RISE OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 25 August 1914, Page 6

RISE OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE.

I ADDRESS IJY Mli. A. G. Ji-V, i'UELL j M.A. | 1 iiert l was a wry fair iuuihlaiicc at ' tae Good Templar ll.iii on Siiu.,aj al'Wr- i noon, when Mr. Rotlivll ga\<- a most in- ! tcresting and instructive address to the I Hrotherhood uu the rise of Germany. 1 -Mr \V. T. Jennings presided. ' I At the ouioi'i tlic speaker, after re- ! :Vrrinjj to tin; vastß.iss of tin- subject, I stated that the power of Imperial Rome ' Lad already vanished wlieu Alarieh and his Goths vanquished and sacked iiiu capital itself, but, curiously enough. Home being conquered, conquerid in turn tier rude victors, the influence of a common Christianity leading the uncouth coiiqueroi's to adopt Kimian manners, institutions and customs. So great was tin; power of the Koman name that 'n A.D. 1400 a vast part of Kurope wnu governed liy wiiat was termed the Holy Koman Empire, which included practi..itliy the whole of modern Germany ami most of modern Austria, and at this era House of Ilapslmrg occupied the Imperial throne, and still occupies a throne which is now allied to what formerly were virtually its dominions The dominant ideal was that of world monarchy and world religion. The Emperor was held to lie "liege lord of all kind's and potentates, and the corner stene of the feudal structure." According to the "Divine Right" theory, which the Kaiser now holds, and for which two English kings lost their thrones, he "held the throne from God." Ilia function was to govern temporally an Empire which, it was devoutly hoped, would unite all Fu ; - ope in a benelieient sway. With him the J'opc was to exercise supreme control over the spiritual natures of his subjects. This excellent ideal promised to unite the whole of the Teutonic peoples in a world-embracing confederation, and at one time it achieved a great degree of success, but it ultimately died of sheer inanition. it became, as Vol- i taire said, neither Holy nor Koman, nor ' 'Empire, and the Emperor became to be j merely the head of a laose confederation of German States. In view of later developments this change was si;;- ! nilicant. Such was the political state of Germany in the Middle Ages. The speaker then dwelt on the sub- j ject of feudalism which brought about | a practical perpetuation of an cver-in- I creasing horde of petty tyrants, and tyrannies. History, lie said, raiyy afforded such a contradictory and unsatis- j factory state of affairs as existed nt ' Germany just before the Reformation The chief events in the next Ij\vd centuries were mentioned. Northern Europe containing no fewer than 30'.) petty States, and Franco becoming the prodominant power, the German Empire becoming a federation rent by internal dissentions. Out of this chaotic state ot mediaeval G.-rmany a new leaven worked to produce organisation and concentration. 11l the 15th century the Emperor had bestowed on the family of Hohcnzollcrn the Marquisate of the State of Brandenburg. In the 10th century the family became Lutheran, and in the 17th obtained from the King ot Poland the investiture of the Duchy oi Prussia. This accession of ierrito.*was a most significant event. Brandenburg, of which Berlin was tin- centiv, was separated from the new eastern possession, and this probably gave rise to those ideas of territorial aggrandiscmen 1 which have had so profound an iutlueme on later German history. The prince to whom most German historians 1--cribc the commencement of their national greatness was Frederick, the Greril Elector_ l!y the 'treaty l Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years War, he acquired Magdeburg. l»y his tireles.-, I energy he consolidated his dominion-. ' freed East l'russia from Polish supre- | niaey. and gave his subjects a faint gliui- ] mering of the possibilities of a national existence. In the year MM h'.s s )u Frederick managed to acquire the recognition of kingly dignity. He to the title of King of Prussia, not oi' Brandenburg. for that would have been imputable with the vestige of JmJ pcrial power which still 'the I whole of his dominions were but a | tithe of modern Germany. The mo-al 1 elTci-t, of his sudden accession to dign'ty was, however, tremendous. Frederick was succeeded by his soil Frederick William 1., of whom Mecauley .'ays thai "though he must be allowed to have pos- ' scssed some talents for administration, j yet his character was disfigured i-y odious vices, and his eccentricities were .such as had never before been seen oat "of a madhouse." I'y dint of lreiii"iiilous wicrilices he managed U> gather and maintain a pence establishment of (i'l.