New-York tribune., 1891-03-01

Italian war; and Of course Austria at once began
TO demand the active cooperation of Prussia ana
all Germany her behalf Tie Vienna Govern
ment would have had the Regent furnish an
army for operations in Italy, but William refused
to fight for the foreign possessions OF his ally
All he felt justified in doing was securing the
safety of Germany. He willing TO march an
army to the Rhine and it was not yet GER
tain whether France woulu strike in Italy or III
Germany this step promised TO be most eiectlVe
one. But the naughty Austrian would not dc-
cept any help if he could not have II his own
way; and so, though the Prussiah forces were
modified and ready TO march, they did not set
out. In the meantime the Austrlans were Dei'G
beaten in Italy, and suddenly after Sollcrlno
Europe was surprised by the conclusion OF peace
between Napoleon and Francis Joseph that threw
over the interests Of Italy, and all the more cer
tainly and swiftly led TO Italian unihcation
The Italian war at an end, the old German
ouarrels and intricues rebegan In the Diet the
Hessian case was brought up again. and Usedom
showed that all that had been done was Illegal.
A new committee was appointed, and while the
Diet was not candid enough to admit that 1t had
blundered it tried 20 repair some OF the coisc-
ouences of its error and at last secured CON
stitution to the victims. Meantime Napoleon
ever restless, ever schening, was uneasy AZ thc
possibility of union between the German States, a
danger which he apprencnded rany rntll MS
own domestic necessities compelled HIN TO take
the only step which could have brought ABOUT
the thing he feared. Just at this time the trench
Emperor was very well affected 10 Prussia. and
made several advances, which William received
prudently and cautiously. But the Prussiah
Government was now entering upon long lhicfh"i
struggle. The Regent had from his entrance INTO
power determined to carry cat important military
reforms. to increase the army. and TO change the
terms of service TO insure the presence IN the
ranks and under good training and discipline, OF
the flower Of the Prussian youth. These measures
required an increased expenditure and the pro-
noscd changes i'm the terms of service were re-
gardcd with strong dissatisfaction by many WHO
thought they saw in the movement design agalhS'
the militia and who could not perceive the Slate
importance of the whole measure The result
was the organization of a strong opposition III tHe
Lower House. and the beginning of contest
which was TO continue during several Nc2r>. an"
to create bitter feeling and serious msunderS'anu-
ing between the King and his people. Nor were
external affairs much more satisfactory. Ihe
attempts of Austria TO gain admittance to the
German Tariff Union produced constant friction,
and her efforts TO set thc petty aud lesser States
of Germany against Prussia were steadily main
tanned
II was at this time namely, in lsG2 that
Bismarck was called to the head Of the Ministry
He had lust come from ST. Petersburg. where he
had been Ambassador from Berlin and was on his
way TO Paris on similar diplomatic mission, when
King William sent for him. she PruSsiaa people
remembering Bismarck only as n Fcudaist, re-
earded his appointment defiance on the part
of the Crown and the constitutional struggle
was embitterpd The Lower House refused t.
grant the military budget, and diss s1lution fol
lowed. but the House proved as lntrdctanie
as lis predecessor, and it became necessary 10
govern the country Professionally without the aid
of Parliament. Won Sybe points out the diLer-
enccs between the Prussian AMI English Conslltu-
tions, differences which, in placing greater power
at the disposal of the Prnssan Crown. rendered
this parliamentary deadlock less serious than such
an event would have been under more demo-
cratic regime. The obstinate resistance Of the
Lower House, moreover, was based upon mis-
apprehension of the ends of the Government.
There seems no room for douot as TO tho vital
necessity OF those army reforms which William
was determined upon: was IT possible 10
carry them out save by instituting the changes
proposed in tie terms of service. The argument
Of the Opposition that the increase Of the army
was needless, because the Government was Sdre
never 10 90 to war. was childish, and the time
vas not far oi when every PrusSian citizen would
he compelled to acknowledge the prcscirnt wisdom
Of the Government in milt.Ty matters. But
Bismarck took office in the middle of storm
which would have tried any man ana whlch
soon brought into play his great powers. Austria
too soon realized that she had no longer 10 deal
with Mantcuiiel but with the first statesman ol
his age, and she made little advance IN her
intrigues thenceforth
I'pon the heels of the domestic difficulties ncN
crowded a formidable Polish cCmpiicatIon which.
for time, threatened to disturb tie peace OF
Europe. In this case the direct interests of PrnS-
sa were involved and in this case it is difficult
to sympathizc with the Prussian view of the
situation. The partition Of Poland was stu
pcndous crime and il brought its own punish
ment. Russia and Prussia, joint bcnelciarics
of the nfany, were condemned to play the part
of iailcrs. de>pots and cxecutioncrs and thus to
incur odium and dctcstation throughout Europe.
Won Sybel as in duty bound. puts the best face
upon the treatment of the Polish Rcyoluton, and
inccnioasy strives to make it appear that the
purposes Of Gar Alexander were at this time
| full of benignity and that the Poles wcIc pcr-
verse malignant and irrational. Strange rs il
NAV appear 10 such as believe the violent cN-
tinction Of a nation dcfensbc, however. the
victims of such practices do not hold themselves
under any obligation 10 consider the interests or
TO lessen the embauassments Of their OpprcssorS,
| and they consider themselves warranted in using
whatever instrumentalitieS may he available for
the furtherance of their own liberation. Alexander
may have favored mild measures for the time,
but he could not obliteratc the Polish memories
| of the past, nor could he reconcile the down
| trodden people to any avowedly Russian policy.
The revolution carried ruhlcssly. it is
| true bat desperate men grasp at any and every
| agency that can help them. Prussia came TO the
aid of Russia and the safeguarding of her own
Polish provinces, and thereby aroused the indgna-
ton of Europe Napoleon was greatly incensed,
but he dared not act, and since no other Power was
! at all inclined TO move in the matter otherwise
than diplomaticay. the difficulty resolved itself