The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-23
THE NORTH-G GERMAN EMPIRE.

From the London Spectator.
The processes of digestion are not per-
formed in public, and we do not wonder,
therefore, that the success of the Hohenzol-
lerns in assimilating their new acquisitions
attracts comparatively little attention. 1t is,
however, very noteworthy, more especially as
regards the tougher morsels-the States
which must be absorbed without any visible
crunching. That Schleswig- -Holstein, Han
over, Nassau, Frankfort, and the rest should
by degrees acquiesce in their destiny, and
leave Jacobitism to respectable but diminish
ing coteries, was to be expected. Men do not
rise against government so powerful as that
of Prussia without grave provocation, and
grave provocation has not been received,
except by a body of men too few
to make resistance anything but a
dream. The Danish inhabitants of
Schleswig are no doubt oppressed, as they
obtained permission by treaty to choose be-
tween Denmark and Germany, and have
nevertheless, been refused their choice
Whether they would use it if they had it,
would, that is, sacrifice magnificent future
for the sake of avoiding present discomfort,
is another matter, but certainly they have
been deprived of a guaranteed right. But to
the Hanoverian, or Frankforter, or German
Schleswig- -Holsteiner the provocation to re-
volt is very small indeed. He has lost GER
tain power of self-government, which was
pleasant; certain relation to his own special
prince, which was gratifying; certain sepa-
rateness of civilization, which was enjoyable;
and good deal of freedom, which was most
important; but he has gained in return pos
sibility of great careers, a share in the gov
vernment of one of the greatest States in the
world, and rule which is for protective pur-
poses perhaps the most efficient in Europe.
If he pays more taxes, he has his
moneys worth in national dignity,
safety, and, it soon may be, sway;
for if the Hohenzollerns last, they
will yet have ships, colonies, and commerce.
The new Government, moreover, is not of
the kind which people of its own blood, lam
guage, and creed can either hate or despise.
1t is very stern, but it works through laws; it
is too military, but it wins victo-
ries; and if it governs its people too much
governs them through themselves, and in
style which they themselves declare to be
highly efficient. There is probably no coun-
try in the world where life is SO safe as in
Prussia-always provided you do not quarrel
with an oficer-and none where property is
SO effectually protected There is no petty
persecution, except for Danes; no affectation
of scorn, no attempt to treat any. new sub
jects in ways in which old subjects are not
treated. The Hanoverian who fought for
King George is complimented for fidelity.
The strangely successful system of political
adoption by WHICH france mas Curuou
Strasburgers and Savoyards into Frenchmen
has been attempted by Prussia also, and
will, so far as men can perceive, be equally
| successful.
The absorption of the subordinate but not
subject States was a much more difficult
matter, and is being effected with much more
tact; with foresight, indeed, which the
world had hardly expected from Count Won
Bismarck. His policy, and that of his master,
has clearly been to efface differences of civil
ization before effacing boundaries, if indeed
they are to be effaced at all. Nothing tends
to solidify a nation like similarity of habits,
of language, institutions, administration,
and, above all, of those laws which, in their
gradual operation, either confirm or create
national views of right and wrong One ex-
ample there is in this world of perfect unity
moi oifederation, butunity-e existing between two
States with dissimilar legal systems; but it is
the only one, and one which frors exceptional
circumstances cannot be relied on as a pre-
cedent. 1t would take long history tC
explain why Scotland can trust England. aud
England Scotland, yet preserve their differ
ences of law, religion, and administrative