A German correspondent writes to us to-day in deprecation of
what he regards as the hostile criticisms directed against Germany by the English Press. He should remonstrate first with the German Press. It was not the Note addressed to Belgium nearly so much as the article in the Berlin Post which really alarmed us all, and made us believe that Germany was about to force on a war. As for the conquest of Alsace and Lorraine, though we hold it to be a political blunder and, as regards Metz at least, a perpetual threat to France, the English Press has long ceased to- criticise that fait accompli, and tries to judge Germany not by what it did, but by what it does. When, however, it appears that Prince Bismarck will hardly be friendly with any Powers unless they join him in his silly and violent crusade against the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, and that all the Germans throw up their caps for Bismarck, it is difficult to reconcile the- excitability so displayed with the prospect of tranquillity in Europe.
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