The New York herald., 1877-12-26

10 war. france mas ouly ouo puoStiou w AZ
terest her-a question that has burned itself
into the heart OF every Frenchman-Alsace
and Lorraine. If England can only give
France any hope of recovering her loved
and lost provinces she will 60 into any en-
terprise. She will go upon no other condi-
tion To win back the towers of Strasburg
and carry the tricolor to the Rhine France
would follow England around the world.
All this mono knows SO we'll as Bismarck.
This knowledge explains the severe press
ure which Germany has been quietly put
ting upon Belgium. AS our correspondent
shows, for some time past skilled Prus-
sian officer, nominally military attache OF
the German legation in Brussels, has bee1
really in command Of the military resources
of Belgium. The King has been told that
he must govern his army and the defences
Of his kingdom, not as Lord Beaconsfeld
wishes, but as Prince Bismarck would have
him. No wonder, as our corresponding
say, that after the King had his first inter-
view with the German officer "he began to
wear an anxious look" He remembered,
no doubt, how history had often made his
garden kingdom m arena, and he saw
visions, perhaps, OF another Waterloo CAM
paign, in which Belgium would feel the
desolation while others would gain the
glory Of the war. Like prudent King,
when the issue came, he sought to tenn
porize. 1t is always SO much more pleasant
to do our disagreeable duties tomorrow,
But Germany is not sentimental Power,
and when Leopold paused the Prince I'm
pcrial came in person. The Prince I'm
perial was his near relative and his
dear friend. and the world was
told that his visits to Ostend were
visits OF affection and for the sea mir. But
we learn that when Fritz came he came with
his hand on his sword; that he came to say
that Belgium must change her whole sys-
tenn, no longer be the outpost OF England
and the oily of France, or he would draw
the sword When a near relative and dear
friend speaks with his hand on tho sword
that conquered at Sadowa and Sedan even as
wary and wise prince as Leopold would
listen and obey. The result is that the
strategic points in Belgium which might be
of advantage to France have been fortified
SO as to prevent any advance Of French
troops. In other words, these points have
been made another Metz in the line Of the
dcfcnces of the German Empire. More
than this, we are told that the Germans
have demanded that the northern citadel of
the Notifications of Anvers shall be razed
n,,r &c 70 hot
England has made up her mind to the loss
Of Antwerp, the dismantling of Belgium as
an English defence and her rearminy as q
defence Of Germany that she even contem-
plates the loss of an empire in India and
looks to another empire rs consolation in
King Leopold in the colonization Of Africa
In other words, England has consented that
Belgium shall become German province,
the King to become prince of the German
Empire, like the King of Bavaria and the
Grand Duke Of Baden.
We arc afraid that the conclusions Of our
correspondents are extreme. We can un-
derstand why Germany should wish the
army of Belgium SO organized that it might
be used as a German corps. We can un-
derstand why Belgium's peculiar position
in Europe should not become u source ci
danger to Germany and how, to avoid that
danger, Bismarck should insist upon de-
Tending some strategic points. As the
Prince Imperial is reported as saying tc
Leopold: EFF Belgian neutrality had rights
which England had always supported, it
had duties Of which, for its own security,
Germany claimed the execution" This is
logical but how can England consent te
the effacement of Belgium from the map o.
Europe? This is really what the policy O.
Germany will enforce unless it is arrested.
Beaconsield may say that Belgium has mol
claimed the protection of England
This may be true 1t may also
be true that the Germans have done
their work SO silently and surely that ever
O suspicious neighbor could not take offence
But if the independence of Belgium il
essential to England what difference does il
make whether it is openly assailed OF
silently sapped and destroyed? 1t really
seems-and this thought is forced upon us
by every varying phase in European poll
tics-that the time has come when England
must be content to take rank with thiri
class Powers like Holland and Switzerland
or assert her imperial pretensions by hel
imperial strength. The day when grea
empire can be sustained by prestige" ha!
passed No Minister can govern by leger
demain in this age OF blood and iron
Certain tremendous facts are asserting
themselves in Europe. There is the fact 0
German unity, the fact of Italian unity, tA'
fact Of Russian advances, the tact tina
Germany and Russia and Italy are becom
ing great naval Powers. Lord Beacousfelt
cannot answer these facts by jaunty ant
arrogant speeches over Guildhall din
ner. England cannot hope to maintain
her position without accepting the duties j
imposes She must fight for her Empire