The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-05-08

iutisgf lot alaie! heefai'y canister efthe
Hapsburgs had 80 Iaug t9i'ed, ssenl,d
swept away forever. Mettctnci, was abe
clearly to forecast The short triumph OF
democracy and the speedy return OF the
autocsacy which was TO hold Germany in
bondage. The terrible humiliation 20
which Frederick William was compelled
to submit in his own palace yard, the add
ministration Of an imaginary state hand
cd over to Archduke John, the fiction of
parliament Of united Germany, were with
in less than a year all things of the past,
and the utterance Of the Prussian King
that" soldiers are the only weapons against
democrats" revealed the collapse Of the
effort for freedom and unity, and taught
Germans that the hour for the deliver
ance Of Germany had not yet struck. The
failure was due tc two things; Germans
were not yet sufficiently aware of the
means by which freedom may be won and
maintained, and the multiplicity Of states
into which it was divided, each with its
court camp, were so many centers of re-
action Absolutism knew how to take ad-
vantage of these conditions in its favor.
Forty years have passed.
By fortunate concurrence of circum-
stances, the unfcation of Germany has
become n political fact Prince Bismarck
saw the aspirations Of Germans for unit,
and the rapid growth of democracy. lie
laid hold Of these two factors and by their
aid established the North German Confed-
Grafton, which in a few years. gave place to
the German Empire. But the forces
which he had brought into play refused to
stop. He PLAYED with democracy and in
the end found it too strong for him. 1t
refused to be shevcd at his bidding. Ger
mans felt that they were united, and they
knew OF no reason why they should not
be free. A parliament called together
for no other purpose than TO register the
DEGREES Of the Chancellor, was little bet
ter than no Parliament Germans had
Imperial France; why should not Germans
enjoy as much freedom as Frenchmcn,
now that the French Empire had become
the French Republic? Now. us when the
crime of Tsesh furnished Mcttcrnich Il
prctext for curtailing the scant liberties
of Germany, the crimes of Hodcl and
Modelling furnished the man OF blood and
iron an opportunity to check the growth
of opinions at WAR with irresponsible per
sonal government Few intelligent Ger
mans DENY that the type of socialism, OF
which the two would-hc assaSSinS were rep
rcscntatives, should be suppressed, but
they were not prepared to surrender all
the liberties of the nation; and when the
spirit of repression went still further, and
proposed that the RcichstAg shall, by its
own act register Il decree to suppress
freedom Of speech within lie legislative
chambers OF the empire, no wonder these
patriots stood appalled,. The patriotism
that could surrender the local prejudices
which kept Germans apart since Charlie
masnc, and override Ike bounds of duch-
les, margravatcs, principalities and king
domS, in order to form one nation liity to
which duchicS, marSravatcs, princlpa!-
ties, and Kingdoms shall he subordinate,
could not be thrust under HOW as it
was thirty years ago But While the re-
prcssive laws Of Prince Bismarck were
made the prctext for breach by the
young Emperor, it is well known that his
jealousy Of Bismarck s power and his un-
willingness to remain longer under the
tryanny of Bismarck's will were the real
causes Of the historic separation of the
Young monarch and his great Chancellor.
But see what changes have been
wrought since this mOmentous breach
Germany's influence abroad bias already
been manfestly impaired. The triple
alliance formed and maintained by Bis
| marck, BY which Austria. Germany and
Italy covcuanted to defend each other
against attack, is on the verge of desoiu-
ton, if it has not already gone TO wreck
and it is even whispered that Italy has
entered iuto both defensive and often
sivc league with France New concessions
have been made too to the HapsbnrSs to
hold their friendship. Russia is believed
to he on the verge OF war, and Ike Faith
erland, tNtc0tened on both tanks, is in a
position to appreciate the power OF Bis
mares genius and the value Of his great
services.
The New Council.
III. . al oP patr oninril ic , ~, =