The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-24
BRITISH PUBLIC OPINION.
The Pride Of the New Empire and The Mis-
taken Homage Paid II.

Tne rumor tnat comes BY cable 70 the eject that
Prince Bismarck has sent note TO Luxembourg
similar 10 that addressed 70 Belgium cannot fail
TO add considerably TO the fears entertained as TO
the continuance or harmony among the great
Powers or Europe. The Belgian question Is far
from being settled and Notwithstanding the state
ment recently made by Earl Derby in the House
OF Lords on the authority or the German Minister
In London that the second note OF the Chancellor
would be couched in a friendly Spirit Il Is now
known tnat the despatch sent 70 Brussels April
20 inst was as peremptory as ever IN requiring
an alteration 81 Belgian laws TO SUIT the Imperial
Chancellor. " is also reported that Austria ana.
Russia VIII support him In his demands Now,
the real great Power that IS deeply and vitaly
interested, or, it even might be said menaced IN
this matter Is Great Britain, who, on the
present occasion, as far as the press ana peo-
pie are concerned. has promptly and boldly
taken up the cudgels in defence Of the guaranteed
Independence and eutrality OF the threatened
little kingdom. The three matters complained Of
by Germany IL may be well 10 STATE, are that GER
tain Belgian bishops sent addresses or sympathy
20 the German bishops; OF an inadequate prosecu-
ton OF parties In pncated II the alleged plot 70
assassinate Prince Bismarck. and OF recen. al
dress by a society Of Pontincal monks 10 the
Bishop OF Paderborn. Belgium rsped IN spirited
and LOFTY tone and, as far as the Duchesne matter
was concerned, cited the fact that Won Balen, the
German Minister at Brussels IN 1879. was cogni-
zant OF the whole course OF the oriclal invesrga-
tlon into the alleged conspiracy and even took
part in it without any representations being made
then oy Germany to Belgium.
THE GERMAN DEMANDS
Tne leading English papers quotations nom
which are giyen below consider the demands or
Germany most unreasonable, and intimate tnat,
. np wis for
the latter Power ito keep herself to ner-
sell" Il i inumated now that English
safety IS ia some sort or way placed IN
question; shat hardly week passes that unquier-
ness il not caused oy Prince Bismarck. one day
on GOOD authority II j. said that the German rep
resenfative ~ Rome mas been drawing the atteu-
ton Of the government 81 Italy 70 TIE inconven-
fences resulting irom narD0ring the Pope; next
demand Is made Austria for the rendition 81
Bavariaa e9itor political l1etlye, who had been
imprisoned tor attaching the Chancellor, and VINO
mad escaped mo tEe neghooring Empire; soon
after = senii-oricial Journal declares nat with
France was inevitable. and that the Republic was
seeking Austr0Itallau alliance, and lastly tnat
German troops were being concentrated On the
frontiers OF Holland. Tnis brings Is back 70 the
teegraphic report that threatening note has
been sent % Luxembourg, which means, IS vii Be
seen, attack "a t1e Netherlands.
rHz CRAsD DUcHY % LUxEMErRG.
Luxembourg. that IS now once more brougnt
prominently iorwlrd y tns German Chancellor
% the angry neId 81 European politics, a5Joins
france ans lies directly soutn 81 Begun. from
watch Il WIS ii ls5s dn2ly detached and made
dependency Of Holland, Win the King o. that
country II Grand Duke. me population = about
10000. WHO are ne2riy Al catholics. Many OF the
clergymcn wno went into exile from Germany
found refuge IN Luxen0urg, AID Il seems tne
MEMBRANES arc now, IKE Belslum, 70 Dc called
70 account ID 1867 tie late Napoleon entered
into secret neg0tlau - with TIE Dutch govern
rnent Tor is purchase, and "a arrange ment w0uid
have Deen arrived AZ we're It not that TIE North
German Confederation AMI tie south German
states notified france that the transfer woud be
resisted oy arms. War al TIE tine was considered
imminent Il vas avoided. however, b. the
parties Interested, including Great Britain. enter
ing into ) treaty BY when l. vas guaranteed that
the Grand Du1ny vas 70 remain vita the house Or
Nassau-Urange and form forever = neutral state,
under the protection u al the slg1ers of the H.
strumenL me rrussian troops were WITHDRAWN,
and the fortress RACED villa the condition tnat IL
was never to be restored. Luxembourg was con-
stltuted In 1915 = member Of tue German Confed-
GRAFTON. ana this il . measure accounts Tor Bs-
marck's latest threatening demonsIraton against
tie dlmlnutIve state.
THE KINGDOM o. BELGIUM
Afew words relative 10 the thrifty ana prosper
Gus Kingdom or Belgium Will serve 70 show ner
position 10 the European family 81 nations. United
win Holland NJ 70 1890 BelSium n tlai year. 81
successful revolution, In Ehich she was aided ~
france and England, established her indepen.
dence. a vas not until nine years later tnas
peace vas finally and lrmly concluded with Hol-
land. In The mean time Leopold, Or saxe-CoburE
whose nrst vie was daughter o. George IN. 81
England, and who alter ner desfh, married again
q daughter Or Louis Philippe, was chosen mon
arcn OF the new state. The treaty recognizing
toe lndepenGercs o. Belgium was signed In Lon
con III 1901. Tie parties 10 II were France. Great
Britain Russia. Austria aad Prussia. II was or
considerable detail, and defined the provinces
tnatwere To constitute sne kingdom. Il was pro-
vided thai Il was 70 T. an Independent and per.
fecty neutra STATE, ana she vas bound 70 observe
suca neutrality toward other states. Belgium,
being Catnonc ana 70 2 great extent French, was
coveted ~ France, which Il adJons, but both
EngIand and the German stasss have been ana
are now analterapy opposed 20 any change Of
government England held ibis position on the
principle II selfprotectlon; but Prussia, Ike
France desired 70 acquire me Belgian terrItory
IMPORTANCE oF ANTWERP.
The geographical position Or Antwerp, the chief
port o. Belgium gives il an importance so ar
rs England i concerned tnat cannot Bs TOO hgsy
estimated. Ia possession Or 4 powerful country
ike France OF Germany Il would be q continual
menace 10 Great Britain IN fsct TIE FIRST Napo.
leon declared that Antwerp 3 pistol snot AZ
the head 81 E1giand.o Since the time the In.
peror projected al invasion oi EGfland the city
mas greatly increased la value 10 a military sen k.
The water Is deep from the sea 20 Antwerp and q
formidable 6eet could nov be easily collected
there wnic1. with no force % land 70 assail them.
nilqbr be prepared, a. in lOfmer war. 10 cross
go