The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-24

| any lime, suitable Tor ms purpose The introduce
| ton OF steam and the improvements In the SCI
/ ence OF navigation have, however, changed mat
| ters. and former deiences can no longer be de-
| pended upon; but the great fact remains that
means or interfering with It's progress, and n able
20 raise hostile Meet might efTecs landing in
greatest OF BRUSH statesmen has declared that II
Belgium ceased TO be independent the extinction
OF England as great Power would soon iolew.
ESGLAHD's TREATY OBLIGATIONS
IL may be safely assumed That England would
not SHRINK from the performance OF her treaty oD-
legations IN the event OF Belgium being assalled.
In connection with vital interests England over
aud over again has declared that sue Is prepared
to defend Belgium ny obligations OF the most sacred
KIND, aud that under certain well understood con-
tingencles sue nad but one pata one course 70
pursue. The feeling OF tue English government
and people was maze very PLAIN on THIS point on
the occasion Of tue publication OF the secret treaty
alleged 10 have been entered INTO between Ben
edetu ana Bismarck on the breaking out OF the
Branco-German war. That was an agreement on
the part OF the German CHANCELLOR 90 consent TO
the transfer OF Belgium 20 France as compensa-
ton or neutrality IN the conflict with Austria that
ended at Sad0wa. Bismarck refused 20 comply with
his engagement wnen peace was restored. and IN
1870 rad tne document given TO the world in the
London Times The French government, however,
repudlated any responsibility IN tae premises.
However. there was q general uproar all over
England in reference 60 the matter. 1t was saia
that the thought Oh leaving Belgium a. 0ne IN case
OF necessity was not TO be considered for
moment. Inc main thug, IL was said both IN
o. assuring Belgium, Europe and the world that
England meant TO be faithful 10 her engagements
The question one between honor and many.
In snort, England began TO prepare for war and
the House OF Commons voted an increase 81 10000
men TO the army. the CRY was tnat I'VE cannot
stand by ana see Belgium attacked without max
ing her cause ours Inc matter was qnlcky
settled by a rlpartte treaty between England,
France and Germany guaranteeing the integrity
ana neutrality o. Belgium during the war ana lot
twelve months after the conclusion Of peace put
there were no alterations in former treaties az
iecang the independence OF the Kingdom
ENGLISH FEELING
London Journals oil recent dates discuss tnls
latest movement In German diplomacy, as might
be expected, as matter involving the grayest
consequences. No matter from wnat quarter Bel
gum may happen 10 be assaied ills the fixed
policy OF treat Britain 70 cast aside all reserve,
aud, regardless OF consequences, take the SIDE OF
the thrifty little Kingdom. The London Times
fully Endorses the tone ana reasoning OF the Bel
gan reply 10 Prince Bismarck and dWells upon
the fact that in England all expressions OF opinion
and action on rengious concerns even when ap-
preaching danger 70 the state, are not lnterlered
with for good reasons, ana that IN the United
States, where the Pope has millions OF followers
eminent fears no danger aud allows the fullest
liberty TO all rne Dalg Nelos iears that Bismarck
is playing the part OF bully toward Belgium, which
has had the sympathy OF civilized Europe IN her
plea that the Tree system she loved
sp s ana aes onand WITH iRp''s oende qs
oil mere intent, a. in other states. IL Is imposs-
bic, continues the Ne,es. that an independent
State, no matter now small should be compelled
70 abandon the essential conditions OF ner const-
tntlonal system merely because the too open
spoken opinions OF some OF her citizens happened
TaE PRIDE or POWERFUL NErGHBoR,
which, Tor all its strength and success was unable
70 bear IN patience whisper ol adverse criticism.
IL - TOO mucn TO expect that all considerations Of
ma i0na habits and OF INDIVIDUAL liberty should be
rated as OF secondary interest when they stand IT.
the way 81 tue present purposes OF the German
government ~ IS unreasonable 10 ask tnat the
waoie civilized world should constitute itself the
mere seconder and hacker or Prince Bismarck IN
his due with the Pope. ~ certain that no strong
STATE would think OF SO altering her domestic
laws as TO become mere police Tor the purpose Of
| arrestng al Prince BismarcK's enemies or sus-
pected enemies. The pressure, therefore, that Is
brought on Belgium seems peculiarly ungraceul.
