Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-18
BISMARCK TALKING.

BISMARCk TALklN6.
An English GentIeman's Intervfe W
with the Premier-Liberty ana the
Progress OF OfHistorfes-'More than
War"
From the Gironde. of Bordeaux
A few days ago an English ex-diplo-
matist held q conversation with Count
Bismarck. He made inquiries respect
ing the health of the Count, who replied
that he had never been so well as he had
since the French journals announced his
death. He next asked what people in
London thought of the situation. This
gave rise to the following conversation;
Myself-They profoundly regret this
war which has commenced between two
great peoples, who, by the diversity of
their wants and their means, are so well
destined to develop themselves and to
live in peace with each other.
The Count-Vo oltaire said one day that
he loved the Germans, who only had one
fault-that of being too numerous. To
day, without being Voltaire, may say
that France has only one misfortune
that she has not enough Frenchmen. Be
hind the false France which gets up agi-
tations, which cries out, which is CON
tinually vacillating between France and
melodrama, there is serious and well
informed France. But she has abdi-
Gated, and that is why we wage this war,
which is a misfortune for all Europe.
Myself--Yes; but the real France will
end in rejecting, and by the use of free
institutions will raise herself again.
The Count-May God so will It'll The
Romans said of the Gauls that they un-
derstood two things-to fight bravely and
talk cunningly-Rem militarem Ell logute
loqu AS you see, the French are their
true descendants. They are condemned
to be knocked about like shuttlecock
between pettifoggery and military rule.
Myself = Military rule But what
about yourselves?
The Count-That is a great mistake.
We are an armed nation, but not mill
tary government Besides, every one
down here has his party assigned to him.
You English transform yourselves in or
der to preserve yourselves; in France
people soon tire of what they have
quickly nstructed-palaces and bar
racks are one by one demolished, rebuilt
and destroyed. We, on the other hand,
stick to what we construct in the first
instance. They are not obliged to dis
turb us every minute, to appropriate our
edifces and to knock down our walls.
That is why we make war We want a
peace which will secure for us a peacea-
BILE future.
Myself-Very well; the Constituent
Assembly, if it establishes a regular
government, will soon be in position to
sign peace
The Count-Soon? We cannot speak
seriously of peace except at Paris, with
the keys of Metz and Strasburg in our
pockets.
Myself-What do you think of the
Constituent Assembly,
The Count-lt will come either too
soon or too late
Myself-Will it sign peace2
The Count-That will depend on its
good sense, its tact, and its patriotism.
If it does not accept the conditions,
which are as necessary to the existence
of Germany as to its own, the funeral
knell of the Republic has sounded, for a
powerful peace party is already in course
of formation in France, and in choosing
between peace which means order and
permanent invasion with the Reds, "
there will not be much hesitation.
Myself-But with whom will you treat,
then2
The Count-With those who represent
this party.
Myself-But the siege of Paris may
be prolonged, and, in the meanwhile,
armies will be organized everywhere.
The Count-No doubt and they will
NOS be wanting in numbers, arms and
courage. But, putting entirely aside
certain elements of dissolution which
circumstances will develop, there is one
thing which ought not to be forgotton-
namely, that the most humble of our sol
diers knows that before Paris he is de-
Tending his own home.
Myself That is terrible war.
The Count-It is more than wal, sir;
it is an historic phase, Of which the war
is only halting place. The old Euro
pean society is crumbling away and new
centers of civilization are being formed
Unfortunately, this regeneration can
only be effected by means of struggles
and sorrows
Myself-But on what basis is the new
society to be founded?
The Count--0n liberty, which must
itself be founded on what is most grand
and most true in the depths fthe human
conscience-on right and duty.
Myself-Very good. But has not the
French revolution already inaugurated a
new era when it published the celebrated
declaration of the rights of man2
The Count-No; because it omitted
the declaration of the duties of man.
Liberty is not an affair of metaphysical
politics and of songs in the streets; that
is goddess that does not demand hu-
man sacrifices. She is more bourgeoise
than daughter of the people; more an
aristocrat than a bourgeoise. She is
austere and painstaking; she insists
upon many virtues and very few tu-
mults; she needs, in order to live, the
peaceable life of the soul and mind, and
not demonstrations in the streets and
public houses. A new religion demands
new people. An innocent and simple
creed requires hearts innocent and sim
pie like itself.
The Lady of Lyons.
The credit Of the authorship of this
play has recently been denied to Bulwer,
= =