29th November.
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN's unfortunate references to the events of the Franco-German war have roused intense feeling at home. Our telegrams show that the German Press has burst forth la another explosion of Anglophobia, and has carried its complaints as far as the throne of God Himself. At least, that is what we infer from the fact that the pastors have joined the Press-men in the extraordinary crusade against the Colonial Secretary. Exactly what it was that Mr. Chamberlain said, we do not as yet know. But from our telegraphic' summary it would seem as if he had declared that for whatever measures we have taken, or may find it necessary to take, in South Africa, we should find ample pre: cedent in the conduct of those who criticise, and of whom he named Russia,' France, and Germany. Looked at dispassionately, and presuming that this was the whole offence, we really do not see what reason Germany has for being so mightily disturbed, It is a mere matter, of history. Russia has not, so far as we have heard, grown outrageously angry at reference to Poland, Central asia, or Blagovestchens, France has remained cool under the suggestion that she used other persuusives than rose water in Algeria and Tongking. But Ger many unquestionably is angry, appocenaly very angry indeed. Peraps with reason—that we must leave undecided until the whole case is before us. But enough is surely known, historically of the campaign of 1870-1 to settle the main points at issue, Have the German Pressmen read the French accounts of that war? Surely some of them must have done so, and this being the case they must be aware that however angelic they appeared to themselves, and however thick the velvet with which they assert the mailed fist of that day was covered, the Frenchmen failed to recognise the wings, though they did feet the grip of the gauntlet. But even supposing that the German leader-writer of to-day is ignorant of the enemy's opinion of his father's gentleness, we cannot suppose kim to be unlearned in his own annals, And unless we are' very much mistaken, a reading of contemporary literature from Teutonic pens dipped in German ink will go far to excuse the references made by Mr. Chamberlain. We need here refer to no other than the writings, sayings, and table-talk of Prince Bismarck himself, as reported in his various memoirs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.