The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-07
THE BELGIAN LIBERALS.


BRUSSELS, April %, 1875.
The general sympathy OF Europe, perhaps an
unreasoning thing, but nevertheless strong
one has been with Belgium during her recent
diplomatic strife with Germany. Prince Bismarck
has many warm admirers among the Belglans,
who like oil quiet people, look up with mingled
love and wonder TO the strong Moreover, the
great Chancellor has been fighting tue battle or
the liberal party IN Belgum-t1at party which IS
opposed to the Catholic Church. and which IS now
In opposition, with M. Frere oroan, the abest
parliamentary tactitan III Belgium. at It's head.
But the liberals DO want their battle fought in
this rough manner, and are crying out, "Softly,
my Prince, you are not going the right way to
WORK Leave these black robed mummers alone.
DO not make martyrs OF them as you are doing.
You cannot persist In worrying clergymen who
have many friends without expecting those
friends 10 take their part Leave them alone, We
say."
They might as well advise the QucKslv er in
barometer 10 be still Prince Bismarck 70 be
quiet and, therefore. he continues TO ask that the
Belgian government-at present representing the
Church party-shall bride tue tongues and fetIer
the pens OF prosecuted foreign priesthood who
have been deprived or their benedces and driven
into exile here 1--WE cannot do this thIng,' re-
plies the Belgian government, potely-England
asserting in the background, with an encourag-
ing nod-"our laws viii not permit us 10 restrain
free speech or free writing.m "By no means,n as
sents England; this time win demure lock.
not quite 50 cordial
II DO not ask you TO touch the liberty OF your
press or your public takers replies Prince Bis
marck, with dry humor; Il merely think that you
can and that you ought 10 prevent government
officers in your country from openly conspiring
against my policy, aud even against my life, ana
from ialsiiyng my motives, as well rs olacgening
my character. The Catholic clergy IN Belgium
are public functionartes. You can, therefore, con-
troll them.r
..Not SO, my PrInce,u answers Belgium; "our
constitution gives US no power TO mix directly
indirectly VITA Church affairs. We have not even
a concordat with the Holy see. The Pope APP
points our bishops, and the bishops only can in1u-
ence the Inferior clergy.p
.Poohn cries the great Chancellor In bis rude
way being accustomed 10 use summary methods
win parsons; you pay the Catholic clergy II tney
viii not obey you, you can take away their sti-
pends.n
1--WE crave your pardon. my Prince,n responds
Belgium 'the stipends which we pay the Catno-
tic clergy are not IN the nature OF salaries from
the puOlc purse, Ievocabe az pleasure. on the
contrary, they have q vested right in them. Amer
Cnurch property in Belgium nad been condscated
a conversation was awarded BY law 70 the
Catholic priesthood, and we are legally bound TO
pay IL. our constitution Is very explicit on this
point"
"stuf.r whispers Prince Bismarck. moduia:ing
that LOUD voice OF his little, alter consultation
with a learned friend or two; ayour scruples are
mere moonshine In water; We had them once in
Germany, and they gave my predecessors a vast
deal OF trouble. II your laws are not strong
enough 10 protect you from getting INTO mischief
with me. make new laws which Will be strong
enough"
"Anr says Belgium, obviously, and there the
matter rests, with Prince Bismarck glumly
watching the situation, tn Belgium shall venture
to maze her utterances plain.
This Is not easy task at the present writing.
Prince BismarcEs attitude toward tue catholic
church Is sulen and menaClng. he insists that al
the nghung shall be bis side, all the hard words,
all the gain, ali the excitement aud pleasure d the
game. Two must not play al u. lie wishes -
strike the Catholics and 70 nave things 50 man
aged tRas the Catholics shall not deienG them
selves. Eagland, Austria, France and Italy would
Ike 70 see Tie game PLACED out on other terms
RUSSIA pretends 70 consider the whole question as
unworthy oi ner attention hlgh-hanGed FAC
tics when saves argument wnen the wary CAB net
or It. Petersburg mas none to oncr. II may always
he observed wnen Russia Is dolng or ABOUT . DO
anything sly. Among her supporters howeye-,
Bclgllm can only really count upon England, and
up0a her only with reservations. England could
net send a large contingent 70 Belgium, while pro-
tecunE Ter own interests during a European war;
and n Belgium we're seriously attacked, she would
have ner hands iulL There i q strong probability
that Prince Bismarck viii. indeed, allow the res
ent quarrel 70 end without decided actlon Ga MS
part. but he evidently storing up ser.es pr
Complaints against Belgium for future use.
BY ana BY, perhaps verT shortly. we snlil
see what nc means to a. win them.
Germany j. Al this moment so completely pre-
pared for Ia Europe that the Chancellor i
anxious 20 a. Whatever Is 10 be done for the
aggrandlzement Or security Of the Empire a. soon
al possible. Now Russia - friendly; 4 lev years
hence. under new empire sic may lie hostile to
Germany NOW France and Austria are Do;h
smartIng under defeat aud powercss, without
armies aud without allies, few years hence
both Frsnce and Austria may be more formidable.
Now Enelana i without allies and strongly disln.
cnned to enter upon wars rom wnica she has
everything % lose ana nothing 70 gam. The Eng.
in queen las German ympathies; ieN years
hense q Danish princess may snare tho throne, OF
a pri1ce whose blood i nai. D1nisn may oil H.
Eow Germany has Bismarck MOItxe, Room and
Prince Frederick Charles 70 guiue her On 70 VIC
iory 4 lew years hence her most consrmmate
captains may Be deal, and Tie warllko old King
gone too, having given place 70 ! successor Or
limited energy ana ambition.
The real question Ysiore tie world is not
whether there viii be war IN Europe, but how
soon u Will break out and whero L viii com fence
and waat OBJECTS Will prebabiy be Obtained by IL
The answer ~ tAls question u not tnAt when II