The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-17
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Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
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THE NEW LEADER OF EUROPE.

struggle in Europe may have, whether France
shall make desperate effort and throw back
the invaders, or Napoleon be hurled from his
throne and provisional government erected
or Prussia be induced to make peace, holding
the old Alsatian provinces as security for in
Identification of the war expenses whether
these or still more marvellous effects follow
this brilliant campaign of the German forces
one event shines forth clear in the dim
future, crowded as it will be with grand
achievements and the changing destinies of
empires. 1t is that from this, the momentous
year for many decades, and perhaps centuries
to come, new great power leads European
civilization.
The leadership of Europe has been held in
succession, or has been shared, by many of
its chief nations. In the time of Henry VIII
and Elizabeth, the controlling power of the
civilized world was unquestionably Spain, or
the Germanic Empire of which it was the
head. For a period succeeding, Holland
held the van of commercial progress. and
controlled the ocean, followed by England.
But the struggle for the continental leader
ship lay in general between Germany, al
ways broken and at war with ITSELF and
France, which made up for inferior numbers
and power by the martial qualities of its
people. This struggle continued with varying
fortunes for centuries, Teutonic firmness, for
the most part, repelling and quenching
French ardor. The same backgrounds
which appear in this war have been stained.
century after century, with German and
French blood, and have been made glorious
by the heroism and generalship of the great
commanders of both races. Through all
these years of contest, however, it can never
be said that Germany, as a unit, was pitted
against France.
At length the democratic uprising of
France, guided by the genius of the greatest
military commander of modern times, gave
that country the victory in the century-long
struggle, and put Germany under her feet.
France was now at the head of Europe
After Napoleon's fall, England may be said
for certain period to have been the control
ling European power, until the vast popula-
tion of Russia and the increasing respect for
her military forcel placed her at length in the
front rank of the great powers During
the last fifty years, however, England
has gradually sunk from her position;
the Crimean war and her internal
difficulties have displaced Russia; and,
until the victory of Sadowa, the increasing
wealth and power of France, with her CEN
trail position and the audacity of her military
chiefs, had given her the pre-eminence in
Europe. During the sixteen years before
1866 France was unquestionably the leading
power of the civilized world. And however
we may admire French genius and capacity
for organization, all must admit that the
great influence of this brilliant people was
thrown on the side of the worst evils of civili-
zation-of standing armies of fettered
presses, personal government and C@sarism,
as the best form of political administration.
Wherever France should control, whether in
Italy, OF Algiers, or Mexico, or Spain, there
would prevail 'Napoleonic ideas" govern
ment by one for the sake of one, military
glory, universal suffrage of the ignorant
supporting a military chief, and all the op-
preston of free thought by an Imperialist
rule. Her leadership in Europe has been
hindrance to true progress and civilization.
The victory of Sadowa showed a new and
formidable rival arising into supremacy.
Since 1924 Germany had hardly been
known as power on the Continent. For
brief period then, the great German masses
seemed to unite, and, despite all divisions of
government and religion, to hurl themselves
as one power on the invaders. The fruits of
this great popular uprising, instead of
cementing union, seemed only to increase
separation and strengthen despotism in the
fatherland. Through all succeeding changes
the one cry and passion of the German peo-
Pile has been for "unity." But even revolu-
tion did not give them that, and it was re-
served for an arbitrary statesman and an
absolute sovereign to win for Germany what
her people could not gain, popular unity
The natural results of the brilliant campaign
of 1866 were to sweep away all the petty
barriers of government and ceremonial which
had SO long sepaaated German communities,
and to make Germany from the Baltic to the
Maine, one nation, and the rival of France in
European leadership. The campaign of 1870
will do more. 1t Yields Germany into one
compact mass from the North Sea to the Bava-
rian Alps, and places this vast community at the
head of European civilization. No such
grand and momentous event has happened
since the overthrow Of France in 1914. A
Teutonic instead of Latin race leads Europe.
and nationalism in place of C@sarism, parlia
mentary institutions instead of personal 90
vernment, peaceful development under con-
Stitutional forms, rather than military glory
and Imperial rule, will now be the models
presented to the world. Teutonic serious
ness, Teutonic love of liberty in Church
and State, and the Teuton's dispo-
sition for peace, (unless he feels his
rights trampled on will be the qualities
of the ruling race. The Latin races have
done their part-and not always an inglori-
GUS one-in the worlds history. Now more
earnest and moral and free races must guide
the helm of progress. Professionalism and
parliamentary government must lead Eu-
ropean advancement. By a marked coinci.
dence the Pope ceases from his temporal
power with the fall of Cesarism.: A new
European era opens, with a vast Germanic
State controlled by parliaments and without
standing armies-marching at the head OF
civilization and progress.
INCOMPETENT DOCTORS.
R,o.a Az Y Tk.ibs,ns