New-York tribune., 1901-01-06

wars. Nor, indeed, are we sure that such a rec
ord would be true IT Is. however, impossible
90 declare the century a peaceful one, though II
o-ened with notable cessation of war; and
has closed with a notable essay at uni
yersal peace. II cannot point to a new
declaration of war IN each one Of the hundred
wears we must declare with Hatred the Bald
s1n another twas multiplied Three times" The
rnesaunpled progress OF the world I'm civilization
hiss resulted in greater compleXity of the politi-
csl relationships OF the nations, and in bring
,ng each nation into more direct contact with
others and with a far greater number of others,
snd these conditions amid the persistence of ele-
mental passions, evil as well as benign. have
inevitably widened the opportunity for war.
Nor shall we err If we judge that more
of the nineteenth century Were OF high import
10 the world than of any other century. Sir Ed
ward Greasy has set down only fifteen decisive
battles" in more than twenty-taree centuries
battles, that is, which materially affected the
course Of human progress-and only one of
these was in the nineteenth century. while the
eighteenth century had fewer than four.
But Sir Edward stopped with Waterloo. Had he
extended the scope of his observations to the
end Of the century he might well have found
several other conflicts at least important as
she futile cannonade Of Valmy AT least six
ar seven OF the nineteenth century wars may
well be ranked as OF first class Importance TO
ibe world and several must rank in point Of
rhvsical magnitude among the greatest Of all
time.
NAPOLEONIC CONFLICTS.
The century began with g sort Of intermezzo
.n the Napoleonic wars. France made. in its
first year. peace at Lunevllle with Prussia and
Austria, on the basis Of monstrous spoliation;
with Spain, Naples and Russia: and with Eng
land after the latter had driven her out Of
Egypt and destroyed the Danish fleet. In the
same year. however, France began war against
Hayti, and Russia conquered Georgia, and the
United States and TripoI engaged In open war.
The next year saw rebellion and French inter
vention in Switzerland. The next England
again ar war with France. and likewise with
the NIahrattas. The year 1904 saw Decatur's
heroism at Tripoli, Frances attempt to invade
England, Spain's war against England, and
Servia's rising under Kara George. Ulm, Ira
falgars Austerlitz and Presburg the land
marks Of 1905. and Jena and Auerstadt those Of
1906 while in the latter year Russia waged war
Turkey, and England regained possession of
the Cape
Eylau, Friedland, the Tilsit spoliation and
the bombardment OF Copenhagen filled 1907,
with Frances invasion Of Portugal, which lat
ter act invited the coming OF the victor Of AS
saye and opened the sure road to Waterloo. The
next year saw Bonaparte's aggressiOns all
sides. the advent OF Wellesley in the Peninsula,
and Russia's conquest OF Finland. saragossa
and Talavera, Aspern and Wagram, and the
peace Of schonbrunn, tell the tale Of 1909, fol-
lowed by Torres Vedras. the Russian campaign
in the Balkans HidaIgo's war for Mexican in
he NJ ba
tons throughout South America in 1910. Tip
pecanOe. Albuera and the slaughter OF the Nam
eiukes were the widely diverse notes OF
1911, stern preIudes 10 the tremendous struggles
which were to begin with the next year.
FOUR YEARS OF GREAT WARS
The first supremeIy great episodes OF nine
teenth century nilitarism bear date of 1872. In
that year began the inconsiderate war between
The United States and Great Britain which
startled the naval quid nuncs of the world and
established a new sea power Of serious magni-
tune; Bonaparte's disastrous Moscow campaign
shattered his strength and prestige beyond re-
pair; and Wellington's remorseless prosecution
OF the Peninsular war made Omens of Waterloo
loom large and clear.
The next year saw Perry's victory on Lake
Erie. the rising Of the German people. the crush-
hs OF Bonaparte at Leipsic, and Wellington's
70 1914 came the battle Of Lake Champlain and
me restoration OF peace between America and
Great Britain: the fan of Paris and abdication
o. Bonaparte- In 1s1o was fought the postbel-
lum battle OF New-Orleans; Decatur dictated
terms TO the BarbaFy States; Milosh Obrenovitch
renewed the revolt of Servia; and the Congress
q Vienna was held and the Holy Alliance was
formed. But above all rose the one Incompatible
event OF Waterloo.
REVOLUTIONS AND CoNQUESTS.
After the worlds earthquake" calm, with
minor tremors. The British bombardment Of
Aigiers. the crushing OF the Mahrattas. the Sem
mole War and the triumph Of Bolivar at Bogota
We're the four chief military incidents of the
next four years But in 1920 came revolution
10 Portugal and revolts I'm Spain and Naples,
and the next year saw revolution in Piedmont,
lturbide's revolution in Mexico and the begin
ming ot the heroic struggle which set Greece free
once more. The next year saw the infamous
Congress OF Verona, the separation OF Brazil
nom Portugal. the rise OF Santa Ana and the
gratifying progress OF the Greek war.
The name of Marco Bozzaris illumined 1893.
despite the shame Of Frances suppression OF
constitutionalsm I'm Spain at the behest OF the
Congress Of Verona. Then came the death OF
Byron, the British war with Burmah and the
fnal fall Of Spanish power in all Of South
america The Greek war went through 1925
and ls26. and in the latter year the Janissaries
We're massacred and Russia and Persia began q
war. NaVarino gave hope TO Greece I'm 1927.
aho Russia oycrran much Of Persia, compelling
d spoliafige peace treaty in the next year, In
which latter Russia renewed her eggressions
Upon Turkey. This interesting ended In
ls2, with Turkeys recognition OF Greek inde-
pcndence and her spoliation by Russia under the
peace treaty Of Adrisnople.
promptly enough another series Of wars began
lh ls.,D with the French conquest of Algiers,
NE july revolution In France, the Belgian revo-
tu'on which soon crowned with inde-
penaence, and revolts I'm Brunswick. saxony
ah' roland. The next year Poland was crushed,
'-Npts IN Modena and the Papal States were