The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-09
The Rev. c. III. spureeon on the Baden
Conference.


ing a tour on the Continent for the benefit of his
health. happened TO be at Baden Baden at the time
of the imperial. royal. and ducal gathering at the
end Of last week. and gives his views of their meet
ing in the following letter to the British Standard
THE KINGS AND THE EMPEROR.
am now in Baden Baden, refreshed by my ram
bles and renewed by my rest.
There were no less than nine crowned heads in
this little town during Saturday and the Sabbath
which has Just passed. One could hardly walk in
any direction without stumbling upon grand duke,
or being run over by the horses Of an emperor.
Some Of the largest hotels, being favored with
regal tenancy, were so crowded with the
attendants and households of the kings that
they could not receive ordinary travellers.
whose patronage they had aforetime courted and
enjoyed. The Emperor Of the French passed
through Strasburg on Friday, at about five o'clock
in the afternoon. There were great crowds In the
street, liberal display Of flags and stresmsrs.
seemed to be enthusiastically received in this bor
der city Of France, although cannot speak with
authority as to the cheers which he received, for
our conveyance was ordered into back streets quite
out Of the line of route, and we were at too greats
distance to have heard the shouts of the populace.
Every one appeared to be happy and full of ex-
element and when we rode along the streets after
the number Of country people who had evidently
come from their rural homes to see the great sight
The whole city was like great fair, and the 6i-
colored flags and gsr'ands of oak leaves presented
D most AttTtCuNt appearance HI ucy ueCOT6JcQ
The quaint old fashioned houses Of the older streets
and the elegant mansions OF the new. The very
guards at the frontier relaxed their severity,
and the most polite of bows was admirable sub.
stitute for the rigid examination Of which many
travellers complain. On the German side of the
river the town Of Kehl was respondent with the
orange and red colors of the Grand Duke of Baden.
suppose the inhabitants have a sufficiently large
admXture Of the French element to account for
their being seized with the imperial fever as well
as their opposite neghbors of Strasburg. If the
people Of Kebl received the Emperor heartily, they
were the only Germans who would have done so,
for everywhere throughout Belgium, Prussia, and
the small German Kingdoms, he is either dreaded
eXecrated. 1t il the universal belief that he will
never be content until be has completed the 'na-
tural boundary" scheme by subduing all the terri
tory the west Of the Rhine to his Imperial sway.
II the English are no friends to Napoleon, the
Germans go further and are more anti-imperia than
ourselves. On Saturday the Emperor might be
seen early in the morning walking in the garden,
leaning upon his walking stick, and looking more
decrepit than his age might Justify. 1t is theme
for great gratitude that he is not young man. and
that, be his ambition what II may, he has no great
TING before him in which to work out his political
adventures. On horseback or in his carriage, all
men confess his noble bearing, and signs of de-
cay are manifest. but when he is walking the spec
tator foresees that the greatest Of men are mortal
During the greater part OF the day the Emperor
returned the visits Of the Princes who had waited
on him in the morning. Possibly the laws of eti-
quette may in this case have been very agreeable
TO the great one, for il enabled him first to all
the Princes together, and then to give them lesson
privately and individually. Who can tell what de-
vices were in the heart Of the mighty Who shall
fathom the depth of the thoughts Of Kings, May the
Lord rule and over-rule, and out Of every evil
may His glory spring The princes and dukes may
have reJoiced at the coming of the Lord of France
but the people wondered what all could mean
and forebodings of evil were neither rare nor rivo
lous. As for the little kings, they came to this
place like moths TO a candle. UNLIMITED and un-
eyneCipd they musf MEDIA forth IN
presence Of the potentate, if not to be lacqueys
TO his pride, at least to sun themselves in his
superior glory. II is to be hoped that the dexte-
rous player has not succeeded in throwing the APP
pie Of dscord among those minor monarchs; d.
vided, they would soon be overcome; but united,
they might oppose serious barrier to any aggran-
dzement he may contemplate. ] like not to see
either thieves in company or kings in conciave.
Eagles come not together unless they scent the
prey. All may be well and the meeting may be
friendly visit and an exchange Of courtesies,
but uneasy thoughts will suggest themselves;
for, when the wolf inspects the sheepfolds and
dimes with the shepherds, the slliest of the sheep
are troubled at nightfall When the Emperor
came forth from the hotel TO his carriage the
populace Of Baden gave him unmistakeabe evil
dence of their feelings towards him. Several
gentlemen have assured me that the Kissing was
very far in excess Of the notes Of reclamation.
Even in the Conversation House, where the elite of
the yisiters were assembled. the Kisses were very
distinct, and must have been unpleasant sound
TO who breathes the air Of fattery and eats the
bread Of adulation. When the Grand Duke after
wards appeared, the people cheered him very
leertils, as If TO show for whom the sounds OF dis
approval had been intended. After all, as far as
can judge, il is not what he has DONE but what he
may do. which causes this i'll feeling towards him.
Some men would have done less and have had
more credit Tor II, but this man continues TO mar all
his good deeds by a crooked policy, which leads
most men TO suspect his best actions and to impute
10 him designs which may be very far from his
thoughts. Worse men than he have been better
liked; and yet there Is injustice in this treatment
OF him. for his conduct courts suspicion and his
dark reserve creates distrust. Sunday was the
great day OF discussion, delheratiOn, arrangement,
or whatever else may have been the end and aim
Of the interview How little j. Sod in the thoughts
of the great when His own day Is the chosen season
for their councils and that too when no crisis il
impending. and no immediate disaster compels
them to hasty deliberations Here were all the
days in the week all equally available, no haste
compelling. M wars alarming. and yet none of
their own six days will suit them; they must usurp
Gods peculiar day. as IL they were lords Of the
sabbath. or irresponsible 10 the laws ~ heaven.
What but confusion can be the result Of such
councils? Will not the Lord be avenged on
such people a. this The companies of country
people who filed the roads were very interest
ing to observe. and a. looked from the windows
OF my quiet chamber upon the gaety which the
advent of these Princes had caused upon a day
consecrated TO rest and worship. ! could not fail
20 remember that men in high places have vast
responsibilities. and God alone knows how much
OF inc SINS OF tne nations VIII he visited upon the
heads OF their governors. They are not only par
takers Of other mems sins. but creators OF evil.
Surely there are chains of darkness Of unusual
weight reserved for these ringloaders in rebellion.
The Emperor left for Stra-burg AZ ten o'clock
T. NJ and his train started In the midst Of silence
more profound than had ever remarked before.
Standing on the edge Of the crowd. | was asto-
nished 10 the utmost at stiffness like that of
death-a quiet which was not broken until the
cause of II had departed: then every man breathed
freely, and a. the Duke OF Baden rode back TO his
castle the people gave him LOYAL cheers which
conrasted with the gloomy silence with which
the Gallo despot had been greeted. To
my mind there was something truly dig.
mled in this noiseless censure. To hiss might
be but q display Of weak impertinence: but 10
be sternly silent was the noble rebuke Of re-
soluie minds. ] ought 20 have said that on
Saturday there was fine Illumination az the con.
yersation house, which Is the grand resort Of the
company who are staying in the neighborhood.
and the building in which Is concentrated the gam
bling, Tor WHICH the town Is famous Beyond this
one display. did not perceive a flag or a light
upon any house or hotel This was very strange me-