fortune to the Statesman who supports it? and could our conviction have been deceived had it not been for the unmanly greed of partisans?
Arbiter of the fate of France, Thiers was the safest ally to Europe, if Europe, like him, had looked back and studied the past. Europe was inclined to pursue a perilous policy, and she is playing her last cards to-day. It is but too evident that the Statesmen of our day are living from day to day and dare not recall the past to their mind. Thiers was capable of warning Europe as to the fate awaiting adventures and adventurers. What befell the English policy of Palmerston, the Austrian manoeuvres of Metternich, the French tactics of Talleyrand? In no distant future we shall ask what has become of the Italy of Cavour, and where is now the Spain of Prim? M. de Bismarck possesses greater genius than Metternich, Palmerston, Cavour; but his mighty plans are ventures, ventures similar, if you like to Charles V.'s and Napoleon's; but ventures that have already partly ended at Canossa, and sooner or later will end, if not in a Monastery of St. Just or another St. Helena, at least with a broken heart. Thiers was the only Conservative in Europe; and since his death Bismarck has taken from him some useful lessons in Conservatism. The pride of the victorious Prussian Minister may have winced; but he was not totally blinded by a success that is almost miraculous; and lately he realized that before the tribunal of God and of History he will appear very insignificant by the side of the late Pontiff, who, having discerned his covetousness, indicated the method of counteracting it, and foretold Europe the misfortunes awaiting both hemispheres and addressed the German Chancellor of to-day in the language of civilization and justice.
Prince von Bismarck himself and our generation may witness the fulfilment of these Prussian plans, of that German Unification which, according to the forecast of common sense, is to reach from the North Sea to the Adriatic; what next?
A great Philosopher, an illustrious writer, was gifted with prophecy when he wrote, eleven years ago:—
"The next generation will witness the division of the Continent of Europe into three or four great sections, distinguished by some name or other, perhaps by that of Empire which seems to tickle
