The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-25
A Contradiction and It's Worth.

telegram recently appeared in the col
umns Of the HERALD which limited at the pos
sibility Of an understanding between Prince
Bismarck and the liberal party in Belgium.
As might have been expected emphatic de-
malls" followed from Brussels and Berlin for
it is curious phenomenon of human nature
that persons who are charged with doubtful
transactions invariably protest their limo
cence and exhibit a maize surprise that their
asseverations are not always accepted as de-
csive. They next resort to o time-honored
legal maxim If you have nothing to say for
yourself abuse the plaintiffs attorney
Thus the Independence Beige abandons itself
to the widest inyective, and appears to con
slider that it has thus retuted the statement
contained in the HERALD.
There is we'll known saying about abuse
not being argument; and sad experience
has demonstrated that man may steal
a silver spoon at q club and burst
into a paroxysm Of rage when accused
OF the THEFT. Our contemporary, however
is probably in the right and, doubtless,
there is at the present moment no prospect
whatever of an alliance between the German
Chancellor and the Belgian liberals. A boy
was once detected by farmer climbing over
his orchard wall, when the boy "emphatically
denied" that he had taken any of the farmers
apples. This was perfectly true; for, whatever
dark designs the boy may have cher
lshed in regard to the fruit secrecy
OF execution was an indispensable con-
dition OF their success. The information
furnished to the HERALD came, as it is need
less to remark, from trustworthy source, but
it Is quite possible that its publication may
have materially altered the plans Of those
whom it concerned. The violence of tho
Belgian denial will not have escaped the notice
Of impartial observers, who will probably
draw their own conclusions. Prince Bis
marck contents himself with q simple plea
the state Of the case tho Emperor
Williams Minister can scarcely be blamed
for serving his Sovereign by every
means in his power. He who sold his coun-
try tor 0 trifing consideration was not held to
have acted honorably, but the purchasers
ent kind With that delightful frankness
which characterizes ths Prince he has con-
fessed in Parliament to q wholesale bribery of
the European press. Nor is it altogether be-
yond the bounds Of credIbility that he might
have aspired to influence (by perfectly honor
able means, of course) even such august
personages as members of the Belgian Cham
Der of Deputies.
For the rest we are unable to set moro than
a slight value upon official contradictions by
the German Chancellor. 1t is within the
memory Of men still living that the London
Times printed an account OF on interview be-
tween the Emperor Napoleon Ill and the
King Of Prussia, which an inspired telegram
forthwith declared to be without any founda-
ton whatsoever" Unfortunately it turned out
that the Crown Prince himself was the author
of the narrative III question, and that he had
been an ocular witness of the interview
Either, therefore, Prince Bismarcks denial
was i'll considered or-one hardly likes to state
the alternative. After all, the indignation which
the Belgian liberals deem il necessary to affect
is little strained. History has often shown
that the ties Of religion and Of party are
stronger than those Of country. During the
Peloponnesian war the oiigarchical party in
Athens held secret communications with
Sparta. In later age tho Huguenots of
France introduced German mercenaries into
their native land for the subjugation of
their Catholic fellow citizens. In the
last century 50 pure-minded a statesman
az Fox could rejoice in the triumph
of the American arms and the temporary
humiliation Of the British name. And, finally,
M. de LAyeleye, the ablest Of Belgian
publcists, has openly avowed his regret at
the establishment Of Belgian Independence in
1880. lie would have preferred that his
country should have remained under the yoke
of Protestant Holland. Had our statement
been merely q guess, instead Of well
authenticated intelligence it would have
aimed very near to the truth.