The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-03

SlgHI OF the pf0OI-feauer IIdhes IRE
say Frederick William H. instead of
Frederick William Nv and a slip of
the author himself is responsible for
the confounding of Wentworth with
Buckingham Author.)
RESULT OF THE WAR OF 1866.
To the Editor: AS a result of the
war of 1866 Prussia simply annexed
Schleswig Holstein, Hanover, Hesse,
Nassau and Frankfort onlthe- Main: this
meant an increase of Prussia's popula-
tion from 1919 to 231a millions and its
supremacy IN North germany. The
King of Hanover was banshed while the
Elector of Hesse and the Duke of Mas
sau were for a while held in prison, but
finally released and satisfied with lib
eral pensions. A special arrangement
was necessary for Schleswig- holstein
on account of the recognition of the
Oldenburg claims previously ON the part
of the Bismarck ministry; the difficulty
was gotten rid of by marriage ar
rangement that brought the Princess
of the annexed duchies to the Imperial
throne as wife of the present Emperor.
Bismarck's position was still far from
am easy one because he had excited the
suspicious of Europe and heightened the
jealousy of the smaller German Staaes;
but it was a position far better than
that of '63 when any day might lave
brought a revolution and his own ruin.
The great diplomat began now to
strengthen himself in Germany; he was
already strong in PRUSSIA: the liberals
had lost in the elections of '66 and the
famous party of Bismarck-the national
ists-came into existence The news Of
the victory over Austria, the prospect of
the large annexations to the ever-hun-
CRY PrIssian monarchy caused their
success.
THE INEVITABLE STRUGGLE
WITH FRANCE
In order to prepare for the inevitable
struggle with France a very lenient poll
icy toward South Germany-Bayaria,
Wuertemberg and Baden was adopted
while the formation of the Norddentsch
Bund was on the most liberal princi-
pes General suffrage was granted
and for this the people sent almost ax-
clus'yely Bismarck Representative es To
tie general parliament that sat in Ber-
lin frcm 1867 to 1S70-a parliament that
was to become the German Reicnstag
CT cur day.
Bismarck was now more powerful
than ever, for this new parliament coun-
teracted the remnant of ancient oppo-
sition in the Prussian parliament that
sat in Berlin at the same time. The
Minister with the active cooperation of
William /, now began the organization
that was to overthrow France in 1870.
Every man was made subject to a
military service OF three years, which
gave Prussia the largest active military
establishment in the world; a thorough
reorganization of the army got
rid of the old officers and
substituted for them young, vigor-
Gus men devoted to the new order OF
things and longing for the struggle with
France and this same system was grad
ually introduced in all the German
States and in most cases an agreement
brought about by which in case of
invasion all Germany was to act to-
gether under the leadership of PITls-
ala. This, of course, irritated France
and the more because Napoleon had fail
ed to get some territorial advantage
along with the great increase Of it's
northern rival. A Bonaparte stood for
French expansion, and from that day
the one ruling idea of the French cabi-
net was to annex some territory; at one
time it had determined on getting Bel |
gium but that failing Luxemburg-a
little country, chiefly French, then un-
der the authority of Holland, seemed |
sufficient. In 1867 it was as good as
annexed, but Bismarck defeated this
signally by most brilliant move and
by raising public opinion to a terrible
pitch Of excitement against the man who |
wished to garble up an ancient state of
Germany. Bismarck had told Benedict
the French ambassador, he would not |
have word to say, but no sooner than
it was fait accompl he changed his
policy entirely and said it meant war
the moment the French accepted the |
territory in dispute. 1T had been found /
that this step on Bismarck's part would |
be very popular in Germany-it made |
Prussia appear as guardian of the
small German States. 1t was an ig- |
nominious defeat for Napoleon and was
not to be forgotten in Paris; Napoleon I
said he had been duped and that an EN-
peror of France and especially a Napo- !
leon was not to be dlIped except at
imminent peril. Bismarck chuckled at /
his new success and used the newspa-
pers to the greatest advantage. 1t was
not TO be expected after this that any |
effective opposition could be maintained |
in Prussiait was but the natural de-
velopment Of that progressive nation. |
The long disputed Appropriation both
for the army and the royal family was
granted and almost unanimously. The
people had changed, mot the govern
ment, least of all Bismarck; and Ger
many was fast becoming Prussianized;
one thing was still lacking, a foreign
war. A foreign policy was the thing to
keep the eyes of the people from de-
nlestic affairs and victory made them
the most obedient tools in the hands Of
such a statesman as Bismarck. 1t was
this foreign policy that united Germany
on the basis proposed by Prussia. a
domestic policy with free parliaments
would finally have united it on the basis
of the Frankfort proposal of 1913, but
not so speedily perhaps because the petit
princes Of the country would have ever
made difficulties.
QUARREL ABOUT THE SPANISH
CROWN.