and the needle-gun won the day, and changed the whole aspect of modern warfare.  The battle of Koeniggraetz settled this point,—­that success in war depends more on good powder and improved weapons than on personal bravery or even masterly evolutions.  Other things being equal, victory is almost certain to be on the side of the combatants who have the best weapons.  The Prussians won the day of Koeniggraetz by their breech-loading guns, although much was due to their superior organization and superior strategy.

That famous battle virtually ended the Austro-Prussian campaign, which lasted only about seven weeks.  It was one of those “decisive battles” that made Prussia the ascendent power in Germany, and destroyed the prestige of Austria.  It added territory to Prussia equal to one quarter of the whole kingdom, and increased her population by four and a half millions of people.  At a single bound, Prussia became a first-class military State.

The Prussian people were almost frantic with joy; and Bismarck, from being the most unpopular man in the nation, became instantly a national idol.  His marvellous diplomacy, by which Austria was driven to the battlefield, was now seen and universally acknowledged.  He obtained fame, decorations, and increased power.  A grateful nation granted to him four hundred thousand thalers, with which he bought the estate of Varzin.  General von Moltke received three hundred thousand thalers and immense military prestige.  The war minister, Von Roon, also received three hundred thousand thalers.  These three stood out as the three most prominent men of the nation, next to the royal family.

Never was so short a war so pregnant with important consequences.  It consolidated the German Confederation under Prussian dominance.  By weakening Austria it led to the national unity of Italy, and secured free government to the whole Austrian empire, since that government could no longer refuse the demands of Hungary.  Above all, “it shattered the fabric of Ultramontanism which had been built up by the concordat of 1853.”

It was the expectation of Napoleon III that Austria would win in this war; but the loss of the Austrians was four to one, besides her humiliation, condemned as she was to pay a war indemnity, with the loss also of the provinces of Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover, Hesse-Cassel, Nassau, and Frankfort.  But Bismarck did not push Austria to the wall, since he did not wish to make her an irreconcilable enemy.  He left open a door for future and permanent peace.  He did not desire to ruin his foe, but simply to acquire the lead in German politics and exclude Austria from the Germanic Confederation.  Napoleon, disappointed and furious, blustered, and threatened war, unless he too could come in for a share of the plunder, to which he had no real claim.  Bismarck calmly replied, “Well, then, let there be war,” knowing full well that France was not prepared, Napoleon consulted his marshals, “Are we prepared,” asked he, “to fight all Germany?” “Certainly not,” replied the marshals, “until our whole army, like that of Prussia, is supplied with a breech-loader; until our drill is modified to suit the new weapon; until our fortresses are in a perfect state of preparedness, and until we create a mobile and efficient national reserve.”