The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-07
ULLUIUT IIIU ULIIIIlII /,
The Politicians Who Make
War.
TILE PEOPLE WHO FEEL IT.
Attitude Of the Belgian Liberals
Toward Bismarck.
Liberals
THE ELEMENTS OF WAR.
Belgian Troops Weary Of In
profitable Peace.

more tnan 4 source Or pleaSura6!e interest and
the attest news merely an agreeable excitement
at breakfast time, when the papers come IN. on
the Continent OF Europe, again, it Il the oungers
Mt the cafes 81 tue great capitals who manufacture
diplomatic complications, or, at least, frequently
invest them with an importance they never
originally possessed. These gentlemen would not
probably suffer much IN the event Of war OF revo-
lutton-possbly the evening glass OF ansinthe
might become couple OF cents dearer. No more
serious calamity would be likely 10 befall them.
Notwithstanding the recoectIons OF 1870, capitals
seldom know the horrors OF war; and Paris
herself may be considered 10 have been lenienty
treated, when the ate OF Strasburg OF Gaeta and
OF SeOastcpol IL remembered
But there is another class or men who lay no
claim TO the IN tellectual rank OF politicians and
set whose views really worth more thaE all
the orations OF parlianlents and congresses put
togetner Any body may have seen shoemaker
eoquently proving 20 an unfortunate customer
that a tight boot fts him admirably. The shoe
maker IS not to wear the boot himself and his
rhetoric has far other ends in view than the
and happiness OF another man. so II Is with the
statesmen and with the peasantry OF a country,
especially the peasantry or the frontier. The
peasantry have TO wear the boot the statesmen
have only to talk about It. When 1t Is said that
the Prusso-Belgian question has caused "a lively
emotionn at Brussels the statement may or may
not be true. 1t is, however. perfectly certain
that Waloon farmers ana the petty shopkeepers
u Nerviers and l.lege. o. spa and Arlon, on the
eastern frontier, read the first accounts OF the
difficulty with very gloomy faces as they sat over
their iambic or faro. For them war would mean
instant military occupation by a hostile force,
heavy acquisitions, the shooting OF priests
and the burning OF homesteads on the slightest
Misunderstanding on the other hand the
oorderers-oi a certain degree OF intelligence and
understsndlng-are naturally more cosmopolitan
than the rest OF their compatrlots. An innaptant
af Welkeuraedt In Belgium, speaks very much
The same language as his neighbor in Welkeuraedt
N Prussia. few miles on. His habits are similar,
md he wishes for nothing better than to trade IN
peace; and II only that troublesome custom house
IN the frontier could be removed al the better.
AnnexatonS Well what is the harm or apnexa-
honf
visit to verviers revealed TO me something
Df this state Of feeling among the middle and
lower classes OF the frontier country. In ths
srain managed TO get into conversation with a
very intelligent Belgian gentleman, residing at
yerviers-a merchant as i understood-who gave
me the impression that commerce, tine innux OF
travellers and the spread OF knowledge are gradu-
ally sapping the strength Oh Belgian nationahsm,
or rather proyinciallsm. My friend was no enemy
20 what may be called "Fourth-oi-July sentiment"
or TO a rational feeling OF patriotism, ont he
seemed to think them little wasted on Belgian
independence, not 10 say Belgian isolation.
Though we were alone In the carriage he looked
round little nervousy before speaking out hts
mind, for there are toucny citizens even in this
little and 81 freedom, before whom II is dangerous
70 give expression to unpaatable truths. DouDly
treasured " the absence or listeners, be spoke
somewhat 10 this eGect:-'I beleve,n he said,
.there are many o. who, II we cared to own
IL. would frankly ayow that we should feel greater
pride at being citizens 81 tie French Republic Or
OF tne German Empire, aud we cannot help renest-
Ing that II the destiny 81 small states 70 be
sorbed into larger Ones Prussia has attracted to
herself the petty states OF Germany. Germany, or
possibly France, viii absorb us.r s.But,n inter-
posed you would not ike TO have your taxes
doubled or trebled, which would be the result OF
annexation 70 France ~ "France,n he rejoIned,
.would willingly guarantee Us certain fiscal ex-
symptoms. In fact, sne would be only too happy to
buy uz at any price. she would treat Belgium as
Germany Is now treating sace-Lorralne-pam-
pering and almost spelling her. Then, mon Dieu
twin snrug or the snouldersl, France NAV
not always be 50 burdeued. They say the Left
wish 70 repadiate the debt. II mas been done
be.ore.n "And may be done again. = ! observed.
"Then you see,n he proceeded, "even n we we're
more taxed II rough union with France we should
stlll gain from pecuniary point " view BY the
removal or commercial barriers At present we
cannot send goods for few miles In any direc-
tion without stumD Ing upon our own boundary
and being met by export OF import duties. Trade
Il hopelessly crippled uuder such conditions.
Union with France woud Il We us larger markets
and elbow room.n
noticed that Il was always France" with my
worthy acquain lance. the idea Or closer a.
lance VITA Germany did not present Itself to his
mind under equally favorable aspects. TIE c9un-
trymen Of Prince Bismarck are not popular here;
or, perhaps It would BE- more correct to say That
the people sympatnizs vita tho French, whose
language and many or whose manners
and customs they have adopted. i l. az
uncoubted fact that - iar back A. ia
The war o. 1915 the sJmpathies q the Belgian
population we're on the side 81 me French, a.
though Belgian legion was serving Jnder me
Duke OF Wellington Even unser tie Second En-
pife. which was q standing menace 70 belgian, i
was tue despot:sm o. Lous Napoleon rather than
union with France that was cared - Brussels.
The late war turned a food Or French emigrants
upon Belgium ana increased the feeling Of mutual
good will between the TWO countries.
The gentleman with whom conversed belonged
70 the higher type o. middle class society
IN Belgium. he was IN tact true representative
Dr. tne ''Tiers Etatn when ultimately forms the
,pinion or a nation. As be thinss, the rest q his
conntumen VIII probably eBd oy thinking. Local
opinion IN ververs, as lar as could gather, cared
very little about the rights or the Prusso. Belgian
question, but entertained the strongest aversion
% the threatened presencs u aregiment Or uhlans
q the nourshlng lt.e town, which IL 80 busy
manufacturing clotn.
Opinion on 'tue southern frontterr closely re-
Icmbles opinionon the eastern or German frontier;
though Ia the famous ola town n Mons found q
strong autiFrsncn feeling which did not surprise
me- considering tho pnft Mons las played In the
wars Or kurope irvn The days Of Louis XIV. ID
the days OF Napoleon. mo people ot Mons have
never forgiven inc capture 81 tho once maiden
city BY the armies 81 the Grand Monarch. IL may
be dinlcult % believe "a tho existence 81 sucn i
sentiment, yet Its reality Il unquestlonahie,
though il Is only fair to ada that i has been To-.
tered and kept alive ~ subsequent events. Il Is