, 1872-10-12

Empire Is popular and safe. But the I'M
perial embraces had a real drift not the
less, and the Prince has proclaimed it. 1t
was to show ''the enemies of peace
which means all active s~ympathisers with
Alsace and Lorraine,-that it would be al
most impossible to disturb the new ar
rangement. Russia is the power of which
the Germans feel the greatest fear and Jea-
lousy. The Gar has gone to congratulate
the Emperor; and while assuring the
French Ambassador, in the warmest terms,
that he would have taken part in no cere-
mony of which the significance was hos
tile to France, he has added in the distinc-
test manner,-not in words,-that if
France counts upon him to help her in
disturbing the status quo, she reckons with
out her host. Austria is the power on
which, after France, Germany has heaped
the greatest humiliation. The Emperor
of Austria had hoped for that German I'M
perial dignity which Prussia, ADLER and
more competent for the work of uniting
Germany, has made her own. The En-
peror of Austria was beaten six years ago
by Prussia in q wa not perhaps quite so
disastrous and overwhelming as that which
crushed France, but still, at the time it
occurred, quite unique in history for the
magnitude and rapidity of the overthrow.
Francis Joseph has gone to Berlin and ac-
cepted the most f1attering and emphatic
attentions from the new Emperor. All
monuments and pictures commemora-
ting the disasters of Austria in 1866
were removed from the public places Of
resort where he was expected to be. In q
mock fight which he witnessed, the whole
Of the Imperial Staff was captured by the
Regiment of the Emperor Francis Joseph,
an incident cleverly conceived, but verg-
ing too obviously on irony. Further, he
was,-if we may trust the positive state
ment Of the Spencer Ga@eHc,-made by the
Emperor of Germany, honorary Colonel of
the 10th Regiment of SchLcs1Uig- Holsteim,
and that with the Danish articles of the
Treaty of Prague still set at defiance. All
these singuIarly anxious, if, after the little
refined German fashion, almost overdone,
attentions, are meant to reassure Francis
Joseph as to the fate of his remaining Ger
man provinces. The German Emperor
does not covet them. He recognises the
mission of Austria to the semi civilised
races on the Danube, and knows that she
CdH 'U IGCIC WlIIlOuU NCEIIdu SuUJCCtS 10
help her. She shall have the full support
of the new Empire, on condition Austria
does not trouble the political waters by
chickering's with the Czar,-that she gives
France no opportunity to avail herself ola
Russian alliance. Francis Joseph, then,
and his Minister, in graciously accepting all
these rather highly-havoured compliments,
has virtually acquiesced in the German
terms. Austria is willing, for the time at
least, to be perfectly neutral on those ques-
tions which divide her from Russia, ifRus-
STA, in her turn, will be equally neutral.
There is a general consent to concur with
Prince Bismarck in the wish that history
may stand still a bit. France is not to be
Inundated anew, but she is to be warned
that any attempt to foment disunion be-
tween the three great Empires of the East
will humiliate her anew. France, as M.
John Lemoinne says, is told that she is the
subject (which divides the European Pow
ers the least" Whatever else they may
wish, they all wish to keep her quiet just
now.
So "the Empire is peace" But it isa
peace of very unstable equilibrium. Prince
Bismarck is beginning probably to see
that whatever he might have hoped for,
had he consented TO fOreoo Alsaca. and + or