Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-21

Another diplomatic note has been for
warded to Brussels, announcing that
Germany is about to enact new laws
for the better protection of foreign
countries against the intrigues of Ger
man subjects. and asking Belgium to
initiate the example by enacting SINH
lar laws to restrain those witkn her
dominion. Bismarck writes suavely;
''The Belgian government is best
aware Of the parliamentary diff.
culties in the way of compliance,
but it must at the same time be con-
WINGED that the first thing to be done
Is to reconsider the necessity of afford.
ing some redress, whereas the examina.
ton Of difficulties is Of secondary i'm.
pOrtance." Germany here talks like
one who has been hurt by her little
neighbor, and is entitled to redress"
If the present liberal constitution
which makes Belgium a neutral terri
tory where all political sinners find
refuge, does not permit the enactment
of the laws demanded, Bismarck's logic
is that the constitution must be altered
to suit his purposes. An this, in the
name of peace! An impartial Obser-
yer would be disposed to think that if
the promised German law be so framed
as to protect foreign countries against
the intrigues Of one German subject,
namely, Bismarck, the peaceof Europe
would be amply assured. But we for
get; Bismarck, being a Prince, may
not consider himself a subject, and the
world recalls the p%roverb, Put not your
trust in Princes.
Mondays issue Of the National
Gazette, published at Berlin, states that
Austria and Russia viii support Ger
many in her demand on Belgium. This
is Of course premature; Russia might
do SO, for her own gain; but Austria
VIII not eat Dirt till driven. Neverthe-
less, the situation is sufficiently alarm
ing to have occupied the attention Of
both houses of the British Parliament
Monday night. In the Commons Pre-
mier Disraeli stated that so long ago
as January, 1870, Bismarck had sug-
gested that England should join Prus-
STA in a strong remOnstrance to Bel
GUM against the conspiracies Of Ultra
montana and Jesuit refugees to mar
the peace of Germany. We have no
reason to doubt Disraei's statement,
but if Bismarck's Belgian bugaboo be
of such long standing he ought to get
over his scare by this time. All the
plots Of Ultramontanes and Jesuits in
January, 1870, did not prevent the
Catholic soldiers Of Bavaria and other
Southern States from doing their full
duty at Weissembourg, Gravelott and
many a bloody field in July Of the same
year. Earl Granville followed Disraeli
with the expression Of a hope that Bis
marck would not press Belgium to go
beyond the limits Of her constitution.
In the House Of Lords Earl Russell
asked whether the Prusso- Belgian cor
respondence had been terminated, and
whether the peace Of Europe was en-
dangered. Lord Derby replied that,
while be had the assurance Of the Ger
man E~mbassador that this second note
was conceived in a very friendly spirit,
yet it would be premature to express
an opinion on the merits Of the ques-
ton, as England had not been formal
ly applied to-" This would indicate
that England.proposes to let Bismarck
do his own thinking until such time as
he may come to her for advice. After
such an avowal, Derby's assurance
that 'tbe British Government values
the independence of Belgium and the
peace Of Europe, but is happy to
think neither is in danger amounts
to little. The simple situation is hat
Bismarck can precipitate a general
war whenever he p~leases, and whether
it be near or distant be will pick his
own time.