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Article THE MAP OF EUROPE IN 1879. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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The Map Of Europe In 1879.
I do not for one moment blink the delicacy of the situation , or the perplexity of the case . I do not overlook the pride ancl martial spirit of G-ermany , the ability of Prince Bismarck , or the abstract and concrete difficulty of " Retrocession . " Like the lamented Prince Consort , I feel the intense seriousness of the question— "When you talk of resuscitated Poland , Avhat Poland do you mean ?" I oriinally alluded to the great principle of compensationand I adhere to it
g , to-day ; it is in that I foresee the possibility of a general pacification of Europe , and the prosperity of the East . I confess that I have very little hope or trust in Turkey . If events are sometimes stronger than men , men stfll rule events , in my humble opinion , and some great and sagacious ruler may yet start up , capable of reviA'ifying ancl Avelcling together the still Avide but seemingly dissolving Turkish rule . But as far
as one can UOAV realize the probable march of eA ents , the apparent contingencies of the future , in that Avonclrous and yet mysterious East , Ave cannot hope for vitality or duration in the Ottoman sway . It is permeated by eAnls of numerous if conflicting kinds ,, and is to outward appearance Avanting in . the very first principles of cohesion , unity , harmony , and progress . That its " poor soldiers" have fought well , is ah historical fact— -that Turkey has able men among its leaders , is perhaps true ; but the inherent Adciousness of its Avhole administration seems to be so great , both in its
corruption and tyranny , its injustice and its intolerance , that to reform it Avould appear to be hopeless—to uphold it would appear to be impossible . Ancl yet Avho can venture to predict the things that wdl yet be , in that far-off and wonderful clime ? It has passed through scathing trials , and desperate convulsions : it has outlived invasion ancl insurrection , the loss of a province , the fall of a dynasty : and , Aveak and disunited as it is , survives , Avhen other seemingly far stronger and more homogeneous States have gone down before it , in the " maelstrom" of eddying ancl dostructive time .
As Lord Salisbury has put it , in one of his able state papers—no clearer or more striking are to be found in the annals or archives of English diplomacy—Turkey has another chance , and is bid to set her house in order . Will she avail herself of it ? Wdl she do it ? These are questions Avhich can only be ansAvered as the solemn "Parcas " decide the fates and destinies of nations , in the " years that are to be . " Such questions and answers Ave must , I fear , leaA e solemnly , if anxiously , to-day , to that history AAhich
always repeats itself , to those marvellous events AAhich display alike the greatness and the littleness of men , AAhich unfold the comedies and tragedies of nations , AAhich dlustrate the heroism and yet the wickedness of the Avorld . But going back to my great principle of compensation , I cannot see why ad cannot be settled "a l ' aimable . " IAWIS perhaps a little indistinct in my last " sketch , " giving up Constantinople to Russia , though I rather proposed to place at Constantinople a Christian poAA'er agreeable to Russia ; and I think it was Mr . Duff who started the idea ( not perhaps a bad one ) of a Christian Bulgarian Byzantine Empire , Avith the Duke of Edinburgh at its head .
I cannot see Avhy , if Europe is consenting , and the principle of compensation can be found , Poland might not be resuscitated , and form a mi ghty wedge as between Russia and Europe . Of course Germany is greatly interested in this question ; but Germany mig ht receive large pecuniary compensation , a large transfer of funded debt , and a good deal of territorial increase , Avhich would give her all she wants , and not indispose her to an
ally betAA-een Russia and herself . With Luxemburg , Heligoland , Rhodes , a repayment of aU Silesian expenditure , ancl a large transfer of national debt , a " modus vivendi " might be found , one is disposed to fancy . Prussia ' s administration of SUesia has been admirable , and its people are much happier than under its former haphazard government , and probably a large portion of Silesia might prefer to remain German . I have been asked , What about the seaboard ? WeU , I do not deny the difficulty ; but I am
rather looking at a solution of that dreadful " embarras" in which Europe is placed , large increasing standing armies , with a sad waste of moral and material expenditure , as the necessary struggle to be prepared for all eventualities . There is a chronic eAal , a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Map Of Europe In 1879.
