The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-06 00:00:00

Count B.smarck's Speech.

At' the sitting of the Prussian Chamber of De-
puties on the Ist of September, Count Bismarck

delivered the following speech :
The more sincerely a Government is desirous of Peace
the more its members feel the obligation of abstaining
from all retrospective criticism, whether in defending
themselves or in making attacks. During the last foar
years we have on both sides maintained our respective
points of view with more or less bitterness. In those Mir
years we have been none of us able to convince the other;
each has believed.that he acted rightly in acting as be dl
Even in regard to external relations, a treaty of peace Wow"
never be made if ono of the parties had to confess that he
acted unjustly. We desire peace, not because we are 11(4
in a condition to continue the internal struggie--on the
contrary, the current is more in our favour now than evert
nor do we desire it in order to escape from some future
accusation based upon the law of Ministerial responsibilitP
Many reproaches have been cast upon the Ministry', b.irlitl3
the reproach of fear is somewhat new. (Laughter.) "
desire peace, because in our opinion the country has more
need of it than ever. We desire it and we seek it espoeblii?;
because we believe that we can find it now. We shell'.
have looked for it before if we had hoped to find it bef°ll",
because you will have recognised that the Government'
not so remote as you think from the aims which the siar;
rity of you have in view ; not so remote as the silence e`
the Government upon many points on which it ought to be
silent, might make you believe. For this reason we believe
that we shall find peace, and we look for it with sinceritY'
We have offered you our hand in sign of peace, and the
report of the commission gives us the guarantee that Son
will accept our hand. We shall then, in common with u
yo,
proceed to settle the questions which remain to bedis
posed of. Iby no means exclude from those questions 00
amelioration of the internal administration, the re-estgb-
lishment of the constitutional situation, but we can only
resolve those questions in common by admittting on both
sides we serve our country with equal good will, and wial-
out our suspecting the sincerity of the other. But at °et
present moment the questions of external policy have 0°-
yet been solved. The brilliant:successes of our army 113ve
in some degree augmented our stake. We can lose mores
than before, but we have not yet secured what we have we
y.
The more closely we are united at home, the more W°
shall be certain of winning now. If you cast your eyes
abroad, if you read the Vienna journals, and espe ciallY
those which represent the opinion of the imperial govero:
ment, you will find the same manifestations of hatred ancla
animosity towards Prussia which existed formerly, an
e
which not a little contributed to the war, by iruP°s,ll%
upon the Austrian Government a necessity from vibic",l,lo
could not shrink, even though it desired it. .Look et „
proceedings of the population in the South of Gern3sn:'_
such as we see them in the army. There exist no seetiat
ments of conciliation, there is but very little syrsPfeltt s
the common mission of Germany when Bavarian tr°°P
traitorously fire from railway trains upon Prussian office;
Look at the attitude of the various governments toWal a
5°
the institutions which we have to create. Amongst Amongst.
it is quite satisfactory. Others show repugnance, but licklo
certain that you will scarcely find in Europe a power vi'llalt
receives with favour the constitution of this new Gel the
union which is not endeavouring to participate in "to
formation of this organisation were it only for the Purff.xe
of procuring for one of the most powerful confederates 11130
Saxony the possibility of playing the same part which
did heretofore. For this reason then our task is not c°-;0
pleted. It requires the harmony of the whole countri 'e.
fact, and the impression which this harmony must prociebe
It has been often said that what the sword has w°3 the
pen has lost. I have full confidence that we shall not I,l' 4
it said what the sword and pen have gained has been
in this tribune. (Cheers)
The debate was postponed till Monday.