The New York herald., 1874-12-03
Mr.. Disr..ii ON HIS Knees.

Mr.. Disraelf ON His Knees.
Mr.. Disraeli. the English Prime Minister,
took occasion in recent speech at the ban
quet of the Lord Mayor of London to gloriiy
the conservative party and dwell upon the
justice and security of the English nation.
Among other things he said:-"The working
classes of this country have inherited per-
sonal rights which the nobility OF other
nations do not yet possess Their persons
and their homes are sacred They have no
fear of arbitrary arrests or domiciliary
visits.' These expressions were loudly
cheered and were understood to ex-
press to the audience Mr.. Disraeli's sat
isfaction that an English workingman could
not be treated as Count Arnim had been
treated in Germany. When they were coupled
with an unusually courteous reference to the
magnanimity and courtesy Of the French gov
ernment there could be only one belief
namely, that Mr.. Dsraei meant to publicly
and emphatically condemn the extraordinary
policy Of Bismarck. This was certainly the
feeling in Germany; for the journals, especi-
ally those inspired by the government imme-
diately resented the Prime Minister'S criticism
of Prussian liberty. Mr.. Disraeli In few
days communicated to the Times disclaimer
of this meaning in the following words:-
"An entirely unwarranted construction hav-
ing been. in some quarters, placed on the ex-
pressions used by the Prime Minister, at
Guildhall, on the subject of arbitrary arrests,
we are authorized to state that in making
those observations, the case of Count Arnim
was not present to his mind, for the sufficient
reason that the arrest Of Count Arnim was not
arbitrary, but in accordance with the laws Of
his country
This extraordinary act on the part of the
Prime Minister has excited grave discussion
The London Standard, the tory organ, re-
minds Mr.. Disraeli of the mischief of adopt
ing the foreign comuaniquK as q system novel
in practice and opposed to its nations Minis
terial etiquette "For," says the Standard.
with admirable force, 'if we once begin
smoothing down our phrases, in order to
please foreign Courts, where are we to stop?"
care the relations between Germany and Eng
land on so delicate footing that we are
bound to explain everything that appears to
the German mind to reflect on Count Arnim?
This is extending the Bismarck system
in England and making Bismarck the director
of public opinion in England as in Germany"
The official German Gazette says, in tone
men, that all those desirous of preventing
misunderstanding between England and
Germany must be gratifed with the eyplana-
ton given by Mr.. Disraeli" The London
Times, in an elaborate leader, endeavors to
accept Disraeli's explanation and says :-"It
is not gracious to reduce to very exact pro-
portions the grains of solid meaning which SO
great an artist SO easily beats up into vast and
swelling periods" John Lemoinne, the
famous writer of the Journal des Debats, and
who, more than any French journalist, seems
to be acquainted with English affairs, makes
an angry comment on Mr.. Disrael's explana-
ton, regarding it Gas a very humble excuse
from the first Minister of England to the first
Minister of Prussia" and that, to his mind, it
is evident that ''the placing of Europe in q
state Of siege is making progress" Mr.. Le-
moinne intimates that Mr.. Disraeli, who waited
eight days before his disavowal must have
been compelled to do SO by q hint from the
Queen or ''disagreeable communication from
Berlin" "Wtat is most apparent in this in
cident," says Lemoinne, sis that the classical
land of liberty has, in its turn, been invaded.
The first Minister of England can no longer
speak without submitting to and mourning
censure from Berlin"
This incident will hardly pass without fur
ther discussion. Lord Palmerston was driven
from power because it was felt he was under
the influence Of Napoleon, and this at time
when he was as powerful Minister as Dis
raeli is to-day. Whether England, however,
will be as sensitive to German influence as it
has been to the influence Of the French is q
question. We must remember that England
is governed by German family, by q Queen
and royal princes who have as much interest
in Germany as they have in Great Britain.
But it is not pleasant to see an English Minis
ter on his knees before foreign Power.