The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-19
SPIRIT or rzn PRnss.
Editorial Opinions OF the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics-compiIed Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
THE REVOLUTION IN EUROPE AND
THE DIFFICULTY OF KING WILLIAM.

BENJAMIN Disraeli, described exactly the
situation of Europe when he spoke TO the
Bucking ghamshire yeomen of vanishing
empires and rising republics" True, he
qualified this expression, to soothe and hatter
the English aristocracy, by saying that
England, having made Parliamentary and
other reforms, all opportunities of internal
disquitt were removed, and that she was now
in q condition to witness unmoved the great
revolution that is going on in other parts of
Europe This expression of vanishing en-
pires and rising republics was bold one for
Tory statesman and the leader of the Tory
party to utter; but it stated the truth, and
Mr.. Dsraeli is too fearless and too much i'm
bued with the spirit of the age to conceal it.
His words, qualified as they we're by the
assertion that England would remain un-
moved, have the ring of keen satire,
aud in the depths of his heart he
probably felt that. No man compre-
hends better the popular movements and ten
denotes of the age, and the import of the
great public demonstrations in London and
other parts of England in favor of the French
republic has not escaped his notice. What
ever he may say to quiet the monarchists and
aristocracy of England about their safety in
consequence of the modicum of reform
granted to the people, he knows very we'll
that the revolution is taking deep root in
Great Britain. He must know that the aris-
exclusive in Europe, that no monarchy is
more welded to dynastic rule and privileges,
and that the mass of the people have little to
say in the Government. With all his pre-
tended Tory proclivities we rather think he
contemplates the progress of revolution in
England and is casting an anchor to wind
ward so that he may take the helm as the
leader and regulator of the democracy. At
any rate, England has felt the impulse of the
revolutionary movement of the day, and must
march with it.
But interesting as the situation of England
is that of the Continent is more SO. The
revolutionary movements there are on the
grandest scale. Nothing in history is CON-
parable to them. They eclipse that extra
ordinary movement of the first French revo-
luton, or of that more general one in 1913.
Society Is moved to its very depth. And all
this within few weeks. The political, moral,
social, and the other elements of society are
in fermentation. The stupendous war be-
tween Germany and France has let loose all
the forces of civilization and has brought
into agitation all the ideas of ancient and
modern times. Papal sovereignty, which has
existed over thousand years, is going down
under it. The Latin race in the south of
Europe, in France, Italy, and Spain, is deeply
imbued with republican and democratic
ideas, and under the impulse of the war is
developing republican institutions. Even
in Germany the first mutterings of revolu-
tien are heard Notwithstanding their pre-
sent admiration of King William, who has
brought so much glory and strength to Ger
many, the tone of the people is changing
toward France since she has proclaimed the
republic. Expressions of sympathy are already
heard. How could it be otherwise? In 1913,
when the revolution in Paris stirred up the
democratic elements of Europe, every State
and great city of Germany were intensely
agitate6. The people who rose and demanded
republican institutions then cannot be indif-
ferent now. The telegraph and public press
have done great deal since that time to edu-
cate the people in their rights on political
matters These mighty agents of modern
civilization convey intelligence rapidly to
every man of the wonderful events that are
transpiring and teach all to inquire into the
causes and principles that underlie and are
developed by them. We cannot suppose,
therefore, the revolution will be arrested
The probability is it will spread farther and
wider
From this point of view we can readily see
the difficulty which the King of Prussia is
in. He has raised or rather the events of
the war have raisedf what to him is q mon
strous spectre. He, the absolutist monarch,
who, when Crown Prince of Prussia, waged
such relentless war against the revolutionary
movements of 1915, cannot but look with
slalm upon the republic in France and the
tendency, as a consequence, to republcanism
throughout Europe. The obje of the war
as first proclaimed, the subjugation of the
Bonapartes, is accomplished. The French
republic is willing-nay, anxious-to make
peace; vet he follows up his victories relent-
Iessly, and now threatens Paris itself. He is
aveIse to make peace with the republic
because he hates and fear republicanism; yet
there js no other government than that of the
republic in France. Here is his dilemma. 1t
would not be surprising if the reports of his
insanity should prove true before long, con-
sidering the difficulty he is in and the extra
ordinary stress upon his mind.
Reports come thick from Europe that King
William contemplates restoring the Orleans
family and that he will not under any cir
cumstances, treat with the Republican Gov
ernment. While we have no doubt he would
be glad to solve the question in this way we
can hardly think he will venture to force a
monarchy upon the French people-a mon
archy that but few are willing to accept-at
the point of an enemy bayonets. These re-
ports, as well as most of those about restoring
the Bonapartes, icome probably from the
royalists and imperialists, with a view OF
operating on public sentiment. Then, as to
replacing Napoleon on the throne or restoring
the regency, with view to make treaty OF
peace, that seems more impracticable and
preposterous still. How can the King OF
Prussia imagine the French people will sub
NIT to a dynasty that has disgraced ant
ruined France? NJ. Picard, the present
Minister of Finance in France, in very in
teresting conversation with correspondent
of the Herald, which we published on Thurs
day last, said:-"Ihe empire, now defunct
has left France without an army, left he
without arms and without money" Again
he said, this deplorable war ''was provoked