. We will not say that II
this not perhaps far distant future-in thi
triumph of the secret and revolutionary force
of human society, the glories Of the resur
rected Pantheon are to put into the shade tn
splendors Of st. Peters, or that ''starvelinl
saints and winking madonnas are to restor
their usurped affairs to the god Of the silve
bow and the radiant daughter Of the foamin,
sea-" but we will say that changes will tax
place of so violent and radical characte
that ''Lothair" will no longer be mystery.
Wendell Phillips European Affairs.
| We publish to-day trenchant radica
republican article from Wendell Phillips o.
''the eagerness and readiness" Of the masse