The Wilmingtonian., 1886-02-06
Political Europe.

There are several features in the political
condition of Europe to-day which the histor-
ian, though he may not class, in time
to come as ranking among the facts that go
to make up the political history of this latter
part of the nineteenth century will be recog-
nized as the main underlying causes that
evolve, by species of silent leavening, the
great epochs of European history.
For instance, the startling picture of Bis
marck's position. Last week the German
Parliament in distinct, unqualified terms
passed vote of condemnation of the mea-
ures pursued by the Kingdom of Prussia in
its internal administration of Polish matters
This in the abstract, aught not to appear as
anything specially strange under represen.
tative constitutional government, as that of
the German Empire is assumed to be- but in
the light of the well understood autocratic
sway of the Iron Chancellor the fact bears
the character almost Of revelation. 1t is a
direct reproof by the governments of Saxony,
Bavaria, Wiltemberg, Baden, Hanover, and
the other small nationalites that go to make
up the great German Bund, of their more
powerful brother Prussia, and therefore by
direct implication of Bismarck and his poll
cy. 1t isa clear announcement to Europe
that Prussia is not Germany, as hitherto
supposed, and reveslsan unsupported weak
ness in the political unity of the Father
laud.
Again, Frances strange departure in her
recent colonial wars, as opposed to her ira
ditionary custom of colonizing the land she
has conquered. The French treaty Of last
week with Madagascar provides for an in
demnity Of s2,000,000 for war expenses, and
the relinquishment by France of all terriror-
ial rights in that island Again in Tonquin
an almost identical policy has been pursued,
the prosecution Of an expensive war followed
by surrender of the greater part of it's
fruits. frances Egyptian policy has been
the same and perhaps has done her foreign
influence more harm than any other act of
the last twenty-five years of colonial admin
istraton. Indeed it seems patent that this
once prominent martial nation is undergoing
complete change of political feeling.
Italy too, though plunged into debt, head
over ears, is m king more rapid strides in
the direction of prominent unified nationali-
ry than any other European people. Next
to England, she is mistress of the Mediter.
ranean. No colonization upon the shores of
that great inland sea can be attempted at
the present time without remonstrauce
from the Italian COVE 'nment. Italy is
sending out feelers in Africa and her import.
ancs. was signaly recognized by England,
In the oher, almost to hurriedly accepted,
o. taking the place of France in the settle
ment Of the Soudan difficulty.
Among the congeries Of peoples grouped
upon the Balkan peninsula the recent dis
order and turbulence points more strongly
than ever towards the necessity, probably ia
the near future, of an arrangement by the
great powers, by which Servia, Bulgaria
Montenegro, Albania and Herzegovina be
formed into bund, something sitnular to
that of Germany, but allowing each state
automatic powers, the grouping together
being simply as a protection from the en-
croachments Of powerful neighbors in the
north.
TO return to Prussia, or more probably.
the administration of imperial German
affairs by Bismarck, the notable political
feature is that of the failure Of the KuItur.
kampf and the famous May Laws Instead
of the Catholics approaching Bismarck upon
bended knees, the great chancellor appears
Just now only too anxious for any favor from
the Vatican. The German representative al
the Italian court is to give precedence to the
German representative at the Papal court
who will take first rank as an ambassador
This of course makes the Italians furious
but Bismarck has some project or other in
view and the feelings Of the Italian psople
have to be sacrificed to his occult designs
DIR. Windhorst, the Catholic leader in the
Reichstag seems to be harder headed man
Ehan okn