The New York herald., 1877-12-26
BELGIUM IN DANGER.
Germany Assuming Control Of King
Lsopold's Domain.
ENGLAND PUSHED ASIDE.
Bismarck Hunting the Cath.
olic Refugees.
A FRENCH NIGHTMARE.
Cardinal Deschamps Defies
the "Prussian."
THE SOVEREIGN'S STATEMENT
ssWe Have as'Aid the Strongest
Of the Powers"
Remarkable Official and Diplomatic
Interviews.
Cardinal Deschamps Defies
the "PruSSian."
THE SOVEREIGN'S STATEMENT
sWe Have assAid the Strongest
Of the Powers"
Remarkable Official and Diplomatic
Interviews.
BRUSSELS, Dec. 0, 1871

"
For some time past have been current ro
gaiding the Intervention Of Germany the affairs Of
Beg um. Up to the year 1870 Belgium was morally
speaking under the protectornte OF England, whose
statesmen tho insprers OF the system OF dcienccs
based on the formidable fortihca.ons of Antwerp.
When Leopold l. died he prescribed this latter policy
rs his political testament Aud as his son, the present
King was stl young and for tnat reason, had had
no share IN bringing about the established order of
things, and had, consequently, no relations with
either tho leading wings tories OF England. for all
Ihesc motives tho King appointed as his political ex-
ccutor the minister OF his household NJ Jules Van
Praet who also, should be added, has close per-
sonal friend. To manifest Clearly his intentions to
Leopold H., and order that he might not replace
him by onothcr NJ Van Pract he secured to the latter
for his lilo very large salary that should II please
the present King to mako a change hc would have to
pay both the salary OF his fathers minister and that
Of his AS Leopold ii. Is very economical his
iather counted with that he would not bo
hkely 10 commit such an act OF extravaganza NJ.
Van Praot therefore, preserved hts post and ut tho
time prepared as his successor NJ. Jules
Devaux, ut present Cher du Cabinet OF the King.
rnesc two gentemon, with the English Minister, Mr..
Lumlcy, represented the British nterest at the Bel
gian court
WHY ANTWERP WAS FoRTIFIED.
Matters remained In this position until the year
1870 AT that epoch the Belgian government, which,
during the reign Of Napoleon Ill., had always appro-
hcndcd FSench invasion, made all the preparations
possible for resistance in the sense desired by
Engand-that Is 10 say, By rendering Antwerp per-
lcctiy impregnable-so that In the event Of Belgium
being by tho French they would be certain 10
hnI there second Gibraltar, with tho English
their protectors firmly cntrcnched behind Its ram
parts. The Begians offered opposition to this
say the liberal Cabinet dating from the close Of
the year 1857 10 the oil 1870, and Of whom II.
Frere 0rban the chief-occupied themselves moro
with politics than with military AFFAIRS and under the
shadow oil their struggles with tho Catholic party
King Leopold advanced quietly 10 his object, sup
ported as he was by the respect and affection OF his
subjects OF every political category. And yet a
auiar peculariy was commented upon in these
famous fort6caiions of Antwerp. They supported
by immense citadel, called the Citadel OF tho
North, which appears TO DO intended rather as dc.
icnce against the land approaches than against tho
Pass Of the Escant, which would lead tho inference
that 1t was considered useless to defend tho position
against fleet. This alone sufficient to prove
what las never been openly ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS tho
English and their feet entered into plan this
defensive combination II is essential 10 direct The
attention Of the reader TO this point because tho
Germans, us will presently be seen, base argument
uponiL
THH SCARE IN 1870
THIS was tho state Of affairs wncn the elections OF
1870 took place. The liberal Cabinet which mad
lasted thirteen years. was replaced by u Catholic
Cabinet, OF which Baron Ane,han was The head TO
ob,ain majority at the polls the Catholics had
sorted to q means which tho liberals had always en-.
pioycd. For the nrst time since 1880 they promised
reduction OF the military charges, which usu.
nlly absorb NTH Of the budget. Strong ia
this pledge Mgr. Deschanips, Cardinal Arch
bishop OF Malines and Primate OF Belgium.
thanks the manGuvrcs his clergy, OBJ.
ta!ned Tor his party the desired majority, aud
defeated the liberals the promises or programme
agreed to ., meeting Of the leading Catholics held
In a small town in Flanders named st. Nicholas aud
winch gave iis name to this celebrated document A
fortnight after the triumph OF the Catholics the war
Of 1870 broke out. The Belgian army was mobilized
and exhibited incontestablo evidences of weakness
of course the programme OF tho reduction Of tho
military expenses could not bc put In execution until
after the conclusion OF tho war.
A CARDINALS IyTRiGu Es--MALoUss MINISTRY.
Alter the signature OF peace in 1872 The BANK
rup;cy OF Langrand onccau. the Catholic banker
who had made away with the small savings OF tho
Belgian people, gave rise 10 formidable riot IN
Brussels. A mob assembled under tho windows of
the President OF the Council and threatened him with
violence II we'll known hatit was Baron Ancthan ns
intention TO order the troops fire on the people,
but the King utcrfcred and cxtortcd from him his
resignation, which was given tho double con
ditoo First, That tho Bsron's son, a major in the
regiment OF Guides, should be permanently attached
to the Kings person Professionally as officer OF
ordinance and alterwsrd adedc-camp. Second, That
he Baron Ancthan), who had long been Minister Of
State (an honorary, but permanent o0ice should be
present at all the ministerial councils by means OF
these double poy accorded 10 hts son and 10
himself Baron Ancthan was always suro to be cor
recty informed TO what passed In the Palace These
conditions ssscntod TO the King chose Tor President
OF tho Cabinet ". Malou. Tho constitution OF tho
wiIde Of this Ministry was the work OF Mgr.
Dcschamps even 70 the selection Of the Mnister OF
War, VINO was di1cult TO nnd. II easy, 10
act TO meet with general who would accept con-
ALTON, an Incompatible one with the military char.
tctcr Of consenng TO, OF assisting even. tho reauc
lion OF the army and Of all tho departments con.
asced witrit. At last the Cardinal hit upon General
rpbcaus, whom severe BOBBY inhrmny menaecd
With retirement, and who accepted the portfolio
rather as retreat than a Tho real Minister
Of War at present Is IN fact N. Maou, who himself
depends for his inspirations on Mgr. Deschamps
CgRuASy ASSUMING DICTATE TO LEOPOLD II.
Mex. 10 this Minister, who is Belgian, there 10
another power dominant at the War Once, who Is o
fossigner-namcIy, MAJOR do sommcricid, oi tho
great German Eats Major, VINO officer OF ordnance
10 Prince Fritz during tho Franco German war, and
VINO is military a,tacho 10 tho German Legation
In Belgium Tho people oil Brussels wero very much
astonishsd at the arrival OF M dc Somme field, for
until thon no nation had military attach6 among It's
represent ntatvss in that capital Tho at rst eIt
battered st this marx Of attention. which attributed
10 tue relationship which existed between the King
and the Grown Prince OF Germany, whose wife, .
daughter Of Queen Victoria, cousin OF Leopold II.