-H)ll men, in discipline the finest in Europe, ile died ill 17IK, leaving the succession to | one of the most remarkable men who ever occupied a European throne. Frederick the Cleat was not only a consu'.nii'rtt'i general, but a thorough admin:.trator! The glories of campaigns stirred within all German a nascent sep.se ol nationality. The cJlicieiicy of his ad - mini-tratiou helped lo realise that spin!.. 'i'lie character of Frederick was net revealed when an event <ii vital inij poi'lance took place. Charles VI., nion- ; arch of the Holy Roman Empire, died j without a ill,lie heir. His dunghte.', Maria Theresa, had been guaranteed the succession to the throne of Austria in , (fie ceiiebralcd Pragmatic Sanction. England, France. Russia, Prussia, PoUwl. Sweden, Denmark and the whole of the Germanic Slates had bound ih-mselve-; to maintain the -u.'cession. winch ivn; both equable and just. It n.aden > ei.ang s in the distribution of power i i Europe without ili-sensuui o) ;riy kin 1. Rut Fieilerick intervene-.!. iiu arm.4 were victorious at Aiollwd/, and '.ae hesitating statesmen of Fran- c threw in their lot wilh him. 'IV **Fir.«l Silesia n \\ ar," as ii was called, was eouiplotelv siieee.-sfill. The pea -e of I're--htn. 171'.;. Mi-nr.'tl Silesia .I-!inilelv. and the . ame year the Flivlor ol Havana v,a- placed on the llenin'.e. throne. I ivacrick withdrew from the : !ruggie wi,i'-u !.;V now iliwdved ail F'i:'e|ic_ Ili-, id '.'l wa- -.aim.l. lint ia the n>!ii|iaigin ■'- the ite.M I"-' 1 year, hi- loc-, ill-re sii •- ,t.—fill, nltd to keep its eoie|lies; I'm - siu wa.s eonijielleil to re-enter the v.'ar. The victories of Iloh ■egnhlbeiirg :md Suit followed. Fonteiioi was won by tin- r'reii-ii. bill, a Riis-iau tov.ards Hi.- Prussian herder.-, in ien._.i , , (H' all ihc ei.nibatan! - I'm--> '. was the only gainer. Tim slate- .(«.» ante, Willi the i-xii'iilioii <-t t l ' 1,1 Silvia. Wih restored. I'lid no giva; war ever ended in replacing tae nalee; ■ -o e-.actl.' in the -aine situation a- heior.■. Frederick he'-ame known to I'.Ui'lesslv false politician. Moll'.'.i'/ the iir-t step in the holder that end - e 1 Sedan. Frederi;-!; U " prolul;. e,of liismarek. •lilll til- peace could l.e only a trr-e. Au-trhi ; -' Is too iiileil u:',h ree-nl in. at to a.-qiiie-ce ill the perinaueii! in<s ,-! Silesia Tin' ancient hatred l-.etwe-n ] ; iailce and Austria was now replaeeo by a friendly understanding, and a deI feusive alliance was formed. Prussia I now found herself isolated. Jt. was known that liussia did not approve ol ! Frederick's crooked diplomacy. lie siii!I 'denly found himself faced in 37"Mi with

i'.u: possibilities consequent on sucli an ] alliance. The dissolution of Prussia j ■ cined certain. Only one bright spot villained in ail otherwise gloomy horizon. Hanover was dear to the hearts I oi English kings. In return for help Krcucriek guaranteed its defence. Xor u.,i lie wait to be attacked. Saxony was instantly invaded by 70,000 I'l'us.l,, and the Seven "Years' War had ' commenced. 1 ,ie year 1757 is memorable in the • ui.a.s of Kurope, Despite several victoies, the net seemed to be. closing more tightly round Prussia. A great French army was advancing under .Soubise in the west. 'Silesia was full of Austrians. The Russians were already harassing the eastern borders. Frederick seemed in an almost hopeless situation. With the energy of despair lie determined to .strike first at the French. On November sth he encountered the army of ■Soubise. lie was outnumbered two to one, but the foe were ill-disciplined, and had incompetent leaders. The Prussians , caught the iFrcnch unawares. Thousands were made prisoners, (inns and colors, 'baggage and equipment fell into the hands of the victory The French wore compelled to evacuate Germany, and henceforth played a minor part in tho operations against Prussia. Then first was it manifest that the Germans were truly n nation. Then first was discernible that patriotic spirit which in ISRI achieved the deliverance of central Europe. Frederick after a short rest encountered the Austrians at Lcuthen, near Brcslau, 27,000 Austrians being killed or wounded, and the victory was decisive. "This battle," said Napoleon, "was a masterpiece." Silesia was reconquered. 