Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-03-04
rHE srarrrrcArcE OF PEACE.

Our readers are no doubt fully prepared
for the news that came yesterday, that the
bordeaux Assembly by the significant vote
of five hundred and forty-six to one humid
red and seven, ON "Wednesday last, ratified
the preliminary treaty of peace negotiated
at Versailles by Theirs and Favre. There
formalities ended, the fall of the Empire
is officially promulgated and the ascend
ancy of Germany TO the leading power in
Europe assured. History teaches some re-
markable lessons. 1t is worthy of note
that the German Empire, which was dis
membered in 1906 by the Corsican chief
tain, Napoleon the I, is now, after lapse
of over half a century, welded together by
the folly and incapacity of Napoleon the
Ill The sceptre of power which was
transferred to France in 1906 lie now trans
ferred from the French Empire to Ger
many, restored, reunited, and all power
full. The change in the face of the map of
Europe by the cession of Alsace and Ior
raine, as measured by the surface of terri
tory ceded, is not at all indicative of the
real change in the political and military
character which it in fact signifies. There
are changes in the character of the powers
that were parties to that transfer of terri
tory which is well understood and appre-
ciated in Europe. In the short space of
seven months the balance of power in Eu-
rope has been SO materially shifted that in
England we find striking evidences of its
significance and import. The million and
more of men as they march back from the
ssnguinary but glorious fields of France to
be disbanded and resume the duties of cit
izenship in civil life carry with them an
experience and prestige which may well
provoke a rafting among the old fogies in
Britain. They return not as soldiers of
Prussia, or Wurtemburg, or Saxony, or
Bavaria, but as the trained veterans of the
German Empire, led by officers unequalled
in skill and efficiency by any now living
in Europe.
The significance of this peace is not
alone in the fact that the German armies
enter and occupy the half deserted capital
city where, but seven months ago, the
shouts of On to Berlin were echoed
through the gay and thronged streets; but
it is in the fact that Germany comes out of
the conflict more powerful, more infiuen-
tial, more dangerous than she went into it,
and she has it in her power, if the spirit
moved her, to but change the direction of
the heads of her columns and march into
half the capitals of the continent.
We do not believe that the tremendous
power now centered at Berlin could be in
safer hands. The Germans are not as
oyerbearing or aspiring as the people they
have just overcome. If the scale were re-
yersed, and Napoleon was to-day debating
peace from Berlin al the head of an army
as numerous, as well equipped and as in
comparably differed, Europe would have
much more to fear. AS it is, we look for
good results from the change in the politi-
cal reorganization OF Europe. We believe
Germany viii use the power she has SO
bravely won in the interests of higher
and better civilization than could have
sprung from the ffivolty, fashion and cor
ruption of Paris. We believe she will en-
deavor to diffuse into the people of Europe
that love of learning, that respect for ma
iional honesty and true greatness which
has given her the proud position she now
occupies. Did We not believe this, we
might share, with some others, the feeling
that the contest has only ended in France
TO be soon renewed ON more gigantic
scale, and with more dangerous results, on
other fields. - sasf - ss s
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