TOPICS OF THE DAY.
"THE EMPIRE IS PEACE."
PRINCE BISMARCK has added his official assurance to those which have already been given by august and other personages in Europe, that the triple embraces which have taken place between crowned heads in Berlin mean peace. History is now to stand still for a little, if it will be guided by him, so says Prince Bismarck, and leave us time to reflect coolly on the magnitude of the events which have happened. Hence even the bour- geoisie may rejoice. Berlin has made the Prince for the first time one of its citizens, and the Prince is anxious to ad- minister a cordial to the hearts of its burghers, and of the burghers of all other German municipalities at the same time. So he assures them that the meeting and festi- vities of the three Emperors will not only be favour- able to peace, but that it will increase the general con- fidence of the world in peace being maintained,—a general confidence which, as the Prince justly remarks, is almost as im- portant to the prosperity of great cities as the actual security of peace itself. Credit is injured by rumour almost as much as by catastrophe. When Emperors embrace, smaller people will take heart. Prince Bismarck is willing to believe himself, and to assure the world, that no one of the three Emperors had come with any wish in his heart which could not be equally heartily accepted by the other two ; that no aggres- sive thought in relation to any power whatever had been the motive of the interview ; and that it would show clearly to the enemies of peace how difficult it would be for them to disturb it. The result of the meeting, then, is to give a solemn and cordial recognition to the new German Empire and to secure peace. The Empire means peace. No doubt. Successful Empires almost always do. Great successes are not lightly hazarded. The French Empire meant peace as long as the French Empire was popular and safe: The German Empire will mean peace as long as the German Empire is popular and safe. But the Imperial embraces had a real drift not the less, and the Prince has proclaimed it. It was to show "the enemies of peace,"—which means all active sympathisers with Alsace and Lorraine,—that it would be almost impossible to disturb the new arrangement. Russia is the power of which the Germans feel the greatest fear and jealousy. The Czar has gone to congratulate the Emperor ; and while assuring the French Ambassador, in the warmest terms, that he would have taken part in no ceremony of which the significance was hostile to France, he has added in the distinctest manner,—not in words,—that if France counts upon him to help her in disturbing the status quo, she reckons without her host. Austria is the power on which, after France, Germany has heaped the greatest humiliation. The Emperor of Austria had hoped for that German Imperial dignity which Prussia, abler and more competent for the work of uniting Germany, has made her own. The Emperor of Austria was beaten six years ago by Prussia in a war not perhaps quite so disastrous and overwhelming as that which crushed France, but still, at the time it occurred, quite unique in history for the magnitude and rapidity of the overthrow. Francis Joseph has gone to Berlin and accepted the most flattering and emphatic attentions from the new Emperor. All monuments and pictures commemorating the disasters of Austria in 1866 were removed from the public places of resort where he was expected to be. In a mock fight which he witnessed, the whole of the Imperial Staff was captured by the Regiment of the Emperor Francis Joseph,—an incident cleverly con- ceived, but verging too obviously on irony. Further, he was, —if we may trust the positive• statement of the Spener Gazette,—made by the Emperor of Germany, honorary Colonel of the ]6th Regiment of Schleswig-Holstein, and that with the Danish articles of the Treaty of Prague still set at defiance. All these singularly anxious, if, after the little refined German fashion, almost overdone, attentions, are meant to reassure Francis Joseph as to the fate of his remaining German provinces. The German Em- peror does not covet them. He recognises the mission of Austria to the semi-civilised races on the Danube, and knows that she can do little without German subjects to help her. She shall have the fall support of the new Empire, on condition Austria does not trouble the political waters by bickerings with the Czar,—that she gives France no op- portunity to avail herself of a Russian alliance. Francis Joseph, then, and his Minister, in graciously accepting all these rather highly-flavoured compliments, has virtu- ally acquiesced in the German terms. Austria is willing, for the time at least, to be perfectly neutral on those questions which divide her from Russia, if Russia, in her turn, will be equally neutral. There is a general consent to. concur with Prince Bismarck in the wish that history may- stand still a bit. France is not to be humiliated anew, but she is to be warned that any attempt to foment disunion, between the three great Empires of the East will humi- liate her anew. France, as M. John Lemoinne says, is toki that she is the subject "which divides the European Powers, the least." Whatever else they may wish, they all wish to, keep her quiet just now.
So "the Empire is peace." But it is a peace of very- unstable equilibrium. Prince Bismarck is beginning probably to see that whatever he might have hoped for, had he con- sented to forego Alsace and Lorraine, he can rationally- hope for nothing better just now than that history should` stand still a little, and let the new Empire have time to breathe.. Austria and Russia can be drawn, through the influence- of Germany, into a position of temporary equilibrium, for neither of them is ready to fight, and both of them are- overawed by the great German power. But they cannot ba- rnacle into hearty allies ; and with France profoundly resentful, of the fate of her former Eastern provinces, Russia and Austria. know perfectly well that excellent opportunities for settling their- difference of policy will only be postponed. Had France been, generously treated, the intense prudence, timidity, and cau- tion of her great rural population might have secured the. Republic by this time for the interests of a lasting peace. It would be nearer the mark for new-made Emperors to say,. The Empire is Truce.'
Previous page
