Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-02-08
The German Empire--German Unity
and Austria'a Efforts for Peace.

the North German Confederate Band
has set out from tho Prussian capital
to convey to King William, at his
military headquarters in Versailles,
the offer Of the imperial crown that
will, upon his brows, symbolize the
succession to dominion riyalling in
extent and far exceeding in real pop
ulation, wealth and social importance
the renlm Of Ohio and Charlomangc.
At the same moment VIC hear tho fat
that decides the fate of the Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg, and prepares
the way for tho absorption, gradual
or snddcn, as occasion may decide, Of
both Holland and Belgium into the
vast military empire which already
ovcrshadows the centre and the west
of Europe.
This, should the sturdy old Hohcn.
vollern accept tho proffcrcd digrity-I
and what reason is there to doubt that
he Willis an event of the most i'm.
posing moment, surrounded by histo-
rical contrasts as romantic and dra-
matte as anything recorded in the
ilumined annals of Froissart and
Monstrcet Tho imperial sword and
sceptre of Germany laid at the feet of
a Tcutonic prince in captured palace
of Louis Qnatorzc, whilo Prussian
eagles float in triumph over the spires
of ST. Denis and the towers of Notre
Dame trcmblc to the echo of besiegng
ordnance. The world has not wit
messed such spectacle since the armies
of Napoleon | entered Romo and die
tated law TO the Pontiif in bis council
chamber at tho Vatican
We'll may the other Powers hastily
cndcayor to set their houses in order,
and, meanwhile, struggle to avert any
extension Of the war.
Thus it is that Austria still per-
sistendy endcavors to bring about
negotiations for peace between the
German alliance and France and in
the light Of the past and of the pre-.
sent, too, we say that Austria is wise.
The Emperor Franz Joseph, compara-
lively lyyoungas he is in sovereignty and
in diplomacy, has exhibited foresight,
prudence aud moderation throughout
his reign He displayed all these quail
titles, so valuable and so admirable in
a prince, after tho disastrous defeat of
his arms by the French and Italian
coalition at Solforno after the over
throw Of his best generals by the
Prussians at Sadowa, and in the meas.
urcs that he has since taken TO har.
monize the jarring States still subject
to his sceptre within the pale Of the
empire In this sagacious course he
i is sustained by the abilities of n Min
;stcr-thc Baron Won Bcust-who
may justly be styled tho Cavour Of
Austria.
Aud now we see the same spirit pre-.
vailng. Outside of the immediate
vortex Of tho Franco Prussian war,
yet near enough to feel the heat Of It's
con1agralions and TO hear tho than.
dcrs of its artillery, Austrian intellect
detects dangers growing more and
more gigantic every hour while the
struggle continues to push on toward
that bitter extremity which bequoaths
to an entire race and lineage lcgacics
of undying hate and eternal thirst for
vengeance. To enkindlc such endless
antagonism in tho breast of but one
individual, TO invoke that
Patient search and vigil long
or him who treasures up wrong,
from the weakest Of mankind, is q
most solemn and perilous enterprise
but when the task, really orapparcnily
undertaken, is to tramplc on nation
of forty millions, warlike at all peri
DDS Of lis history and suhoolcd for ages
in adyersity as well ns in glory, wis.
dom, which looks to the future even
more than at tho present, halts mid.
way. "Tread not upon dwarf; ho
may have a giant for friend" is an
apothegm Of pith and meaning
France is not vel dwarf, but n giantcss
surprised and ovormastered for the
E moment, because she had been bound
, down while she slept by the Liliputians
Of monarchical misrulo France has
: suffered for tho sins Of Europe and
even were she enlombed, tho stone
may yet be rolled away from the
, mouth of her sepulchre and shc may
, arise again. The ashes OF Charles
! Martol, of Philip Augustus, of Bayard
! of Henry OF Navarro Of tho GranC
/, Condo, of the First Napoleon, and o.
Lafayette rcposc in the soil of France
r. and their spirit is still alive in hei
4 people. Those who think othcrwis,
: arc making but hasty judgment o
,, events not six months old Quiet think
A ers who, only that long ago, held thcii
!, peace when iubilatc was sounded owe
4 the plcbiscitum and the "crowning o
tho cdidcep in France, were noticed
4 only with the smilc of sefsatisic,
|, disdain yet, 10 what a change j
= there to day how are tho might,
!, fallen Providence will teach us, il
!, spite OF all human conceits, that thing
a shall be as He wills, and Ills reversal
y of judgment continually laugh at on
> calculations and humble our PRIDE
, In this world the man or tho natioi
a who builds safety upon the ruins o
+ another is not noble, and never cai
be truly great If German unity is 4
be set upon the shifting sand Of con
# quest, imposed upon n people ioroig
"a in language, faith and culture, we hav
u every warrant in the lessons Of hstor,
l. to believe that il will vanish, in th
: first great upheaval, as suddenly as
y came King William may well sa
. that he IS astonishod at tho rapidit
1 with which that union has sprung int
being. He hadexpcctcd that it woul
be accomplished some day, by slo'
,c but sure processes (as in America an
rs ltaly), but ho had not hoped to see
o. IN his lifetime. Gcrmanio union, buiI
n. upon tho disunion and disruption
DR. along with the burning humiliation, ,
In ncighboring Francel As well ere,
your citadel upon the lava crusts
Vcsuvius. France has been ovorru
IN and nearly conquered ogain and agai
4. -. 4 IL A 4 4