Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-09-09
The Balance of Power.

There would seem to be reason for believing
that the European powers that are not parties to
the war came to a kind Of un1erstan ling not
to permit an increase of the power Of France,
had that country been victorious in the contest.
Had the French beaten the Prussisns, it is all
but certain that Louis Napoleon would not have
been allowed to take the Rhine Provinces, to Oh
tain which was one Of his reasons for going 10
war. As the fortune of war has been against
the French, it would seem to follow that the neu-
trail powers ought to intervene to prevent an IN
crease Of Prussian strength. Such, says the
Boston TrGvsiler, should be the course OF things
according to the old usages Of Europe, which
/ have prevented any marked increase IN The
/ strength Of any one of the leading nations since
the rearrangemeat effected in 1910, with the
single exception Of what has been done in Ter
many. France, at the beginning Of the wai'
was much the same that she was in 1sl6, the
small additions made BY Napoleon III. really adj
ding little to her strength. Austria has lost
what she held in Italy, but her Italian posses
sions were always source Of weakness to Aus
tris, not an addition to her power. The war
Of 1886 put down that Russian supremacy in
Europe which had become 50 offensive Matters
remained unchanged till the success Of the Prus-
slams in 1866 placed their country at the
supreme point and now that France
has failed to shake their supremacy,
and that they have doubled their strength,
it is probable that the oil modes Of
European proceeding will be revived. TO pre-
vent Prussia from becoming too tyrannical
Prussis has doubled her power. In 1863, Prus-
sia's population did not much exceed l9,OO9,ooO
In 1870, she has more than 100000 people,
the events Of the present war showing that all
Germany outside Of Austria IL governed from
Berlin. Now, if the question we're simply as TO
the unity Of Germany under the Hohen1o.lerns,
We do not see how the other powers could inter .
fere TO preyen, that unity being accomplished .
surprising all Germans, Southern as well As
Northern, should desire to see it effected but
with the defeat Of the French comes another
question whether this same uuitei Germany
shall be increased by the addition to it of Alssce
AMI Lorraine, with their three millions Of people
This is an European question. Cor if Germany
should be sl'ovel to help herself to large parts
Of France she would not be long in helping her
self to Austrian Germany, and so in short
time she would become a nation Of fifty millions,
with a capacity for conquest such IS no other
European power ever has had, or ever can have.
A,realy Prussia is more insalen, than was M
1oleon l. in ls17-l2 and, surprising her to have
Der Way now. she could be withs,ooi only by an
alliance as great as that which put down the FIRST
French Emperor. The question with the Euro
,esn nations IT, whether they will stay her march
~ presen: demonstrations, ot night her Few
.ear. hence, when she may have become much
tronger than she il today A demonstration
night be successful u1v,-war might be a fall
Ire then. It j. well for the Prussi,us .. tass,
4 WIS, they could 30 against an alliance, b4tt
t As certain IS any future thing well can be that
be states 5ao couli be restored we've crest
'aIo7eal alliance 20 BE- formed FOR i;s restoration