The New York herald., 1874-10-27
EUROPE.
A General Review of Politics
on the Continent.
RUSSIA'S POWER IN THE EAST.
win Germany Remain an Imperial
Unit?--- Signs and OmenS.
THE ARREST OF ARNlM.
Society and the Drama in Paris
The Farewell of Dejazet.
ALEXANDER AND DON CARLOS.
The Old Catholic Movement in Germany-The
"Filioque" Controversy.
Society and the Drama in Paris
The Farewell of Dejazet.
ALEXANDER AND DON CARLOS,
The Old Catholic Movement in Germany-Thc
"Filioque" Controversy.
WILL THE KING OF BAVARIA ABDCATe /?

PARIS, Oct IL, 1874.
THE VISIBLE WORKING OF PROVIDENCE
The nrst step toward the unity OF the Father
land was indirectly taken by Napoleon III. when
he entered on the memorable crusade for
the liberation OF Italy from the foreign yoke. In
1859 the popular feeling throughout Prussia was
strongly IN favor Of Austria; Germans could see
NO honesty OF purpose in Napoleonic Invasion OF
territory belonging to o German prince Had the
Emperor Francis Joseph then treated with less
haughtness the overtures OF the Cabinet OF Berlin
Prussian army would have marched into France
by Its northeast frontier, which was completely
drained OF troops by the campaign In the south.
France and Sardinia would have been no match for
Austria aud Prussia united, and the hope of ma
tionatles would have been strangled in It's birth.
The effect OF this union between the two great
German Powers would probably have been to pre-
vent the dissolution OF the old Diet in 1866 and
leave Prussia no starting point for her
aggression. When war did break out
she sword OF Napoleon, n thrown into
the scale at Its commencement in favor OF AUSTRIA
would nave given her the victory, but luck Tor
Heaven) SO willed 1t that Napoleon should wait
till the contest had been decided in favor Prus.
sla. But II he had even assaied the new North
German confederation In the autumn OF that year
before 1t was Well knit together and before the
alliance with the Southern States had been
formed, his own Empire might never have been
OverthrOwn ut Sedan. AS 1t was, Napoleon having
threatened war If the Fortress OF Mayence were
not ceded to France in compensation for the
recent acquisitions Of Prussa-that Is to say, hav-
ing plainly shOwnsthe new Power that he regarded
1t with suspicion-quietly put up with q relusal
and allowed the foe whom he had thus warned
four years to consolidate his forces and prepare
for the inevitable conflict
Never did the gods more plainly inatuate the
man whom they wished to Destroy As NJ. Theirs
bitterly exclaimed in the Legislative Assembly,
turning TO the Emperor's Ministers, "You have
filed up the measure OF your plunders There
are positively no more mistakes left for you 10
commit" In that eloquent lament that other
nations should be great side by side with France
spoAe the voice OF French chauvInism by the
mouth OF man who well deserves to be called
THE LAST OF THE FRENCH,
as the term French has been understood by the
world for more than three hundred years. For
Europe, at least 1t has meant the most brilliant
and the most aggressive civilization that was ever
seen-a civilization which has had the rare merit
OF never permanently conquering without
also permanently conciliatlng Flcmings,
Lorrainers, Burgundians, Bretons and savoy
ards have all become Frencnmen by adop
tion and choice, as well as the tate OF arms
more than hundred years and Savoy for only
fourteen. England, on the other hand, has tailed
after seven hundred years or dominion to reconcile
Ireland to her yoke. Nor does 1t appear as though
Russia were likely to have any better success with
Poland. e5.sF5 a#t
THE FUTURE OF GERMANY.
Will Prussia be as successful as France in con-
sOlidating her acquisitions, or Will the Empire
which, unlike Rome was built In day, also perish
In AauS hoc nth Ybaf INN pfa
nothing which it has not created; and there is
another saying of some authority with Americans,
II not with Germans, ABOUT those who use the
sword. The German Empire (Which must not be
conoundcd with the German peope) Is por-
tentous birth. 1t is proud to own that it
sprung from war. such was not the policy
OF Frederic H., who, when he had been victorious,
was only too anxious to sncathe the sword and
pose as lover Of peace. But IL Is in their treat
ment OF religious questions that the difference
between Frederic and his successors is most
strlkingly shown. The great King had no sooner
obtained possession OF Silesla than he fastened to
confirm mis- new Catholic subjects in the full
liberty to worship God according to their con-
science. As to attempting to define for Catholics
what were and what were not Catholic dogmas,
Frederic was too wise Tor sucn
transparent violation OF religious freedom.
He knew that the peasantry OF Silesia
could perfectly well hold the belief in the Pope's
iniaibility. together with very Arm conviction
that their sovereign's will not to be disputed
in the matter OF the conscription and of the pay
ment Of taxes. To paraphrase his own formula,
they might believe what they pleased as long as
they dio what he pleased. THIS pacific policy was
resolutely adhered to by the three Frederic VIII
liams VINO reigned after him, and the result was
that silesia became as thoroughly par. OF Prus-
sa as Brandenburg. Travellers in the former prov.
ince, during the spring Of 1885, declared that the
people were perfectly terrified at the idea OF pass
ing once more under the domination Of the House
OF Hapsburg Nor until lately had Prussian Po-
land ever given the same trouble to its rulers as
Austrian and Russian Poland. Now the great
principle or
RELIGIOUS EQUALITY,
which was the pecuiaf glory Of Prussia half CEN
tury before the Frencn Revolution and ninety
years before the repeal OF the Test act In England,
is completely abandoned by the government o.
Berlin, and with 1t that "agreemenc to dffcr,'
which, next TO religious unity, Is the strongest
bond OF peace that can unite the various parties
in state. Here Is one source OF weakness In the
hastily formed Confederation OF the German states.
Its seriousness may be measured by she fact that
out OF population OF 40, 100000 living under the
Empire about 100000 are Catholics.
The remaining 25,OoO.oOo are composed OF
Protestants OF all sects and Jews, the latter being
an extremely numerous and influential body.
German Professionalism is not, indeed split into so
many sccts as Its American or English counter.
parts yet there Is always the broad division be-
tween Lutherans and 'Evanrecals." while both