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Article THE MAP OF EUROPE IN 1877. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Map Of Europe In 1877.
their OAVH fall *—yet an old-fashioned Book has told us " not to remove our neighbour ' s landmark , " ancl Poland , under an able King and a strong Government , might have yet held its OAVH in the category ancl struggles of nations . Some writers have indeed contended that the old Polish Constitution was so intricate and so-unworkable in itself , that discord was inevitable , unity unattainable , and all good government an impossible realisation . It is idle , after this lapse of time , to enter into
such a discussion , neither Avould it in any sense be a profitable employment of our time j but , " giving all in , " as Ave say , Ave cannot but subscribe to the opinions of all great English statesmen , Avithout distinction of party— so that it becomes no party question—that the absorption and partition of Poland constituted both a political mistake ancl a grave Avrongdoing . No doubt the immediate effect of that astute proceeding Avas to round off and consolidate the territories of Austria , Prussia , ancl Russia ; its subsequent effect has been to leave
Uermany and Austria under the overwhelming shadow of that enormous taipire , whose real strength it is , in our opinion , impossible to attempt to measure , and Avhich , owing to the genius and patriotism of its people , groAvs stronger in trial ancl obtains force even from adversity . We have ourselves no doubt as to what the ultimate result of the present Oriental Avar must be , but Ave do not deem it needful to advert to that subject except incidentally IIOAV . We believe that Russia Avill come out of it greater and more Avoided together than ever , and Avill present the sight to Europe of a mighty army ,
inured to hardship , buoyant in victory , ancl intent on national aggrandisement , Li such a case , Avhat must be the result 1 Germany is between two fires , and in any ca . : e of dispute with Russia must have , as the French say , " fibre face , "—a very difficult and ticklish proceeding , as all military men well know . What , then , is to be done ? There appears to us to be nothing for the safety and peace of Europe—for the preservation of a true Balance of Power , if such be worth preserving—but a Resuscitated Poland , Avhich , including its ancient boundaries , Avoidd , following the hue of the Carpathian Mountains , run CIOAVU to the Black Sea , and hold , so to say , as a neutral Power , the Mouth of the Danube .
Thus , then , there AVOUIC ! be a great Avedge as between Russia and Germany , and Poland , Avith all Europe at its back , would form an irresistible barrier to any possibility of Sclavophile absorption or invasion . Some may be inclined to say , who read these pages , " What a chimera of chimeras you have put forward !—a dream impossible to realise !—a future too improbable to conceive ! " We do not feel quite sure that such a vieiv of matters constitutes either a diplomatic impossibility or a geographical absurdity . It may
be only a " reverie , " but it is not , Ave are inclined to opine , merely " the baseless fabric of a dream . " Such a re-arrangement of European Geography Avould settle many difficulties and dispose of many burning questions ; it might even be a prelude to a long period of unarmed peace for weary ancl exhausted Europe ! For , as Ave see it noAV with our geographical spectacles , all countries , not even excluding Russia , AVOUM bo satisfied , ancl tliis act of Justice Avould heal gaping Avounds and atone for a blameablo past .
Austria Avould push on into Bosnia ancl part of the Herzegovina ; Montenegro would gain a slight addition and a seaport ; Roumania Avould obtain extension in Moldavia ; and Servia would hold its OAVH —and a little more . Russia would no doubt gain Constantinople and a large slice of Asia Minor , but the troublesome question of the Dardanelles Avoidd be settled by a neutralised canal or raihvay from about Trebizond to the Mediterranean , Avhile another canal or railroad from the Black Sea to the Caspian Avould open out Avonderfully an active commerce . Thus straight from the Mediterranean , and
unchecked up the Danube , AVOUM henceforth go tbe civilising influences of the peaceful armies of traders . Germany Avould acquire Luxemburg by purchase from Holland , as well as all "Deutscb spechendes volk , "—Austria Proper , of course , excepted—and Heligoland might gracefully be returned to our good German Cousins as tbe outpost of the great German Empire . Rhodes also mi ght well be given to Germany , Greece would recover her old boundaries , together with Cyprus ancl Crete and the Suez Canal would be neutralised . We need hardly add that such a great settlement pre-supposes the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Map Of Europe In 1877.
