Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-06-29

defying both. They were diverse,
but not opposed to one another. If |
the two powers would steadily act
together in strict mutual fidelity
there could be little doubt which
condition of the alternative Russia
would embrace. She would have
no choice. But the strict mutual
fidelity was the thing not to be had.
It has been said that the Austrian
school of diplomacy was that of
Metternich, which was that of
Machiavelli. Favorite maxims in
this school were, "Speech was given
to man to conceal thought" and "In
dealing with friend act upon the
principle that he may be your enc
my tomorrow" Statesmen trained
in such a school are not the men
with whom tie mutual confidence
indispensable to such united action
is possible. If Lord Beaconsfield
ever contemplated such cO-Operat-
i've diplomacy it is evident that he
soon abandoned it for the self-reli-
ant, wisely audacious course which
he has pursued steadily to this day.
All the princes, counts, dukes and
barons are hurrying, therefore to-
wards the Prussian capitol, where
the arms Of Bismarck are extended
to welcome them, and among these
nv Lords of Beaconsfield and Sails
bury from England, Schouvaloff
and GOrtchakOff from Russia and
the Count Andrassy from Vienna.
The latter is in high glee; he is GER
tain that he has Outwitted both the
Russian and English statesmen and
that, whether war or peace IS to
result, he has the inside track. If
war, he has the opportunity of max
ing demonstrations on the TANKS of
both cOmbatants, without fighting,
until both are exhausted, and then,
with his army fresh, he can dictate
the terms of peace. But if peace is
to be the upshot of the conference,
then by raising constant difficulties
in the way of its cOnsummation, by
making it alternately apparent that
he is going to throw his influence on
the Russian or English side, he can
stipulate for what he will of plum
der. Happy Andrassy! Happy
Austria!
But all human happiness is fleet
ing. While most of the plenipoten-
tiaries are still on their road to Ber-
lin, a document becomes visible in
that diplomatic orbit astounding to
all Europe, but most astounding to
Count Andrassy and to Austria. In
substance this document is a men,
orandum informally signed by
Schouvaloff on the part of Russia,
and Salisbury on that of England,
specifying the broad principles upon
which the two nations are willing
to come to terms and containing
nothing in reference to any of Aus
trials claims -cOncOcted, in fact,
without the concurrence or even
knowledge of Austria. Russia and
England, in short, are both tired of
the duplicity of Austria and think
they can come to an understanding
better without her privity than
with it.
England then goes into the con-
ference with Russia brought to her
senses, Austria Outwitted, France
cordially secOnding everything she
does, and the smaller powers look
ing up to her as the only power able
or willing to protect them the
treaty of San StefanO is already
waste-paper and is evidently to be
superseded by treaty of Berlin,
which is to reverse every provision
in the cancelled treaty which was
inimical or even distasteful to Eng
land. Will our readers look back
to the first sentence in this article
and reflect for a moment what Il
stupendOus change has come over
the aspect of European politics since
such an utterance was possible.
Well, the man who has done it all is
BENJAMIN D'IsRAELI,
now called Earl of BeacOnsfield, and
probably greater still than that,
By the "aIl hail" hereafter,
Duke of BeacOnsfield, if he cares to
grasp the title; but, whether Earl
or Duke or plain Benjamin, the
cOnqueror of England, Austria and
Russia, who sways all three to his
will without firing a gun, and all
by the force of his own indOmitable
will and aspiring intellect.
There is a moral in all this well
worth the attention of Americans as
well as Englishmen. 1t is this: If
nation desires to be great, she
must seek out her great men, place
them in power and have faith in
them. Would that we could speak
to millions when we say that our
own nation can never escape from
the sOrdid baseness which now con-
trolls her political action unless she
learns this lesson: Place men in
power because they are great, be-
cause they are good, because they
are strong. We have for forty years
been doing the reverse, picking out
leaders who havenO record for great
ness or goodness either-simply be-
cause they have none, and are there
fore aU0iIdbIe as candidates. The
practice has brought us to so low a
standard of degradation that, if we
are ever to rise from it, we must
begin now, or we will lose even the
desire for better things.
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TIE POTTER COyEMISSTON