Year: 1874

Won Arnim and Bismarck.


The case of Won Arnim has passed from


the state of semi-mystery in which it was in


volved into the German law courts. There


seems to be on the part of the government q


firm resolution to invoke the full penalty of


the code against the offending Ambassador.


Won Arnim, on his side, appears not less
resolute to maintain his position. Our special
dispatches from Berlin give the substance of
three important letters, which show the
positions taken up by the parties in contro-
versy. BY these we learn authoritatively that
the proceedings against Won Arnim have
no other end than to secure the return of
papers extracted from the archives of the
Embassy at Paris. Won Arnim maintains
stoutly that the letters in question
are his private property, and refuses to give
them up. He offers to try the question before
the civil courts Of the country, out this prop
osition does not agree with the views OF the
man OF blood and iron. Bismarck has evil
IDENTIFY very strong reasons OF his own for
wishing those papers back in the archives,
and Won Arnim, who loves him not, is very
indisposed to allow him 10 regain possess
sion. For very able man Bismarck makes
good many serious mistakes, but manages to
pull through them in rough-and-ready way
which cannot fail to excite admiration. In
the present case he evidently failed to gauge
correctly his opponent, and the result OF this
error OF judgment has been very damaging
to the great German statesman His arbitrary
action in reference to Won Armin was too
suggestive Of barrack discipline and guard
house administration Of justice to be received
with favor outside of Germany. AS conse-
quence there was a startling unanimity in its
condemnation by the press of the world. Peo-
pie do not like to be forced to look upon Ger
many as huge garrison under the arbitrary
rule OF Prince Bismarck. The possession OF
so much power by a subject who is practically
irresponsible tends to foster distrust among
foreign nations who see the process of
law overridden by the personal will
Of the man who sways the destinies OF his
country. In this aspect the severe treat
ment of Won Arnim and the seeming arbitra-
riness OF the proceedings taken against HIM
have been unfortunate tor Germany. Even
the tardy act OF the Court in admitting him
to bail under heavy amount will only con-
firm the opinion that no man in Germany,
however exalted his position may be, is safe
if he happen to incur the i'll will of the all
powerful Chancellor. If the offence is now
tardily admitted to be bailable one Won
Arnim has been unnecessarily subjected to
personal indignity as punishment for his
opposition to Bismarck. Won Biilow, in his
letters to Won Arnim, refuses to admit that
the correspondence in question can in
any sense be regarded as private. This ques-
ton is still surrounded with much doubt, and
the proposition of Won Arnim to submit it to
the courts for legal decision appears the most
reasonable and just course to be pursued.
BY taking the case into the criminal courts
Won Bulow and Bismarck seek to avoid the
question OF ownership by substituting ques-
ton Of discipline, which is the real point at
issue between the parties, and which cannot
be settled except in the courts of law. The
release of Won Arnim is q check for his oppo-
nent, and may have the effect of modifying
the tendency to arbitrary action which is
such an unpleasant feature Of German govern
ment.