Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1885 — The Peace of Westphalia. [ARTICLE]

The Peace of Westphalia.

By the peace of Westphalia the long conflict known in history as the “Thirty Years’ Was*’ was brought to an end. This was properly a series of wars, which, originating in the religions quarrels of Germany, later implicated other nations on other issues. Throughout the struggle Austria, the Catholic Princes e ( Germany and Spain were arrayed on one side; on the other Bohemia and the Palatinate were first engaged, then a, combination of the North German Princes under the championship of Denmark; these were aided subsequently by Sweden and later by France. The war lasted from 1618 to 1648, and daring this time cost Europe unmeasured blood and treasure, and rendered Germany a vast field of desolation and horror. As early as 1641 the preliminaries concerning the negotiations far peace were arranged at Hamburg, and Munster and Osnabruck, in the cirule of Westphalia, were chosen for the meeting of the separate con: greases. At Munster the empire; France, Spain and the Catholics generally were to negotiate under the mediation of the Pope; and at Osnabrnck the empire, Sweden and the Protestants under that of Denmark. The time fixed for the first convening of these bodies was March 25, 1642; but they did not meet then, nor at any time following until the year 1644. After they had met, mouths were lost in wrangling over points of etiquette and in objections made bj some of the envoys to instructions given to others. When finally the workof negotiation proper had begun, it was enormously prolonged because of the number of interests involved and the Conflicting demands of different nations The religious questions that had originated the war were largely overshadowed now by the political issues brought into it by the interference of (Xtside belligerents. During the proass of negotiations Denmark and the fope withdrew, and mediation was carted on by envoys from the republic ff Venice. Not to dwell upon the vari\us prolonged discussions that occupifl the negotiators for nearly five yean we may briefly note the conditions oiwhich peace was at last definitely declared. Separate treaties were conclude at Osnabruck Aug. 6,1648, and at funster Sept. 8, and Oct. 24 folio wig the definitive signatures were annexd. One of the most important resuh of this peace was the humbling ol the Austrian power. Previous to te war.the Emperor of Austria was te head of the German Empire, not rarely in name, but in fact. But thoughthis peace allowed him to retain the .tie, it so increased the power of the German Princes that the Empery’a authority became a mere name. 101 l and and Switzerland were declaredndependent of the empire. Alsace ws given to France; Sweden receivedpomerania west of the Oder, the islauipf Rugen, and several towns, togetherVith an indemnity of 5,000,000 The territories of Brandenburg, Stony and Mecklenburg were and a number of other minor chafes were made in the German prinpalities. This peace put an end to the aligious wars of Europe, and forms a»ry important landmark of history. In the German Empire the equality otjreeds was established, and the era of r(gi o us toleration, of true liberty and pDp-ess, was begun.— lnter Ocean. , l,