The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-11-24
A FAMOUS QUARREL.


PRINCE bIsMARK.
The observer who wishes TO understand
the Arnim case will find il cxpedient to
pay very little attention TO the legal, and
pass at once TO the political, causes 1t
is true that the points Of law are not
without interest. They have not only an
interest 10 detail for jurists and public
officials. but they have also broader
constitutional interest, since they involve
such questions as personal freedom, public
trial by jury, the right of search and the
civil status service. IN general sense
the proceedings against the late ambassa-
dor have been iaultlessly regular. He is
charged with violating two articles Of the
criminal code OF Prussia, under which,
according to the present system, diploma.
tic servants of the empire must be tried /;
aud so many eyes are watching the case
that even scrvile judge would find it
dangerous to depart from strict legality.
There has been some outcry lest the court
order secret trial. and such course
would be stupidity impoltic but the
court has an undisputable legal right to
do SO, Where publicity is likely to af.
feet the interest of the state, the court
may in its discretion sit with closed doors,
says the law explicitly.
The last time that the right was cxer-
csed was 10 the case of DR.. Jacob, four
years ago. Jacobi is Konigsberg ply.
siciap. jew, and, like a good many of
his people in Germany. a man of brilliant
talents radical opinions and political
courage He was one of the few Prus.
slams who in 1871 called the forcibc an.
uexation of Alsace- Lorraine an outrage.
and publicly protested against it and he
was probably the only one who went TO
prison for his independence. After lying
in Jail some time he was brought to trial,
and was acquitted That is all that the
public or jacob could learn The latter
made formal application for the details of
the case. Of the charges against him, of
the evidence and Of the judgment in full,
but was steadily turned away. His prison
doors were opened, and that was his only
satisfaction. Things are not much better
to-day. Legal forms are of course OBJ
served, and legal forms are as minute and
precise in Prussia as elsewhere but they
leave great power in the hands of the
judges, who are the creatures of the gov
ernment, and as profound and original
defect they are not found on the sound
old Anglo. Saxon idea Of personal liberty.
The exact state of affairs, as far as the
courts are concerned, is as follows Count
Arnim is accused before the Stadtgcricht
Of Berlin Of certain offences, and, Oh the
order Of that conrt, now lies in prison
awaiting his trial. 10 the meantime, he
has entered before the Kammcrgericht
civil proce-s to have his righ. TO the papers
in dispute legally determined and this
form Of the case will probably first come
to trial II he win the civil suit the cri-
nina cue will have 10 be abandoned on
at least a part of the issue If he lose
the former and surrender the papers the
latter will doobiless he dropped out OF
state policy.
The political issue Of the case are not
only far graver in themselves, hut they
are beyond the jurisdiction of police
court They can be decided only by the
slow operation Of social forces. such as
parties and parliaments and they must
be studied with careful reference to the
characters Of the two chief personagcs
to the traditions of Prussian social life.
and to the mighty events of the past De.
cadc, As in all other conflicts of the
sort, sc in this the personal element is
m = int
fortune has made Prince Bismafk and
Count Won Arnim rivals; and compare.
tive analysis of the two men nould seen
to be preliminary step 10 nnv search for
the causes of their rivalry, Prince Bis.
maak. Of course. needs no description.
His robust personality has so long stretch.
ed up in the perspective Of European
politics that | may be spared an Gnu.
meration OF his vices and his virtues
His course in this case has proved at once
his holdness and his audacty neither Of
which was in want OF fresh proofs but
it throws no other light on his character.
Arnim is unlike Bismark ih nearly every
respect. His uaturo is different, his stud.
les were different his associations have
been deterrent his political views are diff.
fercnt Prince Bismark was born in
family Of rural JNnhers, he became
cuiraSsier, and he has never lost either
the narrow obstinacy OF Junker or the
staggering insolence Of cniraSSier. The
ancestors of Arnm we're indeed conssr-
vstives, but they were not Junkers. His
father bad no iower than eleven brothers,
and of these no fewer than Eve fell in the
battle of Waterloo. The father was an
obscure man and poor, Harry WIS a
bright, ambitious boy and he was adopt
ed, brought to Berlin and educated By
Heinrich vop Arnim, the so.called "Alarch
minister" Heinrich Won Arnim was
conservative, but at the same time q bit.
ter opponent of the ultra.reactionist party
at the head of which stood Man,enffe,
brother of the present marshal. He was
for short time at the head of transi.
ton cabinet, transition from liberal to
a Junker regime. Young Harry Won Ar.
MIN was then in his prime, and he seems
to have adopted the opinion of his guar.
dian. If he adopted his guardians moral
P''nNiie''' "u ~ i"oaPapIo vi Stealing pup
lilo documents, for Heinrich Won Arnim
was man of Puritnnic integrity, who
always maintained that diplomacy could
be successful without Intrigue or deceit.
| I his protege has now been guilty of
deceivlDg not only foreign politicians but
his own official superior, he hasforgotten
the lessons of one of the purest Of Prus-
sian statesmen.
| need not refer 10 his career at Rome.
The publication in the Vienna presse
shows not only that there has been grave
difference of opinion between Arnim and
lismark, but also, indeed, that tho 10, IA.
er showed repeatedly more sagaci,y than
the latter and this is for the friends Of
liismark a bitter truth. But the differ.