The New York herald., 1871-03-27
The Struggle for Ernpire-Rnces ana Re-
l,yi0ns.

calling the balance of power, have, naturally
enough, given birth to all manner of specula-
, tons. Some there are who see in the fall of
France and the establishment Of the German
empire nothing but a misfortune to humanity.
Others there are who see in these two great
facts the triumph of the best interests of man.
We do not feel disposed to accept the judg
ments of either the one or the other II is our
conviction that France has still grand career
! before her, if she will only learn to take ed-
vantage of her opportunities and to utilize her
resources. 1t Is not the less our conviction
chat reconstructed Germany, while it is in her
power to largely benefit mankind, may never
theless prove more curse than a blessing.
! The one grand fact which stands out boldly
| and refuses TO be hid Is that the Old World
| has entered upon a new era-an era in
which the struggle for empire is to be con-
tinued with more than ancient ferceness, and
in which race will be opposed to race, religion
to religion, more than the world has known at
any former period
Already the lines between race and race
and, as rule, religion goes with race-are
being drawn 'wondrous fine" Those who
speak of the new German empire as the
restoration Of the Holy Roman empire reveal
not only ignorance of the actual facts, but
misconception Of the tendencies of these times.
The old Roman empire opened wide its
portals to all nations and all peoples. 1t
aimed at giving to all peoples common law,
common institutions, common privileges. 1t
was grand aim, noble purpose. In the
accomplishment of its purpose it cannot be
said the Roman empire was completely sue
cessful. At the same time it is not to be
denied that, by conforming the peoples to
common faith, by subjecting them to common
laws, by comforting upon them common privi-
leges, the Roman empire gave to the world
unity which it never had before, which it
never has had SINCE The Holy Roman
empire established by Charlemagne and Othc
revived the spirit although it never pres ented
more than the shadow of the empire of the
Romans. It was the empire. There was
no other. 1t had great spiritual
chief in the person of the Roman Pontif 1t
had great secular chief in the person Of the
and equal privileges. But the disintegrating
process which brought about the decline and
fall could not be checked, and the Holy Roman
empire had long ceased to be other than
name, when Francis the Second, in 1906, yield
ing to the pressure brought to bear upon him
by the triumphant Corsican, the new Charlie
magne, resigned the imperial crown. The
empire, defunct since 1906, is now restored;
the throne of Charlemagne having been trans
ferred from Austria to Berlin has been made
TO play part but the new empire is not
Roman, is not holy-it is only German. That
it has certain ambitious aims toward uniyer-
sal dominion there can be no doubt; bat the
triumph of this new empire will be gain not
so much to humanity as to the Teutonic race.
The Germany of to-day resembles Rome in
her infancy rather than Rome in her prime.
The Tribe expands itself, and its purpose Is
to impose its will upon others rather than to
unite with Others in seeking out the welfare
Of mankind. In spite of the wild talk of Victor
Hugo and others about the United States of
Europe and the universal republic, the divid-
ing lines between the great races were never so
sharp as they are at the present moment.
What possible republic or empire could harmo-
niously unite Frenchmen and Germans on the
Continent of Europe? Russia presents essen
tally the same characteristics with Germany.
Her ever widening empire is but the enlarge
ment of the Slavonic tribe. Her triumph,
like that OF Germany, means the subordination
or extinction Of the conquered races. The
principles which guide Russian statesmen and
the principles which have raised Germany to
her present proud position make it necessity
that the two empires pursue separate paths.
The line that separates the Slave from the
German is as broad and we'll defined as that
which separates the German from the French
OF all the governments of Europe-we speak
| Of the COntinent-that which has on and the
most noble work is Austria. The Aus!ro-
Hungarian empire seeks to reconcile nation
| alities-to unite races and languages and reli-
| gions under q common sceptre but, strange
to say, the Austro-Hungarian empire is in
more danger of ultimate failure than any of
the so-calied great Powers of Europe. The
policy of Austria, rather than the policy of
UeTWdny, represents tne pOHcy Oh hOme IN ner
prime but while fortune smiles on the House
Of Hohenz ollern clouds and darkness gather
around the ancient House Of Hapsburg-
Lorraiae.
1t is impossible, thus looking at the forces
which have their centre Of action on the Euro
pean Continent, not to feel that the time must
come, sooner or later, when struggle more
violent and more destructive than that which
we have just witnessed will take place for the
mastery The three great forces are Russia,
Germany and the kindred races, France and
the Latns. In each of these cases religion is
associated with race. Russia carries with her
wherever she goes the Greek Church, Ger.