East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-12-19
tBy R. l. sehuyler in the New YORK

/
SUM-
Precisely one hundred years age
! the most powerful monarchs and dis
tinguihhed statesmen OF Europe cam,
together to bind up the wounds OF q
world bled white by more than TWEEN
/ ty years OF continuous warfare. Theil
meeting is known in history as th'
I congress OF Vienna. A task OF recon.
struction even greater than that Of
Y 1914 must soon-may It be very
! soon-be taken up by the statesmen
OF the twentieth century. Their sue
! cess or failure will have utterly in
calculable consequences upon the
destinies Of the world. Colossal pow
er and staggering responsibilities must
probably be assumed by a small body
of men, the trustees OF mankind for
its future. The congress OF Vienna
has some lessons for them
Among the representatives OF the
Powers who met to set the world
right after the upheaval caused by
the French revolution and Napoleon
were mighty monarchs, experienced
statesmen, skilful diplomats. practl-
cal politicians. even idealists. To
mention but the most important:
Francis Joseph OF Austria played the
part Of host, and at his side with
counsel and policy was his right hand
man, Prince Metternieh. the most
dominating personality in the con-
gress. Alexander. car OF all the Rus
sias, was there, fun OF benevolent II
visionary plans for the regeneration Of
the human race. Frederick William,
king Of Prussia. attended, accom-
panied and supported by his chosen
advisers. From England came Cas-
tlereagh, the foreign secretary. and
the Duke Of Wellington. The king OF
Frace intrusted his interests to the
astute diplomat Talleyrand. The
smaller states sent representatives, but
the real business OF the congress was
tranacted by those OF the great pow
ers. The assemblage was brilliant;
it's sessions were attended by a con-
tinuous round OF courtly festivities;
its members went home convinced
that a great work had been splendid
IL done Talleyrand boasted that he
had restored France to the rank OF
a great power: Castlereagh was hall
ed as a hero in London; the king OF
Prussia could again hold up his head
after the agony and shame Of Tilsit'
the car talked piously about holy
alliance Of Europe; Metternich believ-
ed that he had written his policies in
to the law OF natiosn.
And yet these men had allied ut
terly. tragically. They talked peace
but they did not insure 1t. The po
litical history Of Europe in the nine
teenth century has been in large
part the story OF the undoing of their
work. They left a bitter heritage OF
war. revolution and suffering. The
present war. the most destructive IN
history is bad enough. II another
congress of Vienna attempts TO re-
the world worse will be In
store. An understanding OF the caus'
es of the calamity Of 1914 has its val
ue for US today.
The chief reason for the failure
of the congress OF Vienna was the DIS
regard and ignorance OF the deeper
currents OF society and politics OF
the day. 1t is apparent enough to US
that national sentiment and patriouc
aspiration we're mighty stirring the
OF Europe and had been
prime cause OF the overthrow OF Ma
poleon. No readjustment OF Europe
could be lasting which failed to rec
oRnize the principal OF nationaiism !
The congress, however, did the gross
est violence to II. To Austria her-
self the chief opponent OF national
ism. because composed OF a conius'
ed medley OF races. was assigned the
political dominion OF northern italy !
and the leadership in a loose conied-
Grafton created for the German states'
The aspIrations Of Germans and ltai-
fans for political unity had~to wait
more than half a century for theIr
and are not yet wnoiy
fulfilled. The Belgians were named
over against their will to the KING
NJ the Netherlands. from whose scep-
tire they successfully revolted fifteen
years later. The Poles were intrusto
TO the administration Of ths car
against whom they rose in two futlie
revolts and the end OF the Polisn
question Is not yet. Unwilling Nor
wav was yoked to Sweden and re-
so until 1905, when the con-
nection was broken. The Christiah
Peoples OF the Balkans were left un-
der the calling sovereignty OF the
Turk.
The popular desire for liberal gov