The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-11-11
COL. DEM. --- VOL. XXXIv. NO. SO.
A Defender OF the Faith.

- DSfthhtE VI thc sttths
A Boston house publishes neat duo.
decimo pamphlet of fifty-two pages, en-
titled 1.-THE origin of the Bismarck Pol
icy," and purporting to be translation
of doctrines and maxims laid down by
Frederick the Great for the use and
guidance of his successor to the throne
Read in the light of events resulting to
the practical elaboration of Prussian
policy, it is both instructive and anus.
ing. The reader at once sees that both
William and Bismarck have these max
inns of the great Frederick at heart,
and do not hesitate to act in accordance
with them. To those who gauge King
Williams piety by his proclamations
and dispatches, it will be pleasant TO
learn that according to the rules pre-
scribed by Frederick 1t is unwise for a
king to have religion, because "it
agrees neither with our passions" Isle
passim) "nor with the high political
views which monarch should enter.
tain" Religion, according to Freder.
lex, makes monarchs weak minded.
For example; A christian cannot make
war; nor can he successfully treat with
foreign powers, because he will suffer
himself to be imposed upon. Neither
William nor his premier suffers himself
to be imposed upon, and both seem to
have adopted the advice of the great
Frederick in adapting their religion to
their ambitious designs, leaving the un =.
defiIed article to the common people.
AS to Justice, the great robber con.
cludes that it is all very well so long as
the king is not brought under suffice.
ton by it. He deprecates the fate of
Charles the First, and declares that he
cannot tolerate any restraining power
in his kingdom. He surveyed the par
liamcnts Of England and France and
concluded to undermine the fOunda-
tions of justice. He made an estimate
of the future, and was alarmed to find
that within hundred years one tenth
of his subjects would be engaged in ad-
ministering justice, the cost of which
would be paid from the royal revenues.
That alarmed him, and, consulting
economy as well as safety, Frederick
concluded to convert justice into the
puppet of his throne.
His definition of "polcy" is inimita.
bic. The word, says Frederick, was
selected for sovereigns because they
cannot really be called rogues and ras-
Gals; and its meaning is, that kings
must always try to dupe other people.
To dupe people is to swindle; but it
would never do to call king a swim
dler, therefore when monarch cheats
it is ''policy." We do not marvel much
when the royal philosopher exhorts his
successors to make alliances from which
they can derive the whole advantage,
to break them when interest requires
the breach, and, above all, to act upon
the principle that "to deSpoH yoW neigh
bors is TO deprire them Of the means OF
6jring yOu" 1t will be remembered
that Count Bismarck has repeatedly de.
clared that Prussia must have Alsace
and Lorraine to hold France in check.
The reader of this little pamphlet
will conclude that the spirit of the great
Frederick yet animates Prussian states
men. 1t reads like satire. "When l
came to the throne" says the great
man, II doubled my army, perfected it
in drill until all the world tried to move
their arms, legs and heads a la Pr,tssi-
ehne. Then i cast about for additions
to my territory; commenced with ST
lesia, because circumstances were favor
able in that direction. / established
my claims to Silesia by my orators.
The queen of Austria had her orators
to refute mine, but we ended the dipute
by a war;" Can anything be palmer? Z?
1t prepares us for the Injunction which
follows, and which Bismarck has rigid.
ly obeyed. "Try," says the great Prus.
sian moralist, "to win those who have
the gift of expressing themselves in
ambiguous terms and susceptible of a
double meaning"
This pamphlet, which reminds one
of the imam without country" fur
nishes the key to Prussian policy; and
we see in current events the animating
spirit of the most unprincipled, crafty,
cruel, and selfish monarch of modern
times, whom the historian has satirized
by calling him great. Philddeiphia
Day.