Evening star., 1915-05-23

powers would reduce the proportions
which France had attained. her from
tiers having overflowed into Germany.
Italy and Holland. the threatened sub
Jugation of Spain and extension over a
great part of Europe. France finally
would dominate or impose her suze-
rafnty. The victorious coalition impos-
ed Its will at Vienna in 1915. But equity
and experience must recognize the fact
that the congress at Vienna respected
the integrity of French territory and
inflicted none of those deadly amputa-
tions which were exercised in 1901.
and which Bismarck's better judgment
opposed
1889 by taking from her the Napoleonic
conquests was a pro-
Readjustments gram on which the
M.,..., coalition had decided
before evacuating
Paris and to which the restored mon
archy too readily adhered. The work
of the congress of Vienna was greater
still, for as result of the destruction
and overthrow of Kingdoms by the
numerous Napoleonfc wars immense
territories were without heads; a new
separation was necessary. At Munster
and at Osnab the celebrated trea-
ties of Westphalia had only provided for
the political organization of Germany.
At Vienna it was necessary to decide
the fate of Italy, Poland and former
French colonies; the map of Europe
indeed was to be made anew.
1t Is not likely that the congress of
1915. il held, will be characterized by
the follies of that of 1915. The exfrava
ho ne In Nfp1, f,4
bers of the congress participated
caused Prince de Ligne to declare "The
congress does not march, but dances"
These manifestations of Joy were ex-
cused, II not justified. by the diplo-
matte fiction that there was no con-
quered at Vienna. that the only OFF,
cfally conquered was the mischief
maker interned at Elba.
Before the entry on the scene of Fred
erick and Catherine the international
dominated by the brutality of ambi-
tions; when the system of equilibrium
carried with 1t the respect of all the
sovereignties. based upon an ancient
TRADITION and on the assent of the gov
erned. 1T had been insensibly reduced
to a syndicate Of rapine, when litter
was made of the rights of the small
and weak, provided that the profits
would be distributed without inequality
among the participants. The partition
piece Of that policy which, after a pc
rlod of uncertainty and fear, was con-
tinued with the completely of the revo-
luton by the destruction of the repub-
lie OF Venice by that of Napoleon at
Tilsit and Erfurt. To the coalition was
given the appearance of a crusade in
invoking the outraged rights of princes
and peoples. But as Albert Sorel. the
has said. Now that the army
of Napoleon was crushed and his heri-
a ho1 hp,x
and one object-to continue the work
of the emperor in turning it against
France. to initiate the empire after
having overturned it,
The confession was made to the inti-
mate confidant of Metternich, the sec
retary of the conference.
Partition chevalier Yentz, Prus-
of poo+y sian bli C st: The
grand phrases about re-
of moral order. of regene-
ration of the political system of Eu-
rope. of durable peace founded on
just repartition of forces, etc, etc.
were turned out in order to tranquil
lize peoples and to give to that solemn
an air of dignity and grandeur;
but the veritable object of the con-
gress was the partition between the
of the booty taken from the
The congress neglected the occasion
to repair the greatest crime of the
century. After all. the
partition of Poland. commenced IN
1772 and achieved in 1895, was the
work of that ancient regime which the
of Vienna exalted ana
attempted to restore. But they had no
scruple in utilizing certain reVolu-
or Napoleonic methods In vain
the Genoese sent a deputatlon to So
ltcit the re-esta blishment of their an
cient and longtime glorious republic:
their ambassadors were made to wait
in the antechamber by Metternich, VINO
finally Informed them, courteously' tnal
their insistence was vain, because con
of a high order dictated .he
of Genoa to Piedmont YET
Genoa was an Italian power, "nile
Venice, in spite of her heroic feats. her
secular conflicts against the infidels.
together with Milan, was condemned 10
submit to the Austrian yoke.
The capital error of the congress OF
which after century
the house of Hapsburg has not mn
shed paying the heavy ransom-Was
the unfortunate seizure of the itaiian
peninsula. Napoleon certainly did not
give to Italy either independence OF
unity, since he had arbitrarily aus
tributed the territory either In satei
lite states of his empire or purely ana
simply as French departments. But