The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-10-24
MARcH or OPINION nv kURopB.
Views OF Belgian elgiu In the Same
Condition ns Holland Rcpu biica nisni
Cuba aud Spain-Nr. Paul FOrbes-Pur-
chase of Cuba American J obs.

Ftirdte Letter communicated FOR The Sun.
BRUSSELS, Oct 81 have read the letter
of our Dutch friend, which you will receive by
same mail with this but though | agree with him
in the main, | must say few words as to things
lie has omitted
II is true that we are now in the same boat
with the Hollandcrs, and we have common inter.
ests, hopes, and apprehensions as to the future.
MI thinking men knew this when the war began,
and the public instinctiyey felt il. We were
like the old and the young frogs Of the fable, when
the two bulls were fighting in the meadow.
Whether King or Kaiser got the upper hand, we
we're threatened with being trampled by the
victor, or perhaps handed over as compensation
to the vanquished. Both represented despotsms,
and though a united Germany under free and
peaceful government was highly desirable for the
Germans themselves and for the tranquility Of
their ncighbors what did it signify to US that
William and Bismarck had all Germany at their
beck, except to make matters worse by rendering
them moro powerful and dangcrousp
OF late the thoughts Of the civilized world have
been turned with growing interest TO the United
States, and since recent events, with more anxiety
than ever. We therefore watch eagerly the
cnunciations Of your public opinion, and the
sentiments Of travelling Americans. How is it
that with hundreds Of thousands Of immigrants
coming year after year among you, you know so
little Of us in Europe, aud sccept such vague
superficial thcoriest
Why are the sympathies Of Americans so oflen
expressed, or the unconscious tribute Of their
admiration paid to strong, audacous, and sue
ccssful dcspotism in favor of the Car one day.
and Of the French Emperor on the morrow and
So long as his star is ascendant, and Of Bismarck
and united Germany the next? Why, if you
wish TO lie. republicinism or liberalism snecrcd
At and ,iliied and illuminated, is il that You
generally have only 10 60 to an American L. "a.
ton. or 10 converse with those who there con.
sort, or to address those citizens Of great free
republic WHO are always approximately knocking
at palace g4tcsy
In tie latter case some confusion no doub, ex.
lists ia the American mind between united Ger.
many and fee Germany; but what reason bic
ground is there TO suppose that this desirable
consummatiun will be brought about except
through the unexpected changes occurring
by the revolution Of affairs which great wars
sometimes occasion, aud much more like.
likely to arise through the discontinue man
through the triumph of King H.i!am, Thus,
rs never could have otAp .jre,hought, Sadowa
gave to the beaten hustrians constitutional gov.
ernme.', Win, ~ only ,ightencd the bonds of the
'ie."-ious rrussians; and the squaobc for the
choice Of King in Spain, with which Italy would
have nothing to do, has resulted in givr. her
Rome, and in her Consolidation
What YOU seem popularity to have failed 70 ap.
prcciete was that when that war began there was
an Emperor and King and batch Of petty
princes who, whatever laws might prevail, were
all above the law. There was no man am 5ns
these forty millions Of Irenchmen aud forty
millions Of Germans within their dominons whom
they might not, il they chose, hang up by the
heels till he was dead incarccra,c, strip Of pro.
perry and deprive Of all power of rcnonstrance.
There is no getting over the broad fact that they
had The same power over Ill their subjects as
you may have over the dog cat or sheep that
belongs TO you, whatever considerations my
restrain them or you from Gagrantly abusing IT,
On the other hrud, was Il group Of constitutional
monlrchics framed more or less after the model
of Great Britain, and Of which the subjects, if
not enjoying the desirable measure of liberty
which you do, are protected in their lives, pro-
perry, expression of opinion, and right of remon.
STRANGE, by laws which are above the sovereign
and his agents, and which representative Assem-.
blics vindicatc and en- orce. | mean II Hand,
Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, and Italy.
Belgium indeed has only cujoycd independence or
been consolidated into nation for forty years
We rose j, IS true, a: tbs same time Us the lloi-
hndcrs against the tyranny Of Spain, and were
subdned AFTER a gallant struggle. We had out
Horn, our Elmont and o long array Of martyrs.
We had not, like tho lIollandcrs, the Businesses
Of their marshes, and t."ir greet Princes o.
Orange. We have been an iudcpondcut nation
not quit h.lf. long ~ YOU in the Unt.d States,
but the llollan9crs were a nation free and indie
pendent more than century and halt before
you.
But his I, now tie difference in our re-
spcc'yc situations; The Dutch in case Of need
can inrnduc their country aud dive, 80 10 sly.
Ike duck or an otter and have tau, twice in
their history successfully resisted the combined
power Of Great Britain and France. They have
maritime strength, and derive wealth from their
commerce with twenty or thirty millions of sub.
jccts IN their eastern colonies. We have only
artificial offences Tho recent siege Of Stras.
bourg shows the futity Of masonry against
missiles from modern rincd cannon; and we
are liable to be overun by acJiossil neishblr
before We can help ourselves, or before help eau
reach vs., Hence our natural and keen solicitudc.
If you will take the trouble to follow our history
for the forty wears Of our independence, YOU viii
find that We have maintained and enlarged the
Liberties we acquired, We have sheltered the OPP.
pressed, we nave gi'on free scope to opinion, and
we have advanced materially and Intellectually in
double the ratio Of c.'her our French or Plui.
sian or German ncighbors.
In these PrussiGns and Germans. 20 whom God
grant that republican forms and unity anl pros.
periiy may come, we have, however, but limited
faith, because, with all the vat elaboration uf
thought among them, they never have enjoyed
heedom or been exempt from absolute rule Cor
SIX weeks together; aud we have not failed to
note how easily the liberal sentiment Of the
masses has been cjolcd by their princes into
completely with the oppression ofPrussan Poland,
or OF Italy, or into crusade against little Den.
mark, Yet your Transatlantic sympathies seem
always Ia be for the powerful and huge, however