Evening star., 1915-05-23

tary epoch, Napoleon had awakened
italy from long sleep and aroused
IN her the national sentiment and the
aspiration for a marvellous future. still
underlined
At the close Of this dream. what a
bitter deception to fall under the Aus
trtan rod: under the vexatious police OF
the archduke travestied in Italian prin-
cipalities under the barbaric despotism
OF the degenerate Bourbon of the Two
Sicilies.
At Vienna the situation was embsr-
for Talleyrand. notwithstaLd-
ing his great finesse. he
had collaborated with
n:H.,A out doubt in the over
throw of Napoleon: but
many episodes in the diplomats sin
gular career rendered his presence sus-
picious in such an aeropage of advo-
tradition. Talleyrand.
for fact. had proposed the spoliation
of the property of the church: he had
thrown off the cassock himself; there
was the matter of the scandalous mar
riage; he had sustained the diplomatic
Of Danton: he had justified
before Europe the overthrow of Louis
XVI he had countersigned the treaties
of the directory and the empire: he had
administered the principality of Rene-
vent. taken from the domain Of Saint
Pierre, all of which caused Talleyrand
to appear as n Jacobin. and hence sus
picious. to say the least. to the paladins
of principles which composed the con-
gress at Vienna.
TaIleyrands first appearance in the
r. IL,
of whom he was the
chief, were quarantined. But Talley-
rand was little Disconnected. He knew
the members of the congress quito
well. and perhaps had their records IN
his pocket as well as In his brain
Many of them had attempted to MAKE
peace with the emperor. and could he
confounded on occasion. To Prince
Frederick William of Prussia, who de-
nounced the King of Saxony as traitor
to the cause of Europe" Talleyrand had
the impertinence to reply: Iraitor!
And from what date. sire?'
Another time, when some member OF
the congress spoke of the King OF Naples
who had been the colleague
of Joachim Murat as prince grand digni-
tary at the imperial court. dared to reply
I'VE do not know the man In question
1t was by such audacious conduct and
cold cynicism that Talleyrand not only
succeeded in affirming his situation and
that Of his fellow plenipotentiaries. but
he cast a veil over the past
Talleyrand soon dominated the congress.
and even won it's admiration and respect.
He planted himself upon principle OF
which he had formerly taken scant note.
the principle of legitimacy The first
he declared in the congress. is
to Danish forever the idea that one may ac-
quire rights by a mere conquest, and
thereby create the sacred principle OF
from which flow order and
stability This profession Of faith was
applauded by the congress. for it was .
this principle, in fact, which had, been
invoked by Europe to league the world
against Napoleon.
Talleyrand represented at Vienna q
prince who was the personification Of the
principle OF legiti-
The Policy Of macy. During the long
r vuYrr exile Of Louis XVIII
LOUIS AV11A. he had never for q
wavered concerning the role
France should play in Europe. Royalty
would attach itself to the idea of defend
ing a program Of equilibrium and the
status quo. and would become the champion
and patron of small states menaced by
ambitious neighbors. Louis XVIII had
u,
such was the sum of his correspondence
addressed to Tallyrand at the congress at
Vienna.
In alliance with Austria and England
Louis XVIII and Talieyrand followed
their traditional preferences and be-
lieved they would reduce to a mini
mum the change in the map of Eu-
rope. They preserved the greater part
OF his states to the King of Saxony.
cousin of Louis XVIII, who attached
capital Importance to family ties. Both
feared Russia and her sovereign, and
the King of France was dominated by
the same sentiments. which are re-
marked here because in view of the
actual relations of France, England
and Russia they must appear now as
simply ridiculous.
And this ridfcule is accentuated by
the fact that the cabinet Of the TuiIler-
les. under the pretext of stopping the
dangerous invasion of Russia in Eu-
rope, actually opposed the resurrection
of Poland it was Alexander /. Gar
of Russia. who at the congress at
Vienna in 1915 proposed to the con-
gress the re-establishment of Poland
and the giving to that country not only
should be added in justice to the much
abused Car Of Russia that Alexan-
der II abolished serfdom in 1868. and
now, after century, the Car Nicholas
ii, resuming the proposition of Alex
ander /. proposes the re-establishment
Of Poland with complete autonomy
The congress of 1915 is yet in the
clouds of the future, but il Is quite
possible that it will assemble before
the close of the year. The makers OF
only may hazard precise
Nevertheless, it may be
permitted to indicate some of the ques-
tions which may arise. will arise. for
final solution.
It is certain that If the allies are
a peace will be concluded
which will declare the final and COM
plete destruction of militarism. which
has become the incubus of Europe
The existence of Austria is one of the
chief questions which the future con-
gress must discuss. The
Austrian race divisions which for
p..h,. merly constituted Aus
tria's powers to govern
are now elements of weakness and in
capacity. These races have conceived
4 national sense and are each striving
silently to attain nationality. Slavs.
and Italians are principally
engaged in the effort. and much in the
same spirit as In 1853. Lombardians
and Venitians attained their end. The
future congress thus must ffnd a dura-
Die solution of the questions-Alsattan.
Polish, Czech, Croat, Serb, Greek and
Italian.
The question of the Turk. SC. long the
sick man of Europe" will doubtless
anticipate the congress, and Will be
.,,,,ad hy tho desnerate conflict now in