The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-07
THE FOUR RIVAL EMPIRES.
HoPzs OF THE CoNrENDINo RACES IN Eu-
ROPE AND THE PART WHICH RELIGION PLAYS

These empires arc tho Romantic the Gcrmanic, tho
siavoDc and the British, representing tho south, the
north, the east and the OF Europe The first en-
braces France Italy and Spain tho second the German
states and Netherlands; the third Russ,a Poland ana
tho savonic states Of Austria and Turkey, ana tho
fourth the British Isles and the colonies. Each hopes
to build itself up by uniting oil the elements Of its re-
spcctivc race under ono principle or form
OF alliance or another Tho hrst. Ro-
manic Empire, proposes 10 establish isolf on the
basis OF tho Church AZ nucleus or bond OF union.
tho whole Of the Romantic peoples being essentially
Catholic and constituting about all the Casholios Of
Europe The second, or Gcrmanic Empire, proposes
ride into supremacy its intel ectual and military
Superiority and dsciplinc the whole OF tho Gormanic
peoples almost being already united under tho Empire
OF Kaiser William. Tho third, Slavoric Empire,
depends tor itspower ts numbers, which, II It co.,
soldate all the peoples ofthat race, will become BY far
the most numerous body OF Europe. The Western
or British Empire, depends for ss supremacy on It's
wealth and It's universally present lands and subjects
There u.s. therefore, and liz destined to go on, moro or
loss secrctlya contest between religion, intelligence
NUMBERS aud wealth Tor the mastery OF Europe
THE CATHOLIC ALLIANCE
Touching the Arst body Of contestants tho Romantic
peoples, II Will be seen that they labor, unlike the
rest, under the disadvantage of being divided, not
OILY into three nearly equal nations but also by three
different languages. Neither OF them aone-neither
France Spain nor Itay-can hope 10 got control OF
Europe. Nor they all hope fuse into nation
US II thcy had one language The Romantic race is
therefore disabled In bong equally divided and hav
ing such separately lying countries, without one over
shadowing State, hike Prussia, Russia or England 10
rally them. The only hope for them, therefore, Is to
unite under tho Church, The only common bond be-
tween them. except their blood. There is accord
n NM ~ mart VIII IN con
santly aiming 10 bring these States together on some
such ecclesiastical or ul,ramontanc policy They arc
promised return Tor their Aid 10 The Pope the aid or
His Holiness In managing the Catholic minorities
in other Statcs in their interest in case
Of war; 1t 10 the dream OF this party
TO restore II not tho ancient Empire Of the Romans. at
least the MEDIEVAL Empire OF tho popes whom the bal
ancc or power shall DO held in spiritual head, not
all tho States by . spiritual bond. The Roman idea
Is now. always that OF an empire within an empire,
the state and the Church In mutual dependence, the
latter being superior in all spiritual matters. As
neither the Pope nor any Romantic power can now
hope got control Of Europe in secular sense there
being no vacant throne or people for IL, it hopes to
keep that spiritual throne share part Of the power
OF all the Ststos. Al present this Empire has little
hope OF success, MS mel her France Italy nor Spain
seems inclined to TAIL In rank; but each hopes, par
tcuary France to be itself Of great Importance If not
OF supremacy, In the future. The Romantic peoples,
therefore, take little interest IN the present Russo
drawing IN and mutual destruction OF the British and
Germans along with tho Russians the great rivals OF
Rom0n power S
Tho Germanic EMPIRE on the other hand, proposes
70 10 1sD s !" ali in
tonal affairs aud particularly OF Church Interference.
IL has fought tho Romantic aspirations by breaking OF
a largo part OF tins Germans-tho Old Catholics-rom
tho Roman Church and largely excluded ultramontane
influence from the control OF the remaining Catholics
III Germany. 1t has sought 10 build up Slate Church
that should be bulwark TO the Empire instead OF a
Of weakness, as at present. national German
Church, like that OF England or Russia Gormhny's
policy is TO consolidate the EMPIRE organizing Church,
school, army, government, industry, oil ior her inter-
nal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Having already the first military
aincd and having just made great acquisitions Of
territory and power she Is inclined 10 peace Hnving
nothing to gain and all 70 lose by war she not unnat-
urally pursues q domestic policy, and asks that
other nations do the same Sho VIII, on
turkey fight It out among themselves, as the other
States let hcr aud Franco do Sho IL not jealous OF
all that Russia get Of Turkey but she Will do what
she can 10 prevent England aud Austria from pnrtc
pating in the war, which might endanger her own
prospects Of peace The Germanc peoples are practi-
caly united already, that the long dreamed OF En-
pire has begun and being on good iounda
ton, only wants quiet chance Tor natural develop
mcnt
Tho Pnn-Slavonic Empire exists as yet only in
the brains Of the Slavonic idcallsts But there Is
large class OF those who are making most vigorous
propagation among all the non-Russian Savonians.
The idea is all tho Slavonc states under Rus
sia the principal oil the Slavonic nations, as all tho
Gcrmun States wore united under Prussia, the princI-
pal OF the German nations. And, although tins IS
contamination for only tho far-oT future, certain lea
lures Of It, II not its essential success will DO realized,
perhaps, very soon, Russia IS nox engaged In trying
10 get control. OF the whole Greek Church,
outside we'll as inside OF her Empire, which
be tho hrst bond OF union between tho Slavonic
States which nro substantially all Greek In religion, rs
mans arc SUBSTANTIALLY all Pro.estunI Il is Tor this
control that tho present war Is Immediately waged,
while ut the time Russia is endcavorng to drive,
with uuparaonable iliUeralty, all non-reeks
into the Greek Church within her domains, pers&ut
lug aud restricting IN their rights The Catholics Inc
a national and Church, as well as Germany, and
which will DO support 70 her Empire as well US
| nucleus oil alliance with other States.
BRITANNIA RULES THE WAVES.
Tho British Empire, like the German. has Its hopes
OF supremacy IN being lot alone. IL has now all that
Il wants aud than weld IN tho way Of pos
sessions II docs not need war; therefore, as means
OF extension. while IL icars u MS danger 10 what
desires only peace, asking, like Germany, that Other
| nations keep OH, and let even the smaller Powers
alone allows N par.euar no interference 70, IN y.
OF Rome over Ireland IL maintains oven the princ'
pie Of local self government IN religion, having dr
ieront religion the established religion OF It's scvsra
different countries; but II would reduce TO the mini
mum the influence OF religion as bond Of unlon be
tween states lis principal fears are from the Sla
vonc Power, which stands in the way OF Us
| development IN the East and the present war s I'M
70 y chiefly e - goes w 70 ss' e. ins ann1u
nate limits oil It's homo possessions and strong
only in its colonies and the which connects them
10 has picked up all ungovcrncd and weakly governed
| lands and now encroachcs on the limits OF almost
| every other Power What II cannot got tsof IT "a
jealous that ohors shall not have aud wants u held 10
abcyancc until future cvonts shall determine :ntc
| whose power IL shall tall Britain has now an empire
in each OF tho live continents and each Of the i've rrca
religions OF the world and though less consolidated
tho Slavonc Power, is with its hcterogoncous
| peoples and widely lying provinces more numerous
ihan any OF the others. The only question is whether
she shall be equal her defence or whether, having
bigness without greatness she shall fail to draw hc
huge length unharmed through history. She nov
presents many points OF attack and 0fors many cc
ncnts OF dissolution. The annosites OF Saxon, Gel
and Hindoo; OF Christian, Monammcdan and Buddhist
Il Axl.an llAaIAa