New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-07

not to oOpfine himself to a vindication OF bis
administration in Paris. He was planning an
election to the Parliament of Germany In
order to make more effective opposition to
the policy of Prince Bismarck. II was evident
that an enemy so able and energetic was not
to be despised. The only difficulty in free
country would have been to seek some excuse
to prevent his entering upon this offensive
campaign. But the Cabinet Of Berlin is not
embarrassed by any such scruples. The fact
that the late ambassador had preserved his
correspondence with the Chancellor and pro-
posed to make use Of it in the interest Of the OPP
position, was enough to justify the most prompt
and effective measures. In some quarters it is
stated that judicial DEGREES were the fOunda-
ton Of the steps just taken, but in Others they
are represented as purely administrative pro-
ceedings. 1t is reported that two employees of
the Foreign Office, accompanied by four Berlin
policemen, appeared on Sunday last at Count
Won Arnim's place in the country and demanded
the surrender of the ambassadors correspond
ence with Prince Bismarck. This was naturally
refused, and the Count was arrested and
placed in confinement in Berlin.
1t ia not possible but that this action will
occasion great deal of excitement throughout
the Empire. Certainly no such breeze was
needed to fan the flame of excitement among
the Catholic subjects of the Emperor William
The attempt TO suppress religion by force
has already created enough public feeling
The Catholics will naturally take the arrest OF
Count Won Arnim to mean that any one who
opposes the arbitrary course of the Chancellor
is subject to the visitatiOns of despotic
power. This conviction has always been
the most powerful ally of every spe-
cies of religious fanaticism. Only persuade
fanatic that if he persists in his peculiar
ideas of worship he will go to Jail for it, and
you will do more to confirm him in his faith
than any number of doctors of divinity could
accomplish. The Count Won Arnim, If he had
been left at liberty, might have been called a
sOrehead, malcontent. But in jail he is
martyr. and his papers, if they ever appear,
will derive tenfold power against the Govern
ment from the pains which have been taken
to suppress them.
1t would be rash, at this distance, to say
that politician and diplomat so able and so
sagaciOus as Prince Bismarck does not know
the proper course to pursue with his own
cOuntrymen. 1t may be true, as the French
writer's have asserted, that the moral of the
war of 1870 is that men are more easily gov
erned by slapping their faces than by appeal
ing to their sentiments of right and dig
nifty. According to our AnglO-Saxon ideas
it would certainly be advisable, at mo-
ment when Germany is challenging England
and Russia by her energetic measures in
Schleswig- Holstein. to endeavOr rather to con-
ciliate than to exasperate sore and angry
public opinion within her own borders. The
arrest of Count Won Arnim does not appear to
be a step in that direction. But the expert
ence of the last ten years warns us to wait
the result before we decide that Prince Bis
marck has made a mistake.