The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-03

that magnificent acme ofcivilized being, the har-
| mony of communities and the benefits of CO.
operation, His phalansteries were models of
domestic perfection. If Mr.. Greeley did not
| succeed in carrying out his ideas, which were
| in another sphere carried out with 30 much
success by Brigham Young, of Utah, he never
theless is entitled to the credit of making the
experiment. We do not mean particularly to
classify Mr. Greeley with Mr.. Young in this
connections for while Mr.. Greeley leans to
the weakness of human sanctity and eventual
salvation, Mr.. Young, with his polygamic
tablets, has his own notions on the subject.
With all these drawbacks, we say that Mr..
Greeley is entitled to the nomination for
Governor by the republicans when they
assemble in Convention at Saratoga next
Wednesday.
The Latest Batties-BeIzian Neutrality and
tho Crisis.
We are on the tiptoe of expectation this
morning for details of the tremendous engage
ment which reiterated dispatches from
different sources confidently declare to have
been raging between the French, under Mac
Mahon, and a heavy combination of the Ger
Belgium. That the Germans, feeling rein
vigorated, in spite of their heavy losses,
by the fresh troops now pouring into
France behind them from beyond the
Rhine, are extending their front until it
resembles huge broom, spreading all the
g.. Co;u 70 CoJo
the Belgian frontier, is quite clear. The
handle of that bosom of destruction is grasped
by the firm and skitul fingers of Won Moltke,
and it will either sweep all that remains of the
| French field army back under the walls of
| Paris or over into Belgium, unless by some
strange turn of fate the implement should be
| wrested from his clutch and turned against
himself. And, just here, it is worth while to
call attention to the peculiar manGuvring of
the French close to the frontier of Belgium.
When the war broke out Lord Cairns said in
the British Parliament that the belligerents
would move with view to compelling one or
the other of them to violate Belgian neutrality.
We have steadily watched the case for weeks,
and have seen the fulflment of this prediction
draw nearer and nearer. AT last we find
it very near its climax. Both armies are
now as far northward as they can go
in direct lines without getting into Belgium,
and the later dispatches state that the troops
of that country are ''hastening to the frontier
from all quarters. A great battle is immi-
nent, and the services of the Belgian troops
will, no doubt, be necessary to save the coun-
try from invasion" Now, suppose such
battle of giants to be fought close to the line
how can the small Belgian army prevent
one or the other combatant, if de-
feated, from crossing the frontier should
supreme necessity compel? 1t could do
30 only by military acts, and in that case
behold Belgium dragged by force into the
fight Which side she would take cannot be
doubted for a moment. Her sympathies are
strongly French, and her well drilled and well
armed force would, along with the facility of
movement through her country thus thrown
open, be very present help in time of need
to France. The scruples of great Powers in
their death struggles are not very delicate
When leviathans are beating the pillows small
| fry must take what comes. Moreover, Bel
| GUM thus close at hand would afford ready
| escape, in case of total defeat to the Emperor,
afraid or unable to return to Paris.
Meanwhile, ordinary business is well
nigh suspended at the French capital.
The workingmen turn out en- masse to
volunteer in defence Of the city, and swear
| to crush the Germans inside of the walls or
beyond them. Yet the Ministry is packing up
for fight to Tours, and every symptom looks
like an abandonment Of Paris to the people.
| That, we believe, under the present circum-
stances, would be the best thing that could
happen for France Italy, Spain, and, if
! rumors lately received have any truth,
South Germany, are thrilling with eagerness
! for the republican tocsin. Amid the din of the
approaching foreign hosts some well known
and penetrating voice might suddenly ring out
all along the line of the peoples from Ireland
to Greece as the sharp command once pierced
the gloom of Waterloo: Cup, Guards, and at
| them!" and we should presently have other
narratives to record in these columns. The
spirit of the old republic is not dead, nor even
slumbering, and not the immediate fate of
France alone, nor yet of Germany solely, but
the hazard of the die for the whole democracy
of Europe is cast in the conflict that this very
day may decide. Well, then, may the boldest
| Hold his breath--for o time
MARSHALL o. ROBERTS HAVING SURREN-