The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-25
A PEACE CONGRESS WHICH
WAS A COLOSSAL FAIL LURE,
Treaties Plots Counter Plots Made of the Vienna Con-
Course Gathering Which for Insnceriy History Offers No Paral
lel-Ho,V Haleyrand Saved France From Ignomy.

Pittsburgh Dj.patch: Every text
book of gen erAl European history
states in categorical form the terri
torial bargains effected at the con-
gress of Vienna, but only in the
more pretentiQQls works specializing
on the Napoleonic wars can one
find the fascinating story OF the in
trigue practiced at the protracted
sessions of that august body. Presi-
dent Wilson's placing first among
his fourteen essential points OF
peace, open covenants without pri-
vate international understandings,
seems to make worth while the at
tempt to condensc the seamy side
of that momentous assemblage.
1t was scramble for territory
and power. Lands were distributed
with no consideration for the wishes
of their peoples anal might made
right. IT failed to establish any new
system for securing stability, nor
did it recognize the new forces of
liberty and nationality which had
actually wrought the downfall OF
Napoleon. But through out its pro-
cecdings no diplomat could rely
upon the open statement of col
league, for some secret liuison sure
ly existed to compass its contradic-
ton.
Its very inception was based on a
secret article in the treaty of May,
1914, whereby Napoleon agreed that
Great Britain, Austria, Russia and
Prussia should have the stupendcus
task of disposition of the lands his
fall had freed from French suze-
rainty. However, the congress did
not meet until Sept. 30 in the i'm
poverished capital of the Hapshurgs.
Balls and banquets made gay sue
cession Of festivities for the five
hundred participants, potentates
and subalterns. The crowned heads
present we're Alexander | Of Rus
sia, Frederick William III of Prus-
sia and Emperor Francis of Aus
tria. The diplomats were far more
notable.
Russia Hired Diplomats.
1t was Russa's habit to employ
outside talent, but Count Ncsselroda
was a native force working for mod
Grafton. With him were Pozzi di
Borgo, the Corsican, who had served
i'll the French national assembly
had broken with Napoleon, his fel-
low countryman, and had estranged
Alexander |, Bernadotte and Murat
from the Little Corporal. 1t was he
who uttered that suggestive cry,
The allies fight not the French peo-
pie, but Napoleon"
Also among the Russians was
Capo d'Istria, afterward president
OF Greece; Baron Stein, the Prus-
sian, who was to give that dcvastat-
ed land a municipal code and pave
the way for its restoration.
Prussia sent the in6rm Prince
Won Hardenburg, with Baron Won
Humboldt as chief assistant. Grea1
Britain had Lord Castlereagh, a la
ter believer in the Holy Alliance and
always apostle OF despotic measures
at home. His views coincided with
those of Metternich, president of
the congress and Austria'S infamous
autocrat but England and the
United States were yet at war and
Castlereagh had to hold his views
in leash.
1t is needless to sketch the Prince
Metternich, who did not die until
1880, at the age of SO, and never be-
came old enough to know better.
When the liberal uprisings OF 1846
arrived he had to seek refuge in Bel.
glum and his Won Tirpitz system of
that day fast decayed.