Evening star., 1919-03-17
Autocrats Made Holy Alliance.
/ quote from a standard historian:

! quote from standard historian:
The document (covenanD called
the holy alliance was first sketched
in Paris in 1915, and was written in
French by the Emperor Alexander of
Russia, after converse tions with Nine.
de Kendenee and Bergasse. 1t was
suggested to the emperor. who was
always inclined to religious ideas, by
Nine. kendenee and the philosopher
Bader; also Jacob Boehm and Saint
Martin"
Continuing, the same historian says:
The czar dreamed of founding a
community of states bound together
by the principles of Christianity. The
King of Prussia signed the document
out of motives of friendship for the
tance to it. The Emperor of Austria
at first declined to sign, giving as his
reasons: If the secret is a political
one 1 must tell it to Metternich, his
chief minister; if it is a religious one
must tell it to my confessor. Met
ternich was told and he simply said:
'CeSt du Vergiage.
AS to what the holy alliance did NJ.
de Bernhardi says:
The document (covenant) never be-
came a .,eality; it never had any real
Importance But what did prove of
very much Importance was the under
standing between the powers that had
put down Napoleon l."
Bernhardi's Opinion of Alliance.
Bernhardi further observes:
This understanding further stipu-
lated that the powers should hold
conferences. or congresses, from time
to time to regulate the affairs of the
several nations and to preserve the
peace of Europe. BY these congress-
es these rulers (of Russia. Austria
and Prussia) were enabled to act in
concert to put down liberal move
ments. which became alarming to
them) following the overthrow of Ma
poleon."
The following is sample of what
Metternich thought of the covenant
Of the holy alliance:
"Metternich, the world wise diplo-
mat, smiled at the manifesto as MOTH
ing more than philanthropist's
DIRE IN or aspiration, clothed in re-
ligious garb.
He said the evil-minded would mis-.
interpret it and the jokers would ridi-
cule it.
The historian Thayer declares:
The holy alliance made Christian
ity a cloak under which the kings of
Europe conspired to perpetuate the
heIotage of their subjects"
Much could be quoted, like the
above. from many critics. Mr.. Thayer
may be too severe. as to the real mo-
tives of the kings of Europe" as the
Emperor Alexander. at least. was
credited with undoubted sincerity.
The evil was in the assumption that
kings were rulers by divine right
not to be chosen by the people. At
that time these three nations were
spoken of as 1.-The powers" of Europe.
Several small nations later joined the
holy alliance, more from fear than
love of it. They Joined possibly from
selfish motives. but also for self-de-
fense from possible aggression.
Purpose Was to Crush Liberalism.
But to understand what a menace
for evil the holy alliance really was
we must look farther. These three
tionary, but their chief concern
seemed to be the suppression of lib
eral ideas of every form-political.
social or religious. This was quickly
sensed and resented by the freer peo-
pies of Europe, especially in France
and England, and later by the peo-
pies of Italy.
Indeed, the results of the congress
of Vienna. together with the forma-
tion of the holy alliance. divided the
peoples of Europe into two vast
camps, the hosts of democracy and
which have been contending, in one
form or another for one hundred
years-and democracy. by aid of
America, has won on the battlefield,
and is now about to make the victory
safe by the league of nations. as all
sane people sincerely hope.
Great Britain Lined Up.
But let us note further Let IL be
recalled that Great Britain went to
the peace congress at Vienna in 1914
az one of the allied powers that had
overthrown Napoleon. England had
been at war with France for twenty
years. Now the remarkable fact is
that Great Britain came out of that
peace congress more friendly to
france than to her former allies! The
powers that formed the holy alliance
turned cold shoulder to her. What
was the occasion for this remarkable
change?
In that congress two master minds
outclasse all others. Metternich and
Prince Talleyrand of France, and Prince
YIYSpHS Y---