The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1870-08-20
The Population and Past Po-
litical Action of Germany.

strong, and be, beyond. doubt, the
first power in Europe. They are
in the centre of that Continent.
Upon the east is the Slavonian
Empire of Russia and on the
west the turbulent Gallo Frank
element in France. OF the latter
there are nearly 100000, and of
the Russians more than 1900, 900.
But such is the superiority OF the
Germans to the Russians in civil
cation, that for the present they
are the most powerful. But it
has been the misfortune of the
Germans never to be united.
AT the present time, after a
great deal has been done to effect
that result, there are still 5000, 900
or 100000 of Germans underth
control of Austria, 100000 in
South Germany, in the minor
States of. Bavaria, Wurtemberg,
Baden, ETC., and 20,000000 in the
North German Confederation.
[ Before the late war between
Austria and Prussia. there were,
we believe, no less than thirty
nine independent German States,
[ the most of them small and un-
important.
Austria used to be at the head
of the German Confederation, al
though three-quarterS of herpopu
lation were not German, but Hun
garians, Croats, Poles and Italians
"a very medley of nationalities.
Her rnlers were the Emperors of
Germany. But after the battle of
Austerlitz, in 1905, Napoleon
formed what he called the Confed-
Grafton of the Rhine and united it
with France in political action. 1t
consisted OF Bavaria, Saxony, Ba.
den, Wurtemburg and other
| States. The Emperor of Germa-
ny, who had hitherto exercised
control over these, was compelled
to abdicate, add assume the title
OF Emperor of Austria.
Since that time there has been
no Emperor Of Germany, but it
has been Prussia's policy to accom-
plish that end by uniting every
thing German under the standards
of Prussia. For a long time little
could be accomplished, owing to
the jealousy and opposition OF
| Austria. But in the war with
that power, in 1866, Prussia was
so successful that she drove Aus.
tria out of the German Confedera-
ton. At present three tifths OF
the Germans-but only three tifths
I-are under the direct and imme
date control of Prussia. {
! One Of the great obstacles in
the way of the union of the Ger.
mans has been that of religion
North Germany is Protestant
South Germany adhered to the
Roman Catholic Church. Reli
giOn in the past has been stronger
than the tie ola common nation
ality.
In 1905, when France was il
war with Austria, she had the
assistance Of Bavaria, the princi
pal South German State. In or
der to attach those States perma
nently to her interest, she raised
the Electors Of Bavaria and Wur
temberg to the rank of Kings
and greatly enlarged their terrific
ry.
After the disastrous day O
Jena, in 1906, France obtained
the aid of Saxony. Through thes,
divisions the French intiuenc wa
predominant in Germany. Blu
in 1913 Austria and Prussia, ant
all the minor German States uni
, ted against the conquerer; 20,00t
| Saxon troops, who were with til,
/ French in the great battle of Leip
sic, deserted them in the heigh
of the conflict, and in a BODY
/ went over to the allies. The Ba
varian army, after the FreneI
rout in that battle, intercepted
> the progress of the French troop
: in their country while on thei
way home. But this union wa
an exceptional event. Since thel
= there has been nothing that look
ed like a solid German combine
ton.
Napoleon in the present troubl
! : taxes especial pains to separat
! the cause of Prussia from that @
2 Germany, for, as against the la
! ter, he would be oyermatcheC
His policy is to retain Austri
{ and South Germany neutra
t while he settles with the Mort
Gapraova ~larx,1. ~