The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-09
WORLD RECONSTRUCTION.
Looking Back to the Congress of vienna.
just n Century AGO.

| most powerful monarChs and distin-
| guished statesmen of Europe came to-
| gether to bind UP the wounds OF
world bled white by more than twenty
years OF continuous war. Their meet
ing is known in history as the Congress
of Vienna. A task of reconstruction
even greater than that of 1914 must
soon-may it be very soon-be taken up
by the statesmen of the twentieth cen
fury. Their success or failure will have
utterly incalcuable consequences upon
the destinies of the world. Colossal
power and staggering responsibilities
must probably be assumed by 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 states
men. skiful diplomats, practical politi-
clans 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 Metternich,
the most dominating personality in the
congress. Alexander, Car OF all the
Russias, was there. fun of benevolent
If visionary plans for the regeneration
| Of tho human race. Frederick William.
King of Prussia. attended accompanied
and supported by his chosen advisers.
From England came Castlereagh. the
| Foreign Secretary. and the Duke OF
Wellington The King of France in
TRUSTED his interests to tho astute
diplomat Talleyrand. The smaller States
sent representatives. but the real bust
ness Of the congress was transacted by
those " the great Powers. The as
semhlage was brilliant; its sessions
were attended by continuous round Of
courtly festivities; it's members went
home convinced that a great work
had been splendidly done. Talleyrand
boosted that he had restored France to
tho rank of a great Power; Castle
rcagh was hailed as hero in London;
the King Of Prussia could again hold
up his head after the agony and shame
of Tilsit; the Car talked pously
about a Holy Alliance of Europe; Met
terniCh believed that he had written his
policies into the law Of nations.
And yet these men had failed utterly.
traeically. They talked peace, hut they
did not insure II. The political history
of Europe in the nineteenth century
has been in large part the story of the
undong Of their work They left a
bitter heritage Of war revolution and
suffering The present war, the most
destructive n history. IL had enough.
i1f another Congress OF Vienna attempts
to reconstruct the world worse will he
in store. An understanding Of the
causes of the calamity of 1914 has its
value for us to-day.
The chief reason for the failure Of
the Congress OF Vienna was the dlsre-
gard and ignorance of the deeper cur
rents OF society and politics Of the
day. 1t IS apparent enough To- us that
national sentiment and patriotic asp!ra-
ton were nightly stirring the peoples
OF Europe and had been prime cause
OF the overthrow OF Napoleon No re-
adjustment Of Europe could ne lasting
which failed 10 recognize the principle
of nationalism. Tho congress. how
ever. did the grosscst violence - a. To
Austria. herself the chief upponen, Of
natlonalsm. because composed of a con
fused medley Of races. was assigned
the political dominion Of northern Italy
and the leadership in a loose Confedcra-
ton created for the German States
The aspirations Of Germans and Italians
for political unity had 10 walt more
than half a century for their realization
and are not vet wholly fulfilled The
Relcians were handed over against
their will to the King Of the Neither
lands. from whose sccptre they success
fully revoted fifteen years later. The
Poles We're ntrustcd to the adninistrs-
ton or the car. against whom they
rose in TWO fuiilo rcvolts aud 'he end
Of tho Polish question is not Vet. In
wiling Norway WAS yokcd 20 sweden
and remained so until 1905 when the
connection was broken. The Christian
peoples Of the Balkans were left under
tho CALLING sovereignty Of the Turk
Tho popular desire for liberal govern
mem. stimulated 10y tNe French Revo-
Tuition. was cuulllv ignored hv the con-
gress with the terror Of Napolcnu ho-
fore him. oven tho car had abandoned
his earlier sympathy for liberalism. to
Metterrich II was a contagious disease
to he stamped out whenever and wher-
ever il appeared. lest II spread and IN
feet all Europe. or course in 1914 none
of the European Governments was
democratic: neither monarchs nor min
lSters understood or cared to know
| what tho ordinary man said or thought