The herald., 1896-01-26
THE HOLY ALLIANCE
[Copyright, 1895. by Louis T. Post.l

NSOPyhSnt, 4ooO ny LOUIS Fost.j
In recent discussions of the Monroe doc
trine frequent references to the holy al
lance we're made in an off hand manner
that implied that the writer's were familiar
with its history and that if readers were
not they ought to be. Yet connected
story of this conspiracy of crowned heads
against human rights is far from easy to
lind, as any one may learn by turning to
his reference books or ransacking a library
FIRST DRAFT OF THE HOLY TREATY
The story begins in 1915, during the ne
gotiation of the second peace of Paris,
which followed hard upon the echoes Of
Waterloo. Alexander IL. of Russia sent
for Prince Metternich, the Austrian prime
minister, to request through him a personal
interview with Francis l. of Austria, re-
garding what the czar characterized as "a
great undertaking" of such a confidential
nature that only the monarchs themselves
could fully consider it, The interview
took place, and Immediately after
ward the Austrian emperor SUBJ
mitted to Metternich a docu-
ment embodying the subject matter of dis
cussion, which was also submitted, at the
czar's request, to Frederick William III. of
Prussia. This document was in the hand
writing of the czar. Metternich describes
it as nothing more than philanthropic
aspiration clothed in religious garb." but
both the Austrian emperor and the Prus-
sian king required important verbal alter
ations before they would sign, and Meter
mich himself was opposed to giving it out
in any form. The czar's wishes could not
be wholly ignored, however, and with sew
eral changes to which he reluctantly as
sented, the document was signed by the
three sovereigns in person. 1t was not
convention between states, as treaties
usually are, but private contract between
monarchs.
FULL TEXT OF THE HOLY TREATY
AS this treaty is not readily accessible in
English, it is given here in full:
In the name of the very holy and indivis-
ible Trinity:
Their majesties, the emperor of Austria,
the king of Prussia and the emperor of
Russia, on account of the great events
which have signalIzed in Europe the course
of the three last years, and principally
from the benefits which it has pleased the
divine providence to distribute among
those states whose governments have
placed their confidence and their hopes in
IL diones having acqUlreu Tue prOIounO con-
viction that it is necessary to fix the course
to be adopted by the powers in their
mutual relations upon the sublime truths
which are taught us by the eternal religion
of God the Saviour:
We solemnly declare that the present
act has no object but to manifest to the
whole world their immovabe determina-
ton to take for their sole rule of conduct,
be it in the administration of their respec-
tive states, or be it in their political rela.
tions with all other governments, the pre-
cepts of this holy religion n--precepts of
justice. of charity, and of peace-which, far
from being solely applicable to private life,
should, on the contrary, have direct influ-
ence over the resolutions of princes and
guide all their proceedings, as being the
sole means of consolidating hdman insti-
tutions and of remedying their imperfec-
tons.
Accordingly their majesties have agreed
upon the following articles:
Article 1. In conformity to the words of
the Holy Scriptures, which command all
men to regard each other as brothers. the
three contracting monarchs will live
united by the bonds of a genuine and in
dissolable brotherhood, and, considering
each other as compatriots, they will lend
on all occasions and in all places assist
ance, aid and succor; regarding themselves
as fathers to their subjects and armies,
they will rule them in that spirit of brother
hood by which they are animated to pro-
tect religion, peace and justice.
Article 2. Consequently, the only vital
principle, be it between the said govern
ments or be it between their subjects,
should be that of rendering reciprocal SER
vice, of testifying by all unchanging good
will to the mutual affections by which
they should be animated, of considering
themselves only as members of the same
Christian nation, the three allied princes,
thamSnIVaG cd
by Providence to govern three branches of
the same family, to-wit: Austria, Prussia
and Russia, and thus confessing that the
Christian nation of which they and their
people make part has really no
other sovereign, than he to whom
in him alone are found all the treasures of
infinite love. knowledge, and wisdom, that
is to say, God, our divine saviour, Jesus
Christ, the word of the Most High, the
promise of life. Their majesties, there
fore, recommend with the most tender
solcitudee to their people, as the only
means of enjoying that peace which is
born of good conscience and which alone
is durable, to fortify themselves each day
more strongly in the principles and the ex-
ercise of the duties which the divine
Saviour has taught to men.
Art. 3. All the powers that shall wish
sclemnly to avow the sacred principles
that have dictated the present act, and
shall recognize how important it is to the
welfare of the nations too long disturbed
that these important truths shall hereafter
exercise on the destinies of all men the in
fuence that belongs to them,will be receiv.
ed with much ardor as affection into
this holy alliance.
Made in triplicate, and signed at Paris in
the year of grace, 1915, the Goth of Sep.
tember. Signed:
FRANCOIS,
FREDERICK GUILLAUME,
ALEXANDRA.
All the circumstances, and the tenor of
the treaty itself, indicate that the czar's
first draft was an undisguised proposal for
an alliance to suppress constitutional gov
ernment. To such an allianc none of the
objecters were at heart opposed. But they
knew, as the czar from the different cir
cumstances in his less civilized dominion
could not know, that the demand, universal
at that time in all Europe except Russia,
for constitutional governments in which
power should be recognized as proceeding
from the people, was political force of
such potency that cunning must supple
ment coercion to silence it and they saw
that the time was not yet ripe for q dis
closure of their designs. So, though to
please their powerful northern ally they
had signed and published the treaty, they
ever afterward pretended to regard it, to
borrow phrase from Metternich, as "a
rH-1N live