The New York herald., 1877-12-26


button to the history OF Europe Our
special correspondents in Belgium give us
a new and remarkable development OF the
growth OF military power on the Continent.
The consequences Of this development It is
impossible to forecast. To estimate it at
its true value we must not view the isolated
problems which vex the statesmen OF Eu-
rope We snust look at the Continent as q
chessboard, in which sovereigns and ma
tions ore all playing, and each in turn COM
PEELED by the necessities OF the game 10
move. To-day it happens that the promi-
nent pieces are the Car and the sultan.
Yesterday it was the Kaiser William
and the third Napoleon. Tomorrow it may
be-who can tell? The tremendous game
goes Oh and on. There is no Power so great
or free that it may not have to move in its
time There is no. Power so weak that u
can escape its responsibility. Here, fsr
instance, is little Belgium-peaceful, in
dustrious, populous, inotiensive Belgium
not much larger, either in area or popuia-
tion, than one Of our States. What need the
mighty kings care for Belgium? May her
people not SOW and spin and worship God
without offence to their more warlike and
ambitious peighbors? One would certainly
think SO, and yet, as the game now moves
it looks as if Belgium would become one OF
the most important pieces. In diplomacy
as in chess it often happens that the poor,
modest pawn, in itself almost without
value becomes as important as the queen.
So, little Belgium may tomorrow be called
upon to decide the destiny of great en-
pires.
Yet in many respects Belgium is repeat
ing history. From The days OF Caesar to those
of Napoleon she has been the battle ground
Of armies. In the old days she was called
the cockpit of Europe. A low country,
easily traversed, with fruitful soil to yield
supplies, and an industrious population to
assist in feeding and moving an army,
without the mountains which protect
Switzerland or the surrounding sea which
entolds Britain, bordering on three en-
pires, each of whom has aimed at the mas
terry Of the world, Belgium is sorcly placed
AOl u AheiOAA I1uV AONSo pS0sSS' ~ANS -~~~y =
fate has made it come to pass that in the
tremendous battles which have torn her
fields she has had no real interest. 1t was
the ambition Of Germany or France or
Russia or England which was at work, and
Belgium was nothing but the arena. 1t was
only by chance-the chance of Napoleon's
crushing defeat at Sedan-that Belgium, in
1870, did not play the part OF 1875 The
slightest move in the game would have
brought the armies into the country Of
Ardennes, and the scene of the fall of
Napoleon the Great might have become
consecrated by the fall OF Napoleon the Lit
tle Since Waterloo, as our correspondents
show in their most interesting and thorough
analysis of the situation, Belgium has been
bulwark or dependency of England.
When Napoleon fell England, which had
done SO much to overthrow him, demanded
that there should be material guarantee
against the reviving ambition of France.
This guarantee was found in the creation Of
the Belgian Kingdom, under the rule of q
prince closely allied to the English crown.
Leopold l. was really an English prince.
The life Of the Prince Consort shows
that he was rs much under the authority Of
the British Cabinet as the Viceroy of Ire
land or the Governor General Of Canada.
And although he contracted an alliance
with the house of Bourbon his heart was
always with tho house Of Coburg. Under
his reign Belgium was simply an outpost OF
England. In those days France was ''the
enemy Of the peace of the world" phrase
by which Englishmen designate any Power
that does not carry out their policy. Under
the reign OF his son, Leopold H., one of the
most accomplished and upright among
reigning sovereigns, this policy has contin-
ued. During the French and German war
England went SO far as to announce that any
interference with his independence would
be regarded as IN act of war.
But the game has changed since the days
when England held that Napoleon's' posses
sion of Antwerp was incompatible with the
peace Of the world. In these latter years
France and England have become friends
and allies. Fifty years ago there could be
no coalitions in Europe which did not bring
France and England face to face. 1t is not
extravagant to say that there could be no
coalition now in which they would not be
side by side. England and France have
drawn closely together. Their people have
come to know each other, and with this
knowledge has come esteem. They have no
interests at variance England having
beaten France in the struggle for empire
in Asia ana America, and seeing that she
has little chance of gaining her once i'm
perial position is now anxious to use her for
her own ends. The enemy Of France is Ger
many; the enemy of England is Russia.
Germany and RUSSIA are in ayowed and
cstentatious alliance. Russia held Europe
back while Germany plundercd Austria and
France; Germany is holding Europe back
while Russia is trying to destroy Turkey
England is securing land and sea for