All the addresses that are sent TO German ecce-
slastlcal dignItarieH, whom Prince Bismarck does
not Ike, can hardly come rom behind the Belgian
frontiers lew must come from British territory
Including Irelandl and
ana other countries. Germany, II may he as
snmed, does not propose 70 snao all I've civilized
states 81 the word 10 turn, and 20 call upon them
al 20 shape their domestic laws 50 a. to prevent
eyll-disposed persons from giving comfort 20 ner
ecclesiastical enemies. Il Is The position 81 Bel
GUM, coupled with her lack OF strength, that
prngs Oh hgr these lectures, remonstranees and
ratings. Inc German complaints on The lace OF
them seem to be protests against the freeEOm or
TIE Belgian constitutional system, ana they are
uttered 10 a tone when r. not likely says tue
Aegrs, In conclusion 10 win FOR the complaining
party the generous sympathy Of Impartial Europe.
Iae Spectator taiks more plainly, though not as
DO.Qy n aud other journals ala IN 1870. But
tHen, II mast oe remembered, ;hat France ana
Prussia were ~ tlat time engaged IN death
struggle, and that Bismarck MAD not supplanted
Napoleon n the arDlterShIp Of Europe. Tue Spec
tdt0r remarks . a. the duly incumbent on an m
ant criticisms On the poncT u 10 neignoors, and
considers there mas been
10 WORSE OMEN FOR PEACE
N Europe silce tne war closed than the temper
dIspaYed IN raklnE up ol1 scores against a weak,
neutral state hse Belgium on the express ground
that neutrais owe more precautions. which means
more subseryiency 10 tnuI powerful neighbors,
th8n states WHICH 1gnt tleir own battles. 10
make lee0e DeutrAls trsmble az the nod OF mas
ter Is a symptom " Danger when no statesman
viii see without rcal anxle.v. In truth, SAYS tns
Spectator, there mas been too mucn homage paid
German AID ter Chancellor, VINO are now dis
piayIng the domlneering spirit 81 sudden success.
NJ state III Europe anOld fan u mark fndirectly,
AZ e4sg IT. dsapproval ~ tns sort OF nigh-nanded
~ land ~ he independence mo less tnan ne
neutrality Of BelTum-4n Independence which Is
Inc fnsistent Win 4ay attempt 70 govern II ~
notes rom Berln.
that the Influence sne has fairly earned IN Europe
Will n0t be increased Dut diminished by this uni
versa troubling 20 tue waters. Tne neutrality .
belXium : guarantee not chiefly FOR the sake Of
Belgium, Out Tor the sake 81 Europe, and unless
&C. many means new war she cannot 10 Oetter,
as ~ - regards ner gscendancy than - keep
herself 70 nerseh lnis last intimatiOn may be
taken a warning tnat Engand will not stand
am nonsense concerning Belgium, nor Will she IN
aGy event peace4Dy suomlt 70 Antwerp falling
INTO the hands q . possible enemy wHo would
tnen - really 10 position 70 Try results on Brit
ia sou aa0 make reality OF Colonel Hamiey's
Ecut0us Battle ~ DOrKlng.
10 p4laauon 81 me arbitrary course OF Prince
Bsm4rCk toward Re gum A. IL stated that The
KINGDOM nas become the refuge and headquarters
Of l-r1e numbers oi uitraIn0ntanes-exies rom
other c0unLrles-nany o. them possessing great
wealth. ana that they have succeeded In placing
In poser ministry and parliament OF tBeir own
way ~ thinking. But n IL be true tnat Germany
now proposes W deal with Holland IN reference 70
toe Grand Dacny ~ Laxembgrg she has dealt
aud persists In dealing with the neignbOrIGg
nation, tne justification offered in the one case
will not hold good IN the other, FOR the neither
lands are Protestant, aud there Is no pretence
that the governments there ~ under any Influences
specially hostile ~ the religious policy OF the
German Chancellor Holland. however IL not
less conslituuOnaiy ruled kingdom taan Bel
GUM, and, moreover, her geographical position
IL near u as equal importance 70 g. eag Britain
a. saat of the nrst small but inde pendent state
mat Bismarck attempts 70 dictate 10 from the
Berlin Foreign once. From what has been written
above II must appear clear that the European
problem Is becoming complicated IN uuex-
Fcctad manner. lne apOtnegm that En1Iaud
would not IN tic future take part In Continental
wars, ana that fne would only draw tue sword u
resist ATTACK on nor indian kmpife, begins TO lose
It's force. lac independence oi Belgium AMI Oh
Holland, that u, their remaining as they are,