Year: 1874

OOON4 AnN1M


The detailed proceedings of the trial of
Count Arnim, as published in our recent
dispatches, justify the view the HERALD
has taken of them. II this were the crimi-
Department for an infraction of the law it
would be an Indifferent affair But it is
more than this. Count Arnim and Prince
Bismarck are noblemen in the German EN-
pire. They hold high rank and have served
the Emperor in the most responsible positions
They have been friends for years. They were
associated in the French and German war,
especially in the completion of the Treaty of
Frankfort A member of the Arnin family
married Bismarck's S sister. For long time
they have been rivals for the confidence of
the King Suddenly the Ambassador was
degraded by the Minister from his employ
ment and then thrown into prison and
treated like common felon. An effort yas
made to prove that he had been guilty Of lar
ceny and should be punished as a common
thief. Our opinion is-and in this We are sus-
tained by the general opinion of Europe-that
the whole affair was political proceeding;
that the struggle was for precedence and
power; that Bismarck's extreme anxiety was,
not to defend German law, but to vindicate
Prussian policy and that this policy, when it
came to light, would show an illustration of
Prussian selfshness, both in dealing with
France and the minor German States, that
would seriously injure the fame Of the Prus-
sian Chancellor.


Whatever may be the effect of the trial, SO
far as Count Arnim's personal liberty is con-
cerned, he has thus far won q victory. The
utmost that can be charged against him is
that he committed a technical fault in diso-
beying the orders of the Prussian foreign
service. To this he makes answer that
this act was necessary for the vindi-
cation of his fame. His whole bearing
during this trial shows the honor and
dignity Of high bred gentleman. He
shirked nothing, made no unseemly apollo
gies, avoided no responsibilities, did not
lie, but avowed his act and rested his defence
upon his rights as q German citizen to protect
his fortune and his fame. Wehave no doubt he
fulfilled all his instructions as Minister in
Paris. As he said patheticaly, "the docu-
ments relating to Prince Bismarck were a
grave in which were buried the friendship
Of his youth. Nothing could show that he
had at any time acted in opposition to his in
structions. He could swear that he had COM
mitted no illegal act"


So far as Count Arnim is concerned, there
fore, the trial is political vindication so
far as Bismarck is concerned it is condemna-
ton. The whole tone Of his policy towards
France comes to light. We find him forcing
German influence into the details of French
politics, striving to keep France weak, to in
terfere with one faction against the other and
to use Italy against France, not to the
advantage Of Italy, but simply to serve
the German purposes. We discover, also,
that in this whole business Prince Bis
marck has served the interests of Prussia
against those OF Germany. When the history
Of these times is really known it win
be found, we believe, that the Prince
has been carrying out the old Frederick the
Great legend-to build up Prussia at the ex-
pense Of Germany. The cry for a united
Germany means really cry for the aggrandize-
ment of the Hohenzollerns and the extension
Of the Prussian system. Patriotism has been
made subordinate to the ambition of o house.
Bismarck and Arnim represent two princi-
ples-the one Prussian, the other German. So
far as men are concerned the Prince has sue
ceeded in putting upon his rival mortifying,
dispraceful defeat Rut sO far as princinleS ara
concerned we believe that the end will show
that the Prince yielded to a masterful and
imperious spirit that he betrayed himself by
giving rein to his temper, that he invited that
public condemnation to which even great
ministers are not insensible, and that the
moral victory rests with Count Arnim, as the
representative of German liberality and prog
ress.