Source:
Readings in Modern European History, edited by James
Harvey Robinson and Charles Beard (Boston: Ginn and Company, 1908),
vol. 1, pp. 384-385; also at www.shsu.edu/%7Ehis_ncp/Alliance.html
Check the Background notes
before reading the text of the Holy Alliance
In the
name of the Most Holy and Indivisible Trinity.
Their
Majesties the Emperor of Austria, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor
of Russia, having, in consequence of the great events which have marked
the course of the three last years in Europe, and especially of the
blessings
which it has pleased Divine Providence to shower down upon those States
which place their confidence and their hope on it alone, acquired the
intimate
conviction of the necessity of settling the rules to be observed by the
Powers, in their reciprocal relations, upon the sublime truths which
the
Holy Religion of our Saviour teaches:
They
solemnly declare that the present Act has no other object than to
publish,
in the face of the whole world, their fixed resolution, both in the
administration
of their respective States and in their political relations with every
other
Government, to 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 guide all their steps, as being the
only
means of consolidating human institutions and remedying their
imperfections.
In consequence, their Majesties have agreed on the following Articles:
ART.
I.
Conformably to the words of the Holy Scriptures, which command all
men to consider each other as brethren, the three contracting Monarchs
will
remain united by the bonds of a true and indissoluble fraternity, and,
considering
each other as fellow-countrymen, they will, on all occasions and in all
places, lend each other aid and assistance; and, regarding themselves
towards
their subjects and armies as fathers of families, they will lead them,
in
the same spirit of fraternity with which they are animated, to protect
Religion,
Peace, and Justice.
ART.
II In
consequence, the sole principle of force, whether between the
said Governments or between their Subjects, shall be that of doing each
other reciprocal service, and of testifying by unalterable good will
the
mutual affection with which they ought to be animated, to consider
themselves
all as members of one and the same Christian nation; the three allied
Princes,
looking on themselves as merely delegated by Providence to govern three
branches of the one family, namely, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, thus
confessing
that the Christian world, of which they and their people form a part,
has
in reality no other Sovereign than Him to whom alone power really
belongs,
because in Him alone are found all the treasures of love, science, and
infinite
wisdom, that is to say, God, our Divine Saviour, the Word of the Most
High,
the Word of Life. Their Majesties consequently recommend to their
people,
with the most tender solicitude, as the sole means of enjoying that
Peace
which arises from a good conscience, and which alone is durable, to
strengthen
themselves every day more and more in the principles and exercise of
the
duties which the Divine Saviour has taught to mankind.
ART.
III.
All the Powers who shall choose solemnly to avow the sacred principles
which have dictated the present Act, and shall acknowledge how
important
it is for the happiness of nations, too long agitated, that these
truths
should henceforth exercise over the destinies of mankind all the
influence
which belongs to them, will be received with equal ardor and affection
into
this Holy Alliance.
Done in
triplicate and signed at Paris, the year of Grace
1815,
14/26th September.
(L. S.)
FRANCIS
(L. S.)
FREDERICK WILLIAM
(L. S.)
ALEXANDER
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