Year: 1871

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well 1t may, for the politics OF Europe are


plainly entering into new phase; and the


written as well as the unwrtten traditions Of


the diplomacy of the Old World are not


adequate to furnish guidance for statesmen


who have to arrange affairs under the new


and as yet undeveloped conditions. At this
juncture it is the Office Of enlightened public


opinion, acting through the leading journals of


the world, to furnish guidance, first to the


thought, then to the action Of nations and


cabinets. The moment is Of deep critical


Importance to the development of humanity


in international politics. Ii behooves us all to


study it and master its meaning.


The question that underlies this Conference


is one Of tremendous import to the future OF


the human race. 1t ia the question to what


Power shall hereafter belong the mastery of


the Eastern World. The rivalry Of Russia
| and Great Britain In the task OF reconstruct


ing the decaying East is probably not to be


reconciled, as some have suggested, by divi-


sion Of spoils in the Levant and Central ASIA
| A partnership in that great transaction might
be very beneficial to the peaceful prosecution
of the great work. But Great Britain and
Russia represent social and political prin-
ciples too conflicting for such diplomatic ar
rangement to be final and secure. The prob
lem will be solved On the principle Of pre-
ponderance, secured either by war or by such
an overwhelming marshalling of the forces of
Europe on the one side or the other, as shall,
| without war, reduce one Of these Powers per-
| force to the secondary part. To discuss the
probabilities of this vast question is to take
soundings in " dim and perlous" way But
we are bound to do it nevertheless.


The whole stress Of the question rests now
upon the shape which shall be taken by the
action of united Germany. According to all
reasonable calculation France is now out of
the account in the striking of this balance
wherein the nations are about to be weighed
Upon any view Of the matter, France, if she
rise again at all to the level OF n effective
| military Power, with an initiative and a will,
must take quarter of century to do it.
The world moves fast nowadays, and long
before that time expires the issues of which
we speak will be virtually settled But it is
doubtful to say the least, whether France will
so rise The thrifty, scientific German body,
now fairly to be organized as whole under
the provident subtle Hohenzolerns has got
France under. Germany is unit domesti-
cally, and has acquired frontier against
which France can do nothing henc eforward but
dash herself to pieces. Even il her factions
admitted the possibility of her resurrection
into an effective military State, trained, dsci-
plined. guided by single political and military
designs, Germany, with but fraction of her
new strength, in her new military positions,
and with the great feet of the future which
she is sure to have, could first hold her back
and then emerge to crush her. When France
comes to ponder on and analyze her new posi-
ton she is more likely to acquiesce in the new
decree of Providence, or fate, than work
steadily against it. To maintain political
order at home will task her utmost energies
Whether she will even now emerge as an inde-
pendent State depends upon the use she makes
of the next fortnight, during which all observ-
ers may well hold their breath with awe while
she discusses her destinies with the German
oWOio ut onAOoe. ~ 10 tHCIS, duu III VIII
never be removed. She lives and moves and
has her being henceforward, if at all, on the
sufferance of Germany, which will not and
dare not ever relent.


With Germany, then, we say, rests the solu-
ton of the whole great future of internation-
atty. So plain is this that the Austrian Cabi-
net recognizes it fully. In the despatch with
which Count Beust replied to the notification
of the creation of the German empire that
statesman declares that the Austrian Emperor
recognizes in the advent of the new German
Power fact of supreme historical significance.
The meaning of this, when considered by the
light of the facts concerning Austria and Rus
sia, is unmistakabe. Russia is playing on the
sympathies of the Slavonic part of the Aus
trian population, without disguise, to break up
the Austrian empire and win Cons.antnope
under the flag of Pansavsm. 1t is an effort
which promised success while the antagonism
within Germany of Austria and Prussia divided
the forces Of the German people. That was
cured by 1866 and Sadowa. And Prussia is
now the spearhead of German empire. And
Austrias policy will be determined not by
her Slaves, but by her Germans and Hun
garians, the twenty-five millions of her people
who possess nearly all its wealth and culture,
all its material and moral power And the
great fight of 1870, which poets may call
the fight for the watch of the Rhine, politi-
clans may now see to have been fight for
the watch of the Danube. The two great his
torical river basins Of Europe will be firmly
held with united purpose by the great
Teutonic empire and the great Eastrian, as we
call it, not Austrian, empire. Central Europe,
not Germany alone, is a military, political,
diplomatic unit. 1t is great barrier against