The New York herald., 1869-06-14
BIsh,.N. N.8VN-

Diet-NIiiitnry CircumspectiOn-The Pa
"Qui vive :,-Cares Of state-Thc Ceunrs
Ultimatum. ,o.o
The complete defeat sustained by the North Ger
man confederate syvrgnent III is demand q ia'
Geaacd Eeyenue and the details Of .s exciting
,ehste m the Reichstag have been ,,,readv commu.
nicated to you. ffesun.us w your readers were
quite surprised 70 peIoe'VV ,ach solid opposition,
\ phalanx OF votes setu~ at defiance the earnest
appeals OF CorAt blsW .rckthe iron Count and head
and soul ri the ronIederation-I thought ut 70 OBJ
tain, n possible, some reliable explanation Of 10
Enportant a contingency, which seems cal
culatedl to shake the very foundations OF
the newly established North German Union.
Not daunted by the well known fact that
nine out Of ten applications of whatsoever KIND,
made by plain civilians to Prussan authorities or
oficials meet with stereotype refusal, penned
q few lines to his Excellency Count Bismarck, po-
Mely requesting OF him audience for the purpose
Of beng enlightened with regard to the actual posi-
tion av0wing at the same time my intention OF ur-
nishing whatever information he might be pleased
TO give me, as correspondent OF the NEW YORK
HERALD. frankly added that such report would
likely ind its way back to Germany, as the NEW
YORK HERALD was extensively read throughout
Europe, but at the same time expressed the hope
that this might not deter the Count from complying
with my request
A reply to this note was received yesterday after
noon, brought by special messenger from the
Foreign Department, and upon opening the broad
seal l said to myself "He viii certainly wish to be
excused-plead overwhelming engagements, or in
disposition, &C. - but second afterwards saw that
was wide of the mark. "The Premier Count Won
Bismarck Schonhausen has the honor TO inform you
that he expects you this evening MAY 26 at half
past eight O'Clock"
On my arrival / was conducted to the spacious
gardens behind his mansion, where the Count in
stantly joined me. Having accepted one of the
Counts excellent cigars we at once proceeded to
business, which, owing to the apabiity OF the host,
led to q lively conversation between In reply to
my question to what motives the very determined
opposition IN the Reichstag might be ascribed the
Count proceeded as foows:-
BIsMARoK-It Is evidently lack of comprehen-
sion Of the position on the part Of the representa-
tives. Our institutions differ materially from those
In England, though honorable members Of all par
ties here persist in viewing British conditions as
applicable to this country. They cannot free them
selves from feuda preudices; have neither learned
nor forgotten anything since ls4s and imagine them
selves to be necessarily State within State Their
plan Of operation Is constant attack upon govern
menJ-a persistent abuse of the administration and
untirfng energy in placing obstacles In its way.
Their leading idea appears to be always indulgng
in contradiction and abuse thinking that it is gov
ernment's own lookout to free itself from ts
difficulties. To step into the breach. to reme-
.dy matters, to make useful suggestions
they don't consider their province. Split up
into divers factions, each swaylng in different drec
tons just as its interest demands and scarcely any
point Of sympathy between them, the government
has no firm support upon which to rely, and encoun-
ters opposition on oil sides. am resolved to bring
matters to point IN the ensuing autumn II may
then be necessary even to appeal to the intelligence
OF the people, that they may comprehend the dilcul.
ties OF position which is obsnately ignored by the
representatives, each one Of whom thinks himself
statesman par excellence forgetting that II he were
TO attain to power he would very speedily be brought
TO deadlock. My position is clearly defined.
shall be compelled TO restrain the most useful ex-
penditures, regardless Of what calamities may en-
spent which has not been expressly granted by the
law making power We WIN govern strictly on con con
loans and foatIng debt. 1t is pity representatives
Will not understand that they are called upon to CO.
ment but to the country they are asked to grant
Che requisite means and If they refuse to do that
they not only tie the hands of the administration but
undermine the welfare Of the country.
CoRREsPoNDENT-But Count this is the Prussian
Of % crsson How Sna dGss s North % h06 6e
spheres, stand affected thereby
BIsMARcK-Certainly II Is true, am both Bund
Chancellor and Prussah Premier and IL has never yet
occurred to me to contemplate the contingency OF the
Swo orlces being nled by distinct individuals. ad-
init that the di1icuty Of my position towards Reich
stag and Prussian Diet cannot be over-estmated; in
fact IL has become almost insuppOrtable. Constant
assurances OF confidence are given me. but their
votes are az many censures on my acts. Denying
me the means makes government out Of the ques-
ton. Iwi no longer be the anvil, and have for q
and mentally, to lay down my once. Here the
Count sighed deeply and continued But the aged
attached for many years, Whom profoundly reyef.
ence and who reciprocates this devotion. probably
recognizing my earnest efforts In behalf Of the
country, wants other Minister, Will not trust him
self TO new and untrled councils, and determinedly
refuses all my oft-repeated offers Of resignation.
wnst win finally remain for me but to throw up the
CoRREs PoNDRNT-As IL is generally acknowledged
shat the gist Of this conflict Is all IN regard TO the
military etdt which you, sir, have repeatedly and
sOemnly declared as not admitting Of any retrench
position Is q menacing Onef
BIsMARCK-Indeed. 1t N more or less so. We must
tees as to the Intentions OF France and Austria
Where, then, are we 10 look Even our best friends
England aud America-have got up between them
selves family quarrel, the result Of which still re-
mans matter OF uncertainty. Speak not Of our
alliance with Russia Why, my honorable and M
and speak aisparasingy Of t. Understand me; we
ore strong and powerful, and. thank Heaven. those
attack US. For this reason they have stood at bay
Sor the last three years How could we be less
pSr a. Ana Ss 70 e %
~ Leu OF defeat apd war contributions Before
lending this arm % reduction Of this military
sooner del IL is no use speaking OF further
trenchment tq the time OF service, already reduced
70 two aud hall years; the thing Is simply nnpos
bibe.
CoRREsroSpEyT-But, Count you have asserted in
your speeches. II am not mistaken, that cabinet
wars no longer 10 be dreaded that heDceforth II
would be the war of peoples.
BisMARCK-I have SAID so with regard to our
selves, not with respect to France. There mo-
mentary resolve might conjure up war; and we
ore, therefore, forced to be always on the Q Utue.
We have often been and that lately, under the neces-
sity Of questioning our generals and engineers
Are you all ready for instant actionr' The French
people do not wish war, bot when called upon
Their temperament 10 such that they would rush ipto
A. with an eagerness and lmpetu6sty Of which dis
united and phlegmatic German factions would not
pc capable. Only On essential change OF these peou-
liar conditions could induce an ateretion OF r6giDte
here, but AZ present 1t could not be thought OF Tor
moment And here again the Count reverted TO his