The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-01-23
XY 7 HEN last 1 had the pleasure
NN/ of reading before this circle,
v | had reached the period

ndU TOdCuCU Ill0 peTlOU
when Louis XIV. of France
had robbed Germany of Strasburg and
Alsace. The Emperor of Germany was
pOwerleSs, for Louis had taken good
care that he was threatened and
harassed in his more direct possessions
by the Turk. The only German prince
who had the grit to resist the greed of
the French king, was an ancestor of
the present German emperor, the great
Elector of Brandenburg. But what
could he do against the power of
France, his possessions being small and
widely scattered? He held out as long
as he could, hoping against hope to get
some assistance from the emperor and
the empire, but this never came; and
he had to be satisfied with having
saved at least his own possessions on
the Rhine. All existing differences
should be settled by the now ensuing
peace at kyswick; the people called it
the peace of "Reiss aOeg,"-tear away
because a goodly portion of German
land was torn away.
Very shortly after these events war
broke out again between France and
Germany, or more properly speaking,
between France and Austria: the war
of the Spanish Succession, in which
Germany as such was not concerned at
all, but Austria was ON account of her
reigning family. Here we see again
that Austria was following more the
interests of her reigning family than
those of Germany.
All events of the 18th century, as far
as Germany is concerned, were over
shadOwed by the deeds of Frederick
the Great of Prussia, who took what
by the ingratitude and perfidy of the
Emperor Leopold for whom he had
fought on the Rhine against Louis XIV
was withheld from the great electOr
The latter said, on seeing this ingrati-
tude, and feeling unequal to cope with
the emperor: 81 wish that out of my
ashes may rise he that will avenge me.
His prayer was heard, for Frederick the
Great, his great-grandson, took what
rightly belonged to Prussia, and main
tanned his right against more than hall
of Europe. He showed the worlC
what even small people devoted tC
their king and country can accomplish
when fighting for their rights; and il
this connection we must bear in minC
that the Prussia of those days was
hardly one third of what it is today
At the beginning of the last centur!
his work was overthrOwn by anuthe
hero. Napoleon appeared and mad'
sad havoc with the map of Europe.
In August 1906, after the sovereign
of the South German states had, unde
the protectorate of Napoleon, forme'
the Confederation of the Rhine" AM
for this shameful proceeding had beel
rewarded by Napoleon by having tn
titles of kings, grand dukes, etc, con
ferred on them, the German elnperO
Francis II. renounced the Germa
CTOWn, dlU dSSulDcu the tlllc vi Ell
peror of Austria. Thus died inglOriousl
after nearly 1000 years existence tn
"Holy Roman Empire of the Germa
Nation" for in 962 Otto the Great ha
been crowned by the Pope himself a
the emperor of such. The proceeding
of these petty sOvereigns in Sout
Germany were well enough for then
selves and their little countries, bU
would hardly do for the welfare {
Germany. Prussia being invited b
Napoleon to also enter that confeder;
ton, declined to do so, and very 500
war between her and France broke on
occasioned by Napoleon's treacheror
and high-handed dealings. In this we
Prussia was deeply humiliated and