The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-28


the two duchies of Schleswig- Holstein, |
the Kingdom of Hanover, the King
dom OF Saxony, the Dukedom of Sax
ony, large parts OF Bohemia, Austrian |
Silesia and Bavaria, with many minor
dukedoms and principalities, besides
both banks OF the Rhine.
A complete change was at the same
time effected in the constitution Of the
German states, From 1915 to 1S4S there
had been a loose confederation existing
mainly for the purpose of a common
customs union. In 1S4S fruitless at
tempt had been made to draw Germany
more closely together under a common
emperor, but now the Germanic con-
federation or Bund was dissolved, the
states north of the river Main were
formed into q Northern Federation
North Bund) at the head of which
stood Prussia, and those south of the
river constituted South Germany
FRANCo-PRUssIAN WAR.
In 1870 Prince Leopold, of Hohenzol-
lern was a candidate for the vacant
throne of Spain. The French emperor
affecting to fear a danger from what he
declared would too greatly increase his
neighbor's power, but in reality usged
thereto by the empress as means OF
quieting internal dissensions in France,
declared war against Prussia. The his
tory of that mighty struggle is too
fresh in mems minds to need repeat
ing. 1t was practically ended on the
surrender of the French emperor at
Sedan with $4,000 men, 500 officers, 55S
cannons and 5000 horses. Peace was
concluded in March, 1871, after Paris
had fol nd
agreement France surrendered all of the
province of Alsace and one-fifth of Lor-
raine, together with the fortress of
Metz, besides agreeing to pay a war
indemnity of one thousand million dol
lars. The success of the German arms
led the people of North and South
Germany to join fortunes, and at the
instances of the two governments Will
liam l., king of Prussia, was crowned
emperor of Germany at Vercailles on
January /, 1871.
One immediate result of the French
defeat was the final and complete uni
fication of Italy. The troops that had
so long guarded Rome had to be with
drawn to meet the pressing exigencies
of home affairs. Relieved from French
domination the soldiers of Victor EN-
manuel entered the Eternal City, and
in the following year Rome became at
last the capital of united nation.
RUSsO-TURKISH WAR.
The war which on the whole
has produced the greatest changes
on the European map is undoubt-
edly the Russo-Turkish war of 1877.
An insurrection which broke out in
Bosnia and Herzegovina against the
Turkish rule in 1875 spread rapidly
among the neighboring states of Ser
via and Montenegro, assisted-so the
Turks said-by the Russian govern
ment. War was declared against Tur-
key by Servia, but the little state was
no match for her opponent, and her
regiments, largely officered by Russian
volunteers, were speedily defeated.
The insurrection next broke out i'm
Bulgaria. To quell this, the Turks,
besides sending their regular troops,
let loose an irregular force of Bashi-
Bazouks, who committed the most
frightfu atrocities upon the helpless
people. All Europe rang with indig-
nation and Russia seized the oppor-
tunity to commence the campaign for
which she had been long preparing,
War was declared by Russia on
April "a 1871 Two months later an
army crossed the Danube and moved
toward the Balkans, while at the same
time another force invaded Asia Min
or. For a time it seemed as If the
whole affair was to be a sort of mill
tary parade for the Russian troops,
but when Osman Pasha threw up de-
fenses at Plevna, in Bulgaria, and
twice hurled the Russians back despite
their enormous superiority in numbers,
the complexion of affairs was altered
for awhile. In November the almost
impregnable fortress of Kars, in Asia
Minor, was carried by assault, and
on the 18th of December, after mag
nificent resistance for five months and
a final attempt to break through the
surrounding forces, the Turks in Plev-
ma surrendered. The road to Constan-
tinople was now practically open and
the Russians commenced to close in.
Public opinion in England was deeply
| stirred. A song with the refrain:
We don't want to fight. but by lingo if
we do
We've got the ships, we've goc the men,
We've got the money, too.
| We've fought the bear before, and Wen
| fight him once again.
tinople.
caught the fancy of the masses, and
was sung night after night at the
various music halls to the widest
| cheering, the audience joining in the
! chorus. 1t was this song which gave
rise to the term lingo" bestowed by
| the liberals, under the leadership of
| Mr.. Gladstone, upon the supporters
| of Lord Beaconfield's government,
| Meanwhile an armistice and an agree
ment containing a basis of peace had
| been forced upon the Turks at Adrian
| ople perfected later by the famous
! treaty of San Stephano. Shortly after
| a rumor reached London that notwith-
standing this agreement the Russians
were still marching on towards Con-
stantinople. Again there was a period
| of intense eXcitepnent. The British
fleet was sent through the Dardanelles
and anchored q few miles below Con-
stantinople, the army reserve was call
| ed out and a contingent of Indian
troops hurriedly summoned to occupy
the Island Of Cyprus. Lord Beacon
field declared that the treaty of San
| Stephano would put the whole south
| east of Europe under Russian infiu-
ence and fatty refused to recognize 1t.
Prince Bismarck now interposed by is
suing invitations for congress of the
powars, to meet at Berlin in June.
which finally resulted in the abroga-
tion of the treaty of San Stephano and
the substitution in its stead of the
| treaty of Berlin. BY this treaty the
Turkish empire lost nearly three-quar-
ters IL It's European territory Servia,
Montenegro and Roumania We're de-
clared independent states Bulgaria