The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-11

Berlin on visit to his uncle, the Emperor OF
Germany. Perhaps no meeting of sovereigns
in modern times since that on the raft at
Tilsit is fraugbt with so many consequences
to the welfare of Europe. Our modern civil
ization as seen in its European development
has run into phase SO strange that the hap
piness of nations, the prosperity OF States and
provinces, the lives and fortunes Of thousands
depend upon the temper in which two men
happen to meet in the capital city on the
Spree. Russia and Germany are among the
strongest Powers in the world. They are great,
free, enlightened nations. All their strength,
all their wealth, all their civilization are in
the hands Of the Russian Alexander and
the German William. We shall have all
manner of narratives and explanations of
the imperial visit and assurances of peace and
hopes for the welfare of Europe. But
virtually, in the most complete sense, peace or
war will rest with the two emperors. There
are many subjects that will render their
meeting interesting. The emperors are
closely related, and are said to hold each
other in bonds of strong personal affection.
The Russian Emperor did his venerable uncle
rare servica during the last war. He held his
sword at the heart Of Austria and prevented
her giving France the least assistance. He
publicly testified his JOY in the triumphs Of
Germany, and the feeling exists in diplomatic
circles that SO long as he lives German coun-
ellis will be in the ascendant in the Cabinet OF
St Petersburg.
The situation before the emperors may
well demand anxious consideration. There
are many clouds in the Continental sky. The
nations Of Europe are arming. Countries
like Spain and Turkey, which cannot pay
their honest debts or the interest on their
loans, are borrowing money at the highest
rates to raise regiments Germany has
strained the last resource Of her Empire to
perfect her army. All the money she can de-
rive from taxation, all the money she
wrenched from France, has gone into powder
and cannon. Austria is following her example.
France, pauseless, untiring, persistent, re-
solved-rich and thritty-has made every
consideration second to the rearming Of the
country; and she has surprised Europe
in this as in oil other respects.
The nation which three years ago was
about to pass into the condition of a second
class Power like Belgium or Spain has now
the second best army in Europe. Instead Of
destroying France Germany has simply over
thrown the Empire and given France new life.
1t required some mighty external influence
resting upon France, depressing her, teaching
the hard duties of patience, sacrifice and self
denial, to develop the Republic. France saw
with unerring instinct that nothing would be
more ungracious to the conqueror of Sedan
and his class than a republic. 1t knew that if
a republic had been deemed as in any way
d possible ending Of the Bonaparte overthrow
the Emperor would have returned Napoleon
to the Tuieries. Silently, therefore, 1t has
founded conservative republic-armed,
angry-not obedient to divine right, and only
too ready to welcome the hour Of revenge.
France republican, and almost certain to
become more and more SO, is problem
worthy Of the deepest consideration of two
emperors. Republicanism in France as its
history shows, has possibilities that imperial
minds are not apt to overlook. WHAT'S to be
done with it? If the French would only give
the pretext how easy to send Moltke and his
legions streaming out Of Metz into the Cham
payne region. But what is to be done with a
country which, when you smite it on one
cheek simply turns the other to the smiter
and keeps on sharpening the sabre? France
has stood every form Of insult from Germany,
and will not resent it. Every day she be
comes stronger. Every day sends new men
- vnff rvf0 haw
treasury. s. that Germany must stand in
anxious silence looking on, seeing this prodig-
ious Power grow from hour to hour and
knowing that every look, every thought, every
pulsaton and aspiration is FOR revenge-that
some day she must fight this Power. and
under conditions far different from those
which eliminated at Sedan. An Emperor
burdened with this reflection will have great
deal to say to his Russian nephew. He will
be anxious, above al things, to know how far
his nephew will venture in a new campaign
how Russian interests would regard the
destruction Of France. lie knows that the
Russian mind has always had more or less
sympathy with France in the past that Rus
sian craftsmanship has deemed il wise to
keep France strong, as q menace to Germany,
Austria and England. He must reason that
to weaken this feeling he must give his Rus
sian nephew some strong inducements, for
this same bighly-placed relative is selfish, and
must have satisfying reasons to serve even
doa,ing uncle. He gave him the Black Sea
ia return for his armed and menacing neu-
trality during the war. What can he give him
nOwf
We take it that if the German Emperor
can fnd any method, no matter how severe
and despotic, for limiting the power Of
France. be will welcome it. He is not an
oyer-sc-upulous monarch, and if war must
he then he may as well take his own time.