I do not for one moment blink the delicacy of the situation , or the perplexity of the case . I do not overlook the pride ancl martial spirit of G-ermany , the ability of Prince Bismarck , or the abstract and concrete difficulty of " Retrocession . " Like the lamented Prince Consort , I feel the intense seriousness of the question— "When you talk of resuscitated Poland , Avhat Poland do you mean ?" I oriinally alluded to the great principle of compensationand I adhere to it
g , to-day ; it is in that I foresee the possibility of a general pacification of Europe , and the prosperity of the East . I confess that I have very little hope or trust in Turkey . If events are sometimes stronger than men , men stfll rule events , in my humble opinion , and some great and sagacious ruler may yet start up , capable of reviA'ifying ancl Avelcling together the still Avide but seemingly dissolving Turkish rule . But as far
as one can UOAV realize the probable march of eA ents , the apparent contingencies of the future , in that Avonclrous and yet mysterious East , Ave cannot hope for vitality or duration in the Ottoman sway . It is permeated by eAnls of numerous if conflicting kinds ,, and is to outward appearance Avanting in . the very first principles of cohesion , unity , harmony , and progress . That its " poor soldiers" have fought well , is ah historical fact— -that Turkey has able men among its leaders , is perhaps true ; but the inherent Adciousness of its Avhole administration seems to be so great , both in its
corruption and tyranny , its injustice and its intolerance , that to reform it Avould appear to be hopeless—to uphold it would appear to be impossible . Ancl yet Avho can venture to predict the things that wdl yet be , in that far-off and wonderful clime ? It has passed through scathing trials , and desperate convulsions : it has outlived invasion ancl insurrection , the loss of a province , the fall of a dynasty : and , Aveak and disunited as it is , survives , Avhen other seemingly far stronger and more homogeneous States have gone down before it , in the " maelstrom" of eddying ancl dostructive time .
As Lord Salisbury has put it , in one of his able state papers—no clearer or more striking are to be found in the annals or archives of English diplomacy—Turkey has another chance , and is bid to set her house in order . Will she avail herself of it ? Wdl she do it ? These are questions Avhich can only be ansAvered as the solemn "Parcas " decide the fates and destinies of nations , in the " years that are to be . " Such questions and answers Ave must , I fear , leaA e solemnly , if anxiously , to-day , to that history AAhich
always repeats itself , to those marvellous events AAhich display alike the greatness and the littleness of men , AAhich unfold the comedies and tragedies of nations , AAhich dlustrate the heroism and yet the wickedness of the Avorld . But going back to my great principle of compensation , I cannot see why ad cannot be settled "a l ' aimable . " IAWIS perhaps a little indistinct in my last " sketch , " giving up Constantinople to Russia , though I rather proposed to place at Constantinople a Christian poAA'er agreeable to Russia ; and I think it was Mr . Duff who started the idea ( not perhaps a bad one ) of a Christian Bulgarian Byzantine Empire , Avith the Duke of Edinburgh at its head .
I cannot see Avhy , if Europe is consenting , and the principle of compensation can be found , Poland might not be resuscitated , and form a mi ghty wedge as between Russia and Europe . Of course Germany is greatly interested in this question ; but Germany mig ht receive large pecuniary compensation , a large transfer of funded debt , and a good deal of territorial increase , Avhich would give her all she wants , and not indispose her to an
ally betAA-een Russia and herself . With Luxemburg , Heligoland , Rhodes , a repayment of aU Silesian expenditure , ancl a large transfer of national debt , a " modus vivendi " might be found , one is disposed to fancy . Prussia ' s administration of SUesia has been admirable , and its people are much happier than under its former haphazard government , and probably a large portion of Silesia might prefer to remain German . I have been asked , What about the seaboard ? WeU , I do not deny the difficulty ; but I am
rather looking at a solution of that dreadful " embarras" in which Europe is placed , large increasing standing armies , with a sad waste of moral and material expenditure , as the necessary struggle to be prepared for all eventualities . There is a chronic eAal , a