The New York herald., 1877-12-26

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 60 upon no other condi-
ton. 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 beel
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 correspondents
say, that after the King had his first inter
view with the German officer 'she began to
wear an anxious look" He remembered,
no doubt, how history had often made his
garden kingdom IN arena, and he saw
visions, perhaps, OF another Waterloo CAM
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 air. 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 ally Of France, or he would draw
the sword. When near relative and dear
friend speaks with his hand on the 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
defcnces 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.
Our correspondents 60 so far as to say that
England has made up her mind to the loss
of Antwerp, the dismantling of Belgium MS
On English defence and her rearming as q
defence of Germany that she even contem-
plates the loss of an empire in India and
looks to another empire rs a consolation in
Africa, and that this explains the zeal Of
King Leopold in the colonization Of Africa.
In other words, England has consented that
Belgium shall become a German province,
the King to become prince of the German
Empire, like the King Of Bavaria and the
Grand Duke of Baden.
We are 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 German corps. We can un-
derstand why Belgium's peculiar position
in Europe should not become source Of
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 to
Leopold: EFF Belgian neutrality had rights
which England had always supported, it
had duties of which, for its own security,
IL
logical; but how can England consent to
the effacement of Belgium from the map of
Europe? This is really what the policy of
Germany will enforce unless it is arrested.
Beaconsdeld may say that Belgium has not
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 even
suspicious neighbor could not take offence.
But if the independence Of Belgium is
essential to England what difference does it
make whether it is openly assailed or
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 third
class Powers like Holland and Switzerland,
or assert her imperial pretensions by her
imperial strength. The day when a great
empire can be sustained by prestige" has
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 OF
German unity, the fact of italian unity, me
fact Of Russian advances, the tact that
Germany and Russia and Italy are becom-
ing great naval Powers. Lord BeacoEsfield
cannot answer these 'fucts by jaunty and
arrogant speeches over Guildhall din
ner. England cannot hope to maintain
her position without accepting the duties it
imposes. She must fight for her Empire.
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