No. V.
(_From ALBERT, King of the Belgians._)
SIR,--This comes to you from France. Hospitably received and nobly
treated by the great and chivalrous French nation I must yet remember
that I am an exile on a foreign soil, that my country has been laid
waste and that my people, so laborious, so frugal and so harmless, have
seen their homes destroyed and have themselves been driven ruthlessly
forth to cold and hunger and despair.
Yes, your designs on Belgium have been accomplished--for the time. A
people of sixty-five millions has prevailed against a people of seven
millions; a great army has overwhelmed a little army; careful schemes
long since prepared have outmatched a trustfulness which you and your
Ministers fostered in order that in the dark you might be able to strike
a felon's blow with safety to yourself. No considerations of honour
hindered you. Indeed, I do not know how I can bring myself to mention
that word to one who has acted as you have acted. If I do so it is in
order that I may tell you that for an Emperor (or any other man) to be
honourable it is not enough that he should have great possessions,
glittering silver armour, and armies obedient to their War Lord's
commands. It is not enough that he should make resounding speeches and
call God to witness that he is His friend. It is not even enough that he
should succeed in carrying through his plans, and earn the applause of
those flatterers who, agreeing with you, believe that an Emperor crowned
with success and capable of bestowing favours can do no wrong. No, there
must be something more than this. What that something is I will not
discuss with you. To do so would be useless, for, since you will never
possess it, you can never satisfy yourself that I am right.
And even in regard to this "Success" with which you comfort yourself are
you so perfectly sure of it? How do you feel when you call VON MOLTKE to
you and question him about the progress of the war?
"How goes it," you say to him, "in the East?" "We hope," he replies, "to
hold the Russians in check, but they are very numerous and very brave."
"Presumptuous villains! And in the West?" "In the West the French and
English," he says, "still bear up against us. They have thrust us back
day after day." "May they perish! But, at any rate, there is Belgium.
Yes, we have crushed Belgium and taught the Belgians what it means to
defy our Majesty." And VON MOLTKE, no doubt, will murmur something that
may pass for approval and will withdraw from the conference.