11l the spring of 175S Frederick expelled | the Russians from the ca<t of Germany, and 'Prussia stood triumphant. 'Peace found Prussia a power of the first class. After quoting the words in which Frederick summed up the strength, resources, and possible intentions of France, England and Austria as com- , pared with Prussia, as giving a key to his policy, the speaker referred to the condition of Poland and the subsequent 1 partition of that country —.Russia, Aus- | tria and Prussia each getting a slure—i tints sowing the seeds of future disturbance, instead of rest and tranquility, to | that part of Europe, ' On August 17, 1788, Frederick the Great died. He left his country with I its population increased from two to [six millions; its revenues doubled, and j its resources developed. But Frederick's [ policy had one serious ilaw. Like a I modern prince of the same House he I lonccntrated too much in himself. He I established a military despotism in PriHsia somewhat similar to that which Cromwell used in England in the InterI regnum, but, unlike Cromwell, he disjdained to use fit instruments to camout his decrees. His Ministers were 'but clerks without individuality; he reI warded his subjects as "being created I merely to be subservient to his 'will, and I conducive to the carrying into execution l whatever might tend to augment Ills j -power and extend his dominions.' ' "But,' said the speaker, "we have here I finished the first and by far the most ' important phase in the rise of GerI manv. and we sec her enter on a decline I which was not to be arrested till thes | next century. The fiery outbreak of : anxiety ill France caused every throne ill i Kui'ope to totter to its foundations. I There is not time, to trace the history I of the German States throughout the era of Napoleon's despotism. We must, however, notice the l'eace of B'Aslo, concluded in 171)5 with the Hi-public by which a line of demarcation was drawn between North and South Germany. We. have seen that in 1806 Napoleon finally put ail end to the lingering vestiges of the 11 oi -- nonmn Empire, fie then foriuied tl:!- Confederation of the Rhine, and Uussia made an attempt, which Talleyrand defeated, to form a North German Confederation. li"t- the defeats at ,!cim, Friedlur.d and Auerstadt left Prussia at Napoleon's tender mercy, and at the d'eaee of Tilsit she lost all her lands west of the Kibe, recognised the Rhenish Confederation —a purely. Parisian instru-ment-ami abandoned every claim to interfere in German polities. But Napoleon demanded too much. Ihe nation that could formerly resist the combined arms of nearly all Kurope was at lciig.a driven to desperation, and a wave 0 popular indignation at length checked t'.ie Freiieh tide, and both at I.eipsig and dm in" the celebrated 'IOO days' that ended"at Waterloo, Prii.-Man arms were ' eonspi.'ilolls. Wel'e We to go flllt.lcl | we should be trenching on the next leC- * tiller's subject. The. emergence of Prussia, the uprising of German, -for to Prussia all Germany now turned ishe'.e. complete. The aiieient German or Roman Empire no longer existed. Nothing constitutional remained to bur the way to federation. The old older hud r\-dc-d vhaii-ed ill the vortex of Hie Revolution, ami the new was already beginning to shape itself. The eiienshed ideal of Frederick the Great was to U realised during the ensuing century, and but ff-' 'particularism,' or indepi'iulei'iee of local potentates, which trmmpaed at Vienna, there might have open ii:,t iblMied. on a stronger and iniglitier lvw, that old Empire which hail b.jcn I'c.e (ii-earn of mediaeval jurists and plit'Vm the motion of Mr. GoUis, „ resolution was.arried wishing "Cod-speed and , ,„f.. return to Dr Home and any otner ireri' '' l 's oi' the Brotherhood who had .one to the war.