Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-30
IMPERIAL CANCELLATION.

The eccentrlcltleS OF the young Emperor
of Germany have furnished the topic for an
immense amount of gossip, but the latest
report of his intentions will, if corroborated,
make his course appear in the light OF wild
insanity to the selfish craftsmanship of Eu-
rope But it may be taken as the highest
policy by enlightened civilization. That Is
the intimation that, for the sake of ad-
vancing the disarmament of Europe, he is
preparing proposals for reconciliation with
France, which will, if necessary, include
the independence of Alsace and Lorraine
from German rule.
This report is in line with some express
sions of the Emperor which were made to
the French delegates to the Berlin Labor
Congress If such a policy should be taken
by the young Emperor it would strike Eu-
rope dumb with its unprecedented disregard
of ordinary motives, and would be hardly
less astounding from its utter reversal of all
that was expected from him at the time of
his accession. 1t was then freely predicted
that his b hunger for fame would plunge Eu-
rope into war If, instead of that, he should
attain fame by policy of territorial gen.
erosity, which is without example in modern
history, and which would leave Europe no
room for continuing its present armed truce,
it would be historic example of the saying
that SIT is the unexpected that happens"
No European monarch has given away any
territory freely and without compulsion
since the days of chivalry. 1t is wholly be-
yond the principles or precedents Of modern
statecraft to do such thing. The grim
Chancellor, whose idea of blessedness was
expressed in his paraphrase: "Beati pessi-
dentes," could never conceive OF policy
which does not hold with an iron grip all
that is gained by diplomacy or war. Yet
if such a step were taken, freely and out of
good will for the peace of Europe, it is by no
means certain that it would not be higher
and truer policy than Bismarck ever could
conceive. The Emperor Frederick is reported
to have foreseen that the absorption OF con-
quered territory from France would always
be frebrand in Europe. While Germany
holds these provinces they are threat to
France. While France has that reminder of
her humiliation on her boundaries it is
and dislike constantly present, the disarma-
ment of either nation is an impossibility.
1t is far from certain that the impulsive
German monarch has gone any further in
this direction than the profession of will
ingness to be magnanimous. But if he
should prove that his idea of relieving the
laboring masses of Europe was so strong as
to enable him to rise above all the selfish
principles OF statecraft, and overturn all
traditions by generously giving away con-
quered territory in order to assure Europe
of peace, why would it not be the greatest
and loftiest craftsmanship of two centuries?
1t would be greater than any achievement
of Napoleon's; for Napoleon's was the
genius of inspired selfshness. 1t would be
a higher policy than the aggrandisement
secured by Bismarck and Won Moltke; for
theirs was simply the science of grim and
heavy-handed force. The young monarch
who can conquer imperial selfshness. over
come the precedents of European acquIsi-
tiveness, and give away provinces merely for
the benefit of humanity. will make greater
conquest and win a higher place in history
than any others. The exponent of the genius
of giving away, will by his very loneliness
be greater in history than the exponents of
the genius of grasping.
1t is to be hoped that the young Emperor
will astound Europe. and turn the tables on
his critics bv some such move as this. But
before believing that he is going to perform
that unequaled act of magnanimity, the
world will wait for the publication of the
formal propositions.A q