The New York herald., 1874-12-31
The Closing Year.

those which saw the falling Of the Bastile, the
Declaration of Independence, Waterloo and
Sedan, it has been full of instructive expert
ences. In all the world. with the exception OF
the Pyrenees, South American State,
jungle-hidden realm in Africa, an island IN
the China Sea and far distant colonial ac-
QUESTION of Holland, there has been peace.
But even this peace has been feverlsh, uncer-
tain, and with anxieties almost as intense as
those of war; The heavens have been dark
with rolling clouds. the smoke of smouldering
enmities, now and then lightning flashes and
ominous tokens, thunder and rain. Europe
has not forgotten the terrible struggle of the
1 Rhine All its enmities still live in the
warnings of the Frenchman for revenge and
the resolution Of the Germans to hold the
! provinces won with German blood. The peace
which was TO have come with the overthrow
of the Napoleon dynasty is not peace but a
tumultuous and ostentatious preparation for
war The genius the resources and the in
dustries Of two mighty nations have been sub
verted to martial ends. As we learn from the
dispatches of Prince Bismarck to Count
Arnim the question of peace and war even
when this year opened depended upon the
slenderest chance. History shows how the
results of gigantic war may influence for
years to come not only the nations concerned
in the struggle but neighboring nations united
to them by commercial and social ties The
whole political life of Europe during the year
1874 has been controlled by the results of the
pI 1u tba
ties which peace has imposed upon Bismarck
and MacMahon. Europe has during this year
been as an armed camp. Russia breads the
ambition of Germany to extend its frontier
along the Baltic. Austria fears that the
aspiration for united Germany may seek to
include Vienna in the Fatherland. Belgium,
occupied by one Napoleon and menaced by
another, is alarmed for the integrity of do
minion which represents Saxon fear of French
ambition. Holland is not certain that she
may not also become necessary to the Father
land" England thinks that Napoleon's scheme
of channel invasion may be attempted by
the trained soldiers of Moltke, and that
powerful navy is necessary to protect from
possible harm the silver-coasted island.
So, as we have said, Europe during this
year Of peace, has been camp of discipline.
There are more armed men now marching and
countermarching between the English seas
and the Ural Mountains than were ever
known in the heighth OF the French wars,
when Napoleon was master and all Europe
marched to beat him down. As if to add to
these anxious complications we have q re-
lgious question as grave as that which intro
duced the Thirty Years War. The policy of
Bismarck looks beyond the dream of united
Germany. That astute and daring statesman
emulates the fame of Gustavus Adolphus, and
aims to become the leader of religious
reformation. Bismarck's aim has been to
unite Professionalism under the flag of Prussia.
Apparently modern policy, it is really new
attempt to realize an old dream. Luther's
reformation was largely success because it
was q political movement, appealing to the
patriotic feeling of Germany and the an
tipathy of Germans to Italy and Italian insti-
tutions. The whole tendency of Bismarck's
diplomacy has been to destroy the infu-
ence OF the Catholic Church. This he
cerity of purpose. The relations between
Germany and the Holy See which at the be-
ginning of the year we're simply an estrange-
ment are now those of violent hostility. The
Pope hurls his anathemas at the Emperor.
Bismarck publicly charges the Jesuits with
having driven Napoleon to war religious
fanatics have taken to the pistol, as if
assassination could ever determine any polit-
ical event. Catholic prelates have been fined,
imprisoned and banished, and Catholic ladies,
even of noble blood, have been thrown into
Jail for daring to sympathize with their pas
tors sorrows. In the meantime, as if to show
that the policy OF the Chancellor rises above
every consideration of the citizens liberty
and honor we have seen him arrest a repre-
sentative in Parliament for the expression Of
an opinion unfriendly to the government.
More than all, we have seen him strain the
power of the Prussan governmental system
to destroy great statesman whose rivalry he
dreaded The prosecution and the trial of
Count Arnim have been among the extraord-
mary events of the year, and the result,
which is accepted as practical acquittal of
the Count, is regarded as the first check which
| Bismarck has received in his extraordinary
and brilliant career.
In the mean time France has been steadily
marching to republicanism, dragging with it
the reluctant MacMahon. The Septennate,
which was to have fallen before its first year
closed, lives mainly because Of the patient
conservatism OF the republican leaders This
admirable policy Of regarding republicanism
as something to grow like the oak tree or the
coral rock, to slowly gather life and strength
has preserved order, stimulated prosperity
and added vastly to the good opinions en-
tertained of France. The only parties who