Mr. Mapps proceeded to explain the nature of the constitution, which has again been changed by the events of 1870. After the humiliation of Austria in 1866, and Prussia's consequent increase of power and influence, France, which has always held a commanding place among the powers of Europe, felt that her position was threatened. Prussia had attained a degree of power and influence which overshadowed France. A war in the future was certain, and it came in 1870. The desire on the part of France to check the ambition of Prussia, to cripple her power, and diminish her influence, was the real cause of the war, and the immediate events which led to the conflict are now of little consequence. The attempt to place Leopold of Hohenzollern on the throne of Spain was undoubtedly a real grievance to France. The French and their supporters say he was brought forward to provoke a quarrel; that Bismarck desired a war, in order to complete the unification of Germany. The prince was withdrawn from the candidacy for the Spanish throne, but France was not satisfied without a guaranty, which Prussia would not give. France seemed to be determined to fight, and declared war. Probably Louis Napoleon depended upon the coöperation of Austria and Italy in humiliating a power whose rapid growth threatened the integrity of all her neighbors' territory. But Italy had practically received Venetia from the hands of Prussia, after the struggle of 1866, and Austria was not in condition to carry on another war with her powerful opponent. The emperor counted, too, upon the disaffection of Bavaria, Baden, and Würtemberg, if not Saxony and Hanover, all of which had been hardly used by Prussia in the war of 1866; but the South German states promptly placed themselves on the side of Fatherland, led by Prussia. France was obliged to fight her battles all alone. She was thoroughly beaten, and absolutely crushed, by the vast legions of Germany. France, which had been demanding the Rhine provinces, so that the river should be her boundary line, was deprived of the greater portion of Alsace and Lorraine, lying next to Germany, and on the Rhine. Bismarck's plan to unite all Germany under one emperor was fully realized, for, while the army of King William was still laying siege to Paris, the King of Bavaria proposed to the sovereign princes of Germany to urge William to assume the title of Emperor of Germany. A bill passed the German Parliament at Berlin, almost unanimously, by which all the states were united into an empire. The king was elected emperor by the Diet, and accepted the honor; Bismarck was appointed chancellor of the empire.