The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-13

Holstein. Austria curty told Prussia to mind it's own business That was exactly the reply Bis marck wanted. His king was not keen for this war; but Bismarck had little trouble assuring the mon- arch that it was not only going to add to Prussias territory, but to her fame. He threw sop to the liberals to gain their support by introducing into the diet plan to reform the confederation. This contained a clause granting universal suffrage in the election of members of cha nber to represent the people,
 When the diet took up the Austrian question of Holstein Prussia told it that any state which voted for Austria must prepare to fight Prussia When the diet replied that it was illegal, Prussia left the confederation and declared war. Bavaria, Hanover Wurttemberg, saxony, and five smaller states sided with Austria
 Then came the test of King Williams military policy. It stood it successfully Beginning June 16 the Prussians defeated Hanover by the 27th and by July Bohemia was invaded, according 10 the plan of von Moltke. Two days later sadowa was fought The struggle lasted nearly all day, and might have gone against the Prussians had not the crown prince arrived with endorsements. Fifty thousand fell that day, the Austrans losing four times as many as the Prussians did
 The Italians fared badly, being defeated on land and at sea.
 Austria had to give venetia to Italy, but the South German states left to choose under which flag they to remain. Prussia annexed .Han- over, HesseCassel, Nassau Schleswig Holstein, and the city of Frankfort thus increasing her territory about 25 per cent.
 This was all Bismarcks doing. His genius had thought it all out in advance and it had come about exactly according to his plan. Bsmafcks diplomacy and Won Moltkes army had made Prussia one of the great powers and to make her still greater.
 The next thing done was to provide constitu- tion for the North German confederation It was placed before assembly elected under the new suffrage law and adopted in 1867. King William was president and for it's parliament it had two chambers, the council and the reichstag. The members of the latter elected for three yearA The council consisted of delegates sent by tho rulers of the states This parliament wisely set to work to enact laws which would bring prosperity to the confederation, and to remove many of the handicaps imposed by the old absolutism Napoleon's Popularity Wanes.
 Included in the period just described must be mentioned certain matters which were going on in France That empire had bitterly resented it's sovereigns part in the Italian war. In other ways also his popularity had begun to w8ne. In order to distract popular attention he resorted to the intervention in Mexico and the setting up of the i'll fated empire there. This came about by the repudiation of interest debts due to France, England,s and Spain. All three made warlike demonstration there, but the latter two drew out when they divined Frances real intention.
 Napoleon sent large force to Mexico and estab- lished Afchduke Maxmilian of Austria as emperos. The project ended disastrously. The French army was defeated and withdrawn, leaving Maxi milan tc his fate. The cost to France in lives and money was heavy, and Napoleon's fame was lower than ever in Paris The opposition grew bold Speeches, which few years before would not have been tolerated by the government delivered against the emperor and loudly cheered. Nevertheless in popular vote of confidence the emperor successful.
 In Spain the revolutionary spirit broke forth in lsdS and Queen Isabella driven from the throne. Bismarck tried to induce Leopold of Hohenzollern to accept the place. it having been offered to him by the Spanish provisional govern mcnt Bismarck was particularly anxious that Leopold ascend the throne because he knew 1t