The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-31
Threatened Thron es.

WAT are the dangers tnaC acCually
threaten the German Empire? The Chan
cellor recently gave the world to under
stand that socialism was the only serious
element of discord, but it is not very long
since his policy was just as clearly antago-
nistic to ultramontanism. 1t seems prob
able, also, that the prompt reputation by
the social democrats of the scheme Of ''re-
form by assassination" and the increased
strength of the national liberals and
progressists in the next Reichstag
will perpetuate and even strengthen
socialism in Germany. Communism ex-
Geneva Convention met in 1871 it was
announced that the International had be-
come European organization of even
greater strength and with more clearly
defined purposes Recently, however, o
writer in the Nineteenth Century, of acknowl-
edged authority, brushes the International
aside and declares that, individually, it is
not factor of importance in the secret
society problem. Russia strives to crush
out Nlhilism, but raises a spectre far more
intangible. The Anglo-Turkish Conven-
ton established beyond doubt Lord Bea-
consfeld's gift of prophecy. Therefore it
is interesting to recall the fact that
it is nearly two years since even
he sounded the keynote of alarm.
II can assure you, gentlemen" said
the British Premier in his speech at Ayles-
bury in September, 1876 "that in the at
tempt to conduct the government of. this
world there are new elements which our
predecessors had not to deal with. We have
not to deal only with emperors and princes
or ministers. There are the secret societies,
an element which you must take into con-
sideration, which ut the last moment may
battle all your arrangements, which have
agents everywhere, which have reckless
agents, which countenance assassination,
and which, if necessary, could produce
massacre" At the time these words were
spoken they attracted no especial attention.
The opposition at once covered the refer
ence with ridicule, and asserted that the
conservative leader referred to Russian
secret agents, striving to divine policy
that was unknown to anybody. The margin
of sympathy. under that Interpretation, was
clearly with the puzzled detectives. But
now it seems evident that Lord Beacons-
fields meaning was d fferent from that
ascribed to him. Were these only empty
words did he exaggerate the danger, or had
he grave facts to support his statement?
Cardinal Manning refers to the new antago-
nism TO existing European statecrait. after
the manner of Hugo, as the Revolt" His,
in our opinion, is the true idea Name
goes for very little. What menaces the
stability of every form Of government,
monarchcal or democratic, is the consolida-
ton for common purpose of oil the OPP
posing elements--political ngrarian and
social. This is Germany s-Europe's dam
ger The article which is printed on an
other page of this mornings HERALD, the
narrative of u gentleman of q worldwide
commercial reputation, discloses in outline
the great danger which the experiment of
German unity narrowly escaped before the
Empire was proclaimed. This startling
revelation shows that when all the elements
of disafiection which exist throughout the
German Empire shall have fused the mo-
ment of peril will be at hand. Com
munsm is repulsive to the upper classes ;
socialism, per Sc, attracts only tho visionary
and theoretical, therefore the more practical
men of this order call themselves social
democrats ultramontanism appeals equally
in vain to the free thinkers and to the Prot
estants internationalism attracts only the
proletariat. Union cannot be secured under
the banner ofany one of these organizations.
Danger to the German Empire can come
only when common cause shall induce the
| sacrifice of personal sentiment and cement