The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-20

GUM will find q new illustration in the very
important cable despatch which We print this
morning. There has been an impression,
largely gathered from the tone of the CONT
mental newspapers, that these notes of Ger
many to Belgium have been harmless commu-
nications in the interest of peace and comfy.
In the latest Germany calls upon Belgium to
revise her laws so that her territory shall not
be used as basis of war upon friendly Pow
ers. We do not know how far any Belgians
have declared war upon Power as friendly
as Germany, but it seems that there has been
plot or conspiracy against Bismarck-a
Jesuit ultramontane plot The health and
safety Of the great statesman would
appear to be the aim of modern
German diplomacy, as we find that
Bavarian editors are arrested in Austria and
returned to German justice for hbelling the
Chancellor If Belgium or Austria were really
menacing Germany we could comprehend the
rigor of Bismarck. But no one for a moment
supposes that the arrest of the Bavarian
editors or the harsh demand upon Belgium do
not represent deeper purpose than appears
on the surface.
Take the demand made by Germany in its
lghtest sense and what is it? Let US sup
pose that after the st. Adams raid, when
armed rebels invaded Vermont from Canadian
soil, the United States had addressed note
to England in the terms of this Ger
man note to Belgium, what would have
case against England thousand fold more
important than that Of Germany against
Belgium. Our soil had been invaded. Our
citizens had been killed and their homes
destroyed. Property Of great value had been
carried away. A plot had been matured for
the assassination Of Lincoln, which in time sue
ceeded The men who did these deeds rode
to Canada in open day and were discharged
I by Canadian judge. When an American
general threatened 10 pursue them, should
they repeat the offence, his order was recalled
and an apology made to Great Britain. No
one believed that we did not deal with
England in the highest spirit of international
! law. England herself showed similar case
during the time Of Napoleon III. After the
failure of the Orsini plot to destroy him, and
the escape of some of Orsinis confed-
crates to England, a demand was made
by Napoleon for their return. Lord
Palmerston was in power. He had had
close relations with the Emperor and was anx-
ious to oblge him. He was the undisputed
master of the House Of Commons and the gov
eminent. He was in the flower of his singu-
lar popularity. 1t seemed as if he could do
what he willed with England. He had driven
II L III.
and what was easier than to modify the laws
Of the Empire to prevent it from becoming
the refuge OF conspirators against the peace
and fortune of Napoleon? But this matchless
Englishman, who had fathomed every phase
of his countrymen's character, found out that
he had Numbered. Even Palmerston could
not touch the right Of asylum to oblige an
Emperor Of the French. He was beaten in
his own House Of Commons and driven out Of
power.
The demand, therefore, which England re-
fused to France and America, Germany virtu-
ally makes upon Belgium No one will doubt,
We think, that England was right in protecting
the integrity of her soil and the sanctity of
her laws. No one knows better than Bismarck
that what was right for England cannot be
wrong for Belgium that what great Power
did with the applause Of the world, small,
modest, harmless power like Belgium must
necessarily do. Why, then, address this note
TO Belgium when he could have done SO to
Russia or England We except France,
because he has been addressing that patient
country in the Hottest and most
insolent style since Sedan. The reason
is that he means to make Belgium an example.
President Lincoln was wont to say whenever
the war Congress would pass an unusually
radical bill that it would be tried upon the
District of Columbia as an experiment. and
afterward, if need be, upon the country at
large Bismarck would seem to be dealing
with Belgium in the same manner. He tries
diplomatic experiments upon it, and can thus
Judge Of their probable effect upon Europe.
Belgium is a safe country to tease. France
cannot defend it England will not, unless
driven to it by q public opinion which
already looks kindly upon Bismarck
as the enemy Of the Pope and the
defender Of Professionalism. This religious
controversy has given Bismarck party in
England which will defend him if he takes
Belgium and Holland in the bargain. May
it not be test Of the fealty Of England to the
tradition that Belgium independence is Eng
lands duty? In this light we can understand
the meaning Of the German note. Nothing
would be more important TO Bismarck than
the exact attitude Of England in the event Of
that general war he has been expecting and
predicting since the battle Of Sedan. Great
Britain is the party really addressed in these
notes to Belgium, and the peace Of Europe
viii more largely depend upon the response
made by England to their letter and spirit