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solemnly declared that they would ‘‘in the administration of
their respective states and in their political relations with every
other government take for their sole guide the precepts of that
Holy Religion； namely the precepts of Justice； Christian
Charity and Peace； which far from being applicable only to
private concerns must have an immediate influence on the
councils of princes； and must guide all their steps as being the
only means of consolidating human institutions and remedying
their imperfections。'' They then proceeded to promise each
other that they would remain united ‘‘by the bonds of a true
and indissoluble fraternity； and considering each other as
fellow…countrymen； they would on all occasions and in all places
lend each other aid and assistance。'' And more words to the
same effect。
Eventually the Holy Alliance was signed by the Emperor
of Austria； who did not understand a word of it。 It was signed
by the Bourbons who needed the friendship of Napoleon's old
enemies。 It was signed by the King of Prussia； who hoped to
gain Alexander for his plans for a ‘‘greater Prussia；'' and by
all the little nations of Europe who were at the mercy of Russia。
England never signed； because Castlereagh thought the
whole thing buncombe。 The Pope did not sign because he
resented this interference in his business by a Greek…Orthodox
and a Protestant。 And the Sultan did not sign because he
never heard of it。
The general mass of the European people； however； soon
were forced to take notice。 Behind the hollow phrases of the
Holy Alliance stood the armies of the Quintuple Alliance
which Metternich had created among the great powers。 These
armies meant business。 They let it be known that the peace
of Europe must not be disturbed by the so…called liberals who
were in reality nothing but disguised Jacobins； and hoped for
a return of the revolutionary days。 The enthusiasm for the
great wars of liberation of the years 1812； 1818； 1814 and
1815 had begun to wear off。 It had been followed by a sincere
belief in the coming of a happier day。 The soldiers who had
borne the brunt of the battle wanted peace and they said so。
But they did not want the sort of peace which the Holy
Alliance and the Council of the European powers had now
bestowed upon them。 They cried that they had been betrayed。
But they were careful lest they be heard by a secret…police spy。
The reaction was victorious。 It was a reaction caused by men
who sincerely believed that their methods were necessary for
the good of humanity。 But it was just as hard to bear as if
their intentions had been less kind。 And it caused a great deal
of unnecessary suffering and greatly retarded the orderly
progress of political development。
THE GREAT REACTION
THEY TRIED TO ASSURE THE WORLD AN ERA
OF UNDISTURBED PEACE BY SUPPRESSING
ALL NEW IDEAS。 THEY MADE THE
POLICE…SPY THE HIGHEST FUNCTIONARY
IN THE STATE AND SOON THE PRISONS
OF ALL COUNTRIES WERE FILLED WITH
THOSE WHO CLAIMED THAT PEOPLE
HAVE THE RIGHT TO GOVERN THEMSELVES
AS THEY SEE FIT
To undo the damage done by the great Napoleonic flood
was almost impossible。 Age…old fences had been washed away。
The palaces of two score dynasties had been damaged to such
an extent that they had to be condemned as uninhabitable。
Other royal residences had been greatly enlarged at the expense
of less fortunate neighbours。 Strange odds and ends
of revolutionary doctrine had been left behind by the receding
waters and could not be dislodged without danger to the entire
community。 But the political engineers of the Congress did
the best they could and this is what they accomplished。
France had disturbed the peace of the world for so many
years that people had come to fear that country almost
instinctively。 The Bourbons； through the mouth of Talleyrand；
had promised to be good； but the Hundred Days had taught
Europe what to expect should Napoleon manage to escape for
a second time。 The Dutch Republic； therefore； was changed
into a Kingdom； and Belgium （which had not joined the Dutch
struggle for independence in the sixteenth century and since
then had been part of the Habsburg domains； firs t under Spanish
rule and thereafter under Austrian rule） was made part
of this new kingdom of the Netherlands。 Nobody wanted this
union either in the Protestant North or in the Catholic South；
but no questions were asked。 It seemed good for the peace
of Europe and that was the main consideration。
Poland had hoped for great things because a Pole； Prince
Adam Czartoryski； was one of the most intimate friends of
Tsar Alexander and had been his constant advisor during the
war and at the Congress of Vienna。 But Poland was made a
semi…independent part of Russia with Alexander as her king。
This solution pleased no one and caused much bitter feeling
and three revolutions。
Denmark； which had remained a faithful ally of Napoleon
until the end； was severely punished。 Seven years before； an
English fleet had sailed down the Kattegat and without a
declaration of war or any warning had bombarded Copenhagen
and had taken away the Danish fleet； lest it be of value to
Napoleon。 The Congress of Vienna went one step further。
It took Norway （which since the union of Calmar of the year
1397 had been united with Denmark） away from Denmark
and gave it to Charles XIV of Sweden as a reward for his betrayal
of Napoleon； who had set him up in the king business。
This Swedish king； curiously enough； was a former French general
by the name of Bernadotte； who had come to Sweden as one
of Napolean's｛sic｝ adjutants； and had been invited to the throne of
that good country when the last of the rulers of the house of
Hollstein…Gottorp had died without leaving either son or
daughter。 From 1815 until 1844 he ruled his adopted country
（the language of which he never learned） width great ability。 He
was a clever man and enjoyed the respect of both his Swedish
and his Norwegian subjects； but he did not succeed in joining
two countries which nature and history had put asunder。 The
dual Scandinavian state was never a success and in 1905；
Norway； in a most peaceful and orderly manner； set up as an
independent kingdom and the Swedes bade her ‘‘good speed''
and very wisely let her go her own way。
The Italians； who since the days of the Renaissance had
been at the mercy of a long series of invaders； also had put
great hopes in General Bonaparte。 The Emperor Napoleon；
however； had grievously disappointed them。 Instead of the
United Italy which the people wanted； they had been divided
into a number of little principalities； duchies； republics and
the Papal State； which （next to Naples） was the worst governed
and most miserable region of the entire peninsula。 The
Congress of Vienna abolished a few of the Napoleonic republics
and in their place resurrected several old principalities
which were given to deserving members；