their OAVH fall *—yet an old-fashioned Book has told us " not to remove our neighbour ' s landmark , " ancl Poland , under an able King and a strong Government , might have yet held its OAVH in the category ancl struggles of nations . Some writers have indeed contended that the old Polish Constitution was so intricate and so-unworkable in itself , that discord was inevitable , unity unattainable , and all good government an impossible realisation . It is idle , after this lapse of time , to enter into
such a discussion , neither Avould it in any sense be a profitable employment of our time j but , " giving all in , " as Ave say , Ave cannot but subscribe to the opinions of all great English statesmen , Avithout distinction of party— so that it becomes no party question—that the absorption and partition of Poland constituted both a political mistake ancl a grave Avrongdoing . No doubt the immediate effect of that astute proceeding Avas to round off and consolidate the territories of Austria , Prussia , ancl Russia ; its subsequent effect has been to leave
Uermany and Austria under the overwhelming shadow of that enormous taipire , whose real strength it is , in our opinion , impossible to attempt to measure , and Avhich , owing to the genius and patriotism of its people , groAvs stronger in trial ancl obtains force even from adversity . We have ourselves no doubt as to what the ultimate result of the present Oriental Avar must be , but Ave do not deem it needful to advert to that subject except incidentally IIOAV . We believe that Russia Avill come out of it greater and more Avoided together than ever , and Avill present the sight to Europe of a mighty army ,
inured to hardship , buoyant in victory , ancl intent on national aggrandisement , Li such a case , Avhat must be the result 1 Germany is between two fires , and in any ca . : e of dispute with Russia must have , as the French say , " fibre face , "—a very difficult and ticklish proceeding , as all military men well know . What , then , is to be done ? There appears to us to be nothing for the safety and peace of Europe—for the preservation of a true Balance of Power , if such be worth preserving—but a Resuscitated Poland , Avhich , including its ancient boundaries , Avoidd , following the hue of the Carpathian Mountains , run CIOAVU to the Black Sea , and hold , so to say , as a neutral Power , the Mouth of the Danube .
Thus , then , there AVOUIC ! be a great Avedge as between Russia and Germany , and Poland , Avith all Europe at its back , would form an irresistible barrier to any possibility of Sclavophile absorption or invasion . Some may be inclined to say , who read these pages , " What a chimera of chimeras you have put forward !—a dream impossible to realise !—a future too improbable to conceive ! " We do not feel quite sure that such a vieiv of matters constitutes either a diplomatic impossibility or a geographical absurdity . It may
be only a " reverie , " but it is not , Ave are inclined to opine , merely " the baseless fabric of a dream . " Such a re-arrangement of European Geography Avould settle many difficulties and dispose of many burning questions ; it might even be a prelude to a long period of unarmed peace for weary ancl exhausted Europe ! For , as Ave see it noAV with our geographical spectacles , all countries , not even excluding Russia , AVOUM bo satisfied , ancl tliis act of Justice Avould heal gaping Avounds and atone for a blameablo past .
Austria Avould push on into Bosnia ancl part of the Herzegovina ; Montenegro would gain a slight addition and a seaport ; Roumania Avould obtain extension in Moldavia ; and Servia would hold its OAVH —and a little more . Russia would no doubt gain Constantinople and a large slice of Asia Minor , but the troublesome question of the Dardanelles Avoidd be settled by a neutralised canal or raihvay from about Trebizond to the Mediterranean , Avhile another canal or railroad from the Black Sea to the Caspian Avould open out Avonderfully an active commerce . Thus straight from the Mediterranean , and
unchecked up the Danube , AVOUM henceforth go tbe civilising influences of the peaceful armies of traders . Germany Avould acquire Luxemburg by purchase from Holland , as well as all "Deutscb spechendes volk , "—Austria Proper , of course , excepted—and Heligoland might gracefully be returned to our good German Cousins as tbe outpost of the great German Empire . Rhodes also mi ght well be given to Germany , Greece would recover her old boundaries , together with Cyprus ancl Crete and the Suez Canal would be neutralised . We need hardly add that such a great settlement pre-supposes the