New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-22


life under the compromise of 1897, which re-
stored to Hungary and Austria their ancient
constitutional rights; if the French people have
educated themselves in self-government; if
millions of serfs have been emanciDated,
sweeping reforms planned and executed ana
the Balkan races well nigh liberated, 1t has
been because tendencies have been felt ana
forces been at work which have sWayed the
sovereigns and made them the instruments OF
the popular will In one instance only has an
Emperor been overturned, and Napoleon Ill,
os we have said. is to be classed with the in
triguing diplomatists rather than with the SOW
eregns.
Viewed by the lurid light Of the battle-fires
of Sebastopol, SOlferinO Dupple, SadoWa,
Sedan and Plevna, Europe has been for twenty
five years circle of camps, with the troops
standing under arms and awaiting the signal
for war when they were not actually lighting.
Such a retrospect is natural when the career
of the Chancellor who has survived his lmpe-
rial master is reviewed. He was at Viafna
and Paris during the humiliatIng scenes which
marked the close of the disastrous war in the
Crimea, and when he became NesselrOde's
successor his dominant ideas were the
VI uib COuhNty HAhU WIZ
humiliation of the treacherOus court
whose "monstrous ingratitude" for Russian
aid in suppressing the Magyar revolt had been
eviDced first in traction and finally III open
menaces GOrtschakOff had his revenge.
Austria was punished by diplomatic combna-
tons. She lost her Italian provinces and her
ascendancy in Germany, and the Chancellor
who, as a diplomat. was snubbed by Count
Buol at Vienna, has lived TO see the disgrace
of the CrimeI retrieved and the Treaty OF
Paris torn into shrcds. This is the diplomatic
retrospect. But the Europe of to-day bears
the impress of something besides diplomatic
combinations. Amid the din Of arms and the
chatter of diplomacy q group OF nations
have been working out their desti-
MES. The forces of race, climate religion and
civilization have been brought TO bear New
ideas have been battling with old instincts.
The industrial energies aud political genius Of
nations aud races have been quickencd.
French regeneration, German unity, Italian
nationality Austrian consiitutlOnalism, Rus
sian reform and Panslavism have become
dominant forces which have regulated the
internal development of Europe
To mark the distinction which we are striy-
ing to make, let us recur TO the great State
whose humiliation and disgrace were one OF
the main objects OF the Cars councillors
when his reign opened. Outwardly, Austria
was terribly punished for the "ngrahtude
with which she was charged. Sadowa was
disaster whic seemed irreuiovable Yet
that defeat led to a political reorganization
which has restored the nation TO its place IN
nf 4ET which
Deak planned and Beust executed has rein
vigOrated the nation, by restoring tho tlme-
honored constitutional independence of HIM
gary, by TcntrOducing parliamentary govern
ment in Austria and by establishing under the
dual system administrative unity. That COM
promise has borne the excitement OF an last
ern war in which the natiOnalitcs were drawn
in oppOsiie directions aud the strain OF
political revolution which restored to power
the very factions which had opposed 1t.
Under that system the Dual Monarchy IS
making progress 10 the direction Of se!f-goyeTn-
ment and material prosperity. The emperor
is hailed throughout his realm MS the bcnefac-
tor Of his people and lac has had the satisfac-
ton Of replacing in Bosnia and Herzegovina
the provinces which he lost III Italy. lie has
not nominated a military dictator; there are
no assassins DIGGING bis steps. The nation
that was punished " for its "iugratliude
has not been forced TO rctrace its steps ~
constitutional reform by the light OF Nlhllist
torches.
France rs well as Ausria-liuDgaTy teaches
the lesson that n nation may rise triumphant
from defeat. A Germany that is now As pow
ciful as in the days of Charles V. is almost as UNI
happy as she was at the close OF the Thirty Years
War. Military prestige has not brought with
it domestic tranquility and political develop
ment. The Fatherland is tormentcd with I'M
rest its willy Chancellor is toying with social
Istic lcgislation its aged sovereign has secret
misgivings lest he may share the fate Of The
unhappy Car. France, meanwhile, has become
strong, prosperous and seif-pOssessed. The
magic of the NIpOlcODic ideas-luck, intrigue,
and forcc-has lost its charm and the nation is
instinct with yIrile citizenship. Such are the
compensations for national defeat The battle
is not always to the strong.