The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-25
yhpt of the Confcrences

that morning was certain except the unlore-
seem" Nevertheless, there are some promi-
nent landmarks by which we may steer our
way to probable conclusion after all.
But in the first place, the historical imagl-
nation cannot but dwell upon the tremendous
contrast presented by the years 1856 and 1871.
In the former year the Emperor Napoleon Ill.
was in the full flush of his glory and power,
and it was at the great city now beleagured
and threaten with utter ruin that the Con-
ference Of European Powers assembled to con-
clude peace after war OF which france
had, with consummate management, contrived
to monopoize nearly all the glory. Now, on the
contrary, France is altogether out Of the field,
as her representative has refused to appear
before the diplomatic assemblage of Europe as
liberated prisoner of the German arms, and
the new diplomatic departure In the inter-
mnable Eastern question is to be taken at
London, the capital of that Power which re-
presents the overwhelming mass of European
interests in the Levant and the further Eastern
lands.
The contrast Of circumstances and the
transfer of place suggest the moral of the
last fifteen years of history in the most power
ulmanner. The Emperor Napoleon confirmed
his il-gotten power by the alliance with
Great Britain and the splendid achievements
Of the Crimean war. 1t suited his policy, there
fore, to attack Russia in the first in
stance. But he had Interior designs on
Italy and Germany. He foresaw his war
against Austria, and he could not
afford to put aside the great reserved trump
card Of campaign for the Rhine frontier,
which he played at last to his ruin. Accord
ingly, he made use of his paramount influence
at the Paris Congress Of 1856 to win back
Russian sympathy by making the place she
had to fall on after her great defeat at Sebas
topol as soft as possible. In short secure Of
his English friends, he threw them over in
the treaty of peace as far as he dared without
sacrificing entirely the results Of war and
victory to which French blood and treasure
had so largely contributed. Only small
strip Of territory was taken from the Russian
empire TO free the Danube, and the security of
Turkey was taken in a mere naked promise
henceforward to have no arsenals and
no ships of war in the Black Sea.
And this policy was followed up by the EN-
peror fitfully, but virtually, till his fall. BY
his connivance the Danuban Principalties,
Moldavia and Wallachia, were, against Eng
fish wishes, consolidated into one distinct
kingdom; and he even sent French
force to Syria to mark in the eyes
Of the Eastern people his contempt for
and disbelief in Turkish independence, keeping
it there until he was directly and plainly
threatened by England with war unless he
withdrew it, when he succumbed as readily
as when the United States ordered him out Of
Mexico. All the world has seen the catas-
trophe into which his sinister policy has at
last led him-a fit retribution for man of
whom history will say that he knew not how
to be faithful to any thought, any design or
any alliance.
And now, we ask, what of this new confer
ence2 Is it to be real deliberaton Of the
going to debate and settle the Eastern ques-
ton? Or is the proposal mere blind and
cover for necessary delays until the position
and policy of all OF them can be more clearly
defined and ascertained2 We incline alto
gether to the supposition that this last inquiry
indicates the truth. Germany has her great
question to settle with France, and she has to
give some necessary finishing touches to the
construction of her new empire. Until these
two great works are accomplished it is not
very likely that the consummate statesman
who guides her desinies will show his hand
ungloved in this Russian question or let the
world into the full secret of the vast plans
| which are doubtless being formed in
| his massive and untiring brain. He has
gained great point by stimulating
Russia to repudiate the Limitation of her
territorial sovereignty involved in the
naturalization Of the Black Sea. For this step
Of the Gar has convinced all the sound think
| ers of Europe that no nation can rely for secu-
| rity upon promises concerning critical terri
| tory left in defeated enemy's hands; and
Russia therefore, has quite unwittngly and
unwillingly, like puppat in Bismarck hands,
| advanced the strongest argument for the ces-
| sion TO Germany Of Alsace and Lorraine.
| Iii this first step she has, then, been visibly
working the ends Of Bismarck and Germany.
And very much mistaken are those we con-
ceive, who fancy that the Interior develop
ments of this affair will prove different from
| It's FIRST stage. SO great and as.ute and COM
handing & statesman as Bismarck never before
| in history welded 50 overwhelming nation
| as Germany. And at this conjuncture of the
worlds history German interests and purposes
as administered by this Titan Of diplomacy
| viii assuredly have tie upper hand. Now it
| is sovereign German interest that the valley
| OF the Danube should be free from the en-
| croachments of the great Slavonic POWER !;