Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/632

 478 General History of Europe Germany. The great importance of this arrangement we shall see later when we come to trace the development of the German Empire. 843. Reactionary Policy following Congress of Vienna. Napoleon, in spite of all his despotism, was a son of the Revolu- tion and had no sympathy with the ancient evils that it had done away with. The people of the countries that had come under his influence had learned some of the great lessons of the French Revolution. Nevertheless the restored monarchs in many of the smaller European states proceeded to reestablish the ancient feudal abuses and to treat their subjects as if there had been no French Revolution and no such man as Napoleon. In order to understand the period following the downfall of Napoleon we must realize that the statesmen who met together at Vienna were determined to restore peace in Europe and to promote their own national interests, which had been so impaired by Napoleon's ambitions. They therefore reinstated the monarchs whom they regarded as " legitimately " entitled to rule, and sup- pressed all attempts on the part of the people to gain any further measure of liberty. This they believed was the only way to bring order out of the chaos into which Europe had fallen. 844. Influence of Metternich. Austria had emerged from the disorder as the most dominant power in Europe and played for thirty years the leading role in international affairs. From 1815 to 1848 those - who believed in keeping things as they were at any cost were able, under the leadership of her astute minister, Count Metternich, to oppose pretty successfully those who from time to time attempted to secure for the people a greater control of the government. This did not mean, of course, that no prog- ress was made during this long period in realizing the ideals of the liberal parties in the various European states, or that one man could block the advance of nations for a generation. 845. The Holy Alliance. The Tsar, Alexander I, had become very religious and invited the pious king of Prussia and the emperor of Austria to join a brotherhood of monarchs who were to regard themselves as "delegates of Providence to govern three branches of the same family." Other European- powers were to