Year: 1875




proximity, and so many hands are
reaching forth to bring them together
that it is difficult to determine which
will first succeed. Strong as may be
the desire among good men on all
sides to maintain the peace it is yet
evident that there must speedily fol-
low great conflict. France is in a po-
sition to precipitate a general Europe
an war at any moment, and she is un-
doubtly nerving herself for the dread
full conflict. Republican France is
painting for revenge, and eager to re-
peat those pages of history in which
are recorded the achievments of her
citizen Generals. She may no longer
have the blood thirsty element that
honored RoBEsPIERRE and MARAT,
but she has the courage and chivalry
that less than half century ago filled
all Europe with terror. Weakened by
the imbeeile second empire she was
speedily crushed by the armies of the
Germanic Confederation. Nerved by
the inspiration of free institutions she
has recovered from the blow with mar
velous rapidity, and instead ofnow be-
ing crushed and bankrupt nation pre-
dicted by some of the ablest statesmen
she is already powerful and rich, and
prepares for the next struggle with a
calm courage that sends terror to the
hearts of her conquerors. But the re-
lations between the nations of Europe
are now so delicate that the next strug-
gle between the Teuton and the GAUL
is likely to bring on a general war.
The nervous trepidation displayed by
the great powers recently evinced by
their prompt and anxious offers of
friendly intermediation shows that the
sovereigns are by no means anxious
to start in on doubtful question.


There are reasons too, why the
European governments should at once
fan the flame of natural hatred, and
yet fear the actual contest. Repub-
licanism has been making rapid pro-
gress in Europe in the last half GEN.
tury. The eXcesses of the newly Ii
berated Frenchmen ere the first Napo-
lion usurped the empire have ceased
to alarm mankind, while the profound
effect of the maintenance of free in
sti tutions in the United States under
the most trying ordeal has added to
the desire for self government which
must naturally grow with the enlight-
eminent of the masses. Europe has
brought forth two republics in the
last five years. If that erected in un-
fortunate Spain has fallen, the one in
France is growing stancher every day,
and bids fair to be permanent. If
Frenchmen truly love liberty they
will so conduct themselves as to gain
the support of all lovers of freedom
throughout the world, and thus des-
troy the power of the crowned heads
to perfect an alliance against their
free institutions. England is grow
ing more Democratic every year. The
numerous successful strikes in almost
every branch of industry of the last
few years indicate the silent approval
ofthe masses. The people are grow.
ing more conscious of their power and
royalty is becoming more odious, while
the authority of the nobility is decreas-
ing. In Germany we also find the
principles of democracy taking deep
root. Bismarck exhibits slavish SUBJ
serviency to King William only to
impress the people with love of mon
archy. Blinded by the brilliant ac-
Movements of the Prussian armies
and excited by the religious crusade
the wiley prime minister has inaugu-
rated, the intelligent and freedom low
ing people of the Germanic Confedera-
tion only awaits a more auspicious occa-
sion to begin the work of Regeneration.
That they are neither happy nor con-
tented is indicated by the enormous
emigration to the New World. The
hundreds of thousands enfranchized
Germans in the United States are
sending back the lessons of freedom to
their brethern in the Faderland and
these lessons are taking deep root.


May it not be then the next great
conflict in Europe will be followed
by gigantic revolutions and sudden
change in the government of the lead
ing powers. May it not be that the
people will be taught to feel their
strength and having drank of each
others blood will turn upon their mast
ers and tear them to pieces. 1t is cer-
tain that until republics have taken
the place of the monarchies of the Old
world there will not be a general dis
armament. When the people rule
they will quickly discover the danger
and the folly of keeping from three to
to six millions idle soldiers to be sup
ported from the labors of the rest of the
community, and thus will pass away
the greatest curse of modern times.
Freedom is baptised iu blood and born
amid the clash of arms.





THE HERALD has received many
words of praise and commendation on
| the fair impartial vet effacti We nolicv