Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-06

One OF the BtFAnkcst ePcCthcies cNci WIZ
messed in ancient or modern times, is now
presented by two Of the great nations Of
Europe. which have completely reversed
their former conditions. The same days
ere Witnessing an imperial decree lettering
Tree speech in Germany and q triumph Of
r~epublicanism in France, which sweeps
away the last vestiges Of imperialism. Pri-
or 70 the Franco Prussian war, in no part
Of the world was thought SO free as in Ger
ms1y. The little principalities and grand
duchies, paltry as they were as Govern
nents, were too weak to control thought or
speech. There was q German unity Of
thought and feeling pervading them all,
more subtle and yet stronger than the clasp
Of 'blood and iron" that binds them now.
Germany vent into the war with France,
having, in many respects, the freedom Of a
republic. She came out Of the war a mill
tary despotism. France went into the war
y military despotism and came out OF it
republic. The victor paid dearly for his
victory. The defeat was to the losers a
blessing in disguise. 1t was Of great SER
vice to France, to rid her Of the contemp-
tible Empire Of Louis Napoleon, and at
the same time to show that it was SO weak,
such . sham and pretense, that its restora-
ton became impossible. Since France
became . Republic she has had to
fsce many difficulties and dangers. The
old monarchical factions fought hard to
bring back the Bourbon, or the B~onaparte,
but the wisdom, moderation, and iron reso-
luton Of the Republicans at last tri-
umphed, and the Mvnarchists are reduced
to utter impotence. Fortunate also it has
been for France that her industrial, finan-
cial and commercial health have grown
stronger and stronger with the growing
stability Of the Republic and burst into
blossom in the worlds fair just closed.
France never was SO rich, or great or
happy IS now, for she never before was 30
free. She has, however, moved slowly to-
wards her present position, and though she
has accomplished much, her future is full
Of promise Of even greater things.
Much of this is reversed in Germany.
At first the success of German unity seems
to have intoxicated the German mind and
to have blinded it to the fact that they had
placed over the great Teutonic race an iron
burden OF tyranny. The men who govern
Germany are noble men, but the system is
bad. II an Emperor could be a blessing.
such o kind old man as Wilhelm would be
one. Bismarck, Moltke, young Fritz-all
are men Of noble character and ability.
But they are all mere pigmies compared
with the aggregate force and genius of the
German people; and to place them in des-
potic power is to hamper the development
Of . mighty race. Wilhelm and Bis
mark must look first to the perpetu-
alton Of the imperial dynasty, the
welfare of the German breed is q
secondary consideration. And now the
humiliation Of Germany, the lettering Of
German thought, and the espionage over
family life are about to be accomplished by |
the Discipline bin, because, forsooth, So
c~ialistic ideas are supposed to endanger the
.permsnence Of tho Imperial dynasty. The
complete emancipation Of the French Re-
public and the ensIavement Of the German
nation happen at the same time, and are
thus thrown into painful contrast.
This is no new thing in history. In
great ideas, great industries and
great races Of men are bred. The only
empires that have ever been glorious were
those founded upon the ruins Of republics.
and this glory lasted only a little while,
until the breed trained in the republic had
died. The men Of the empire are feeble
4hings, for subserviency, not greatness, is
ahe road to greatness.