The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-21

france latner Jnan OHrSelveH,'
War with France was indeed imminent, but Bis |
marok sought earnestly to avert it as he had |
sought to preciptate the connct with Austria and |
his diplomatic skill was again crowned with success.
In fact, after the battle OF Sadowa his policy
most emphatlcally a policy OF peace and he was
not content with consolidating the newly acquired
power OF Prussia by maintaining friendly relations
with all the world, but extended his good oces all
over Europe, averting conflict on the Danube in
1865 by requiring the dismissal by Prince Charles Of
Roumania OF his unruly minister Bratiano, and
afterwards taking the initiative OF proposing the
Conference of the Great Powers at Paris which pre-
vented war between Turkey and Greece.
His Enforced Retirement Private Life.
After visit with the King to Paris in June, 1867,
Bismarck retired for few weeks to Varzin, an es-
tate in Farther Pomerania which he had purchased,
returning to Berlin, however, IN November, and re-
naming until the spring Of 1868, in attendance upon
the Diet OF the Confederation. His health again
gave way, and the greater part OF this year was
passed in complete seclusion at Narzin. Emerging
again from his retirement about the close Of Athe
year. his time was occupied during 1869
in attending to his duties as Chancellor
of the Confederation and Prime Minister of
Prussia, and in the arduous task of thoroughly con-
soidating the power Of Prussia and maintaining n-
tact his own paramount influence in the Confedera-
ton, until failing health again drove him back to the
seclusion Of Varzin.
For several months previous to the present agita-
tion In Europe, Bismarck living almost entirely
in retirement on his Pomeranian estate, and for
some weeks last spring his health was in such
preCarious condition that his life was despaired of.
The Candidacy of Prince Leopold
for the throne Of Spain, however appears to have
inspired him with all his Old vigor and for some
weeks past he has been figuring as actively and
prominently ever in the diplomatic maneuvres
of the Continent. The precise part he took in the
candidacy OF Prince Leopold it is impossible at pre-
sent to define. 1t the 11th of June that
General Prim gave the first iutimation of
| Prince of Hohenzollern, but his words were
80 purposely ambiguous as to mystify, If not mis-
| lead, all Europe General Prim at this time nt-
mated that his nameless candidate could not be
brought to accept the offer, but the acquescence OF
Prince Leopold was finally made public the 9Th of
| July and the war cloud at once began to gather
and lower over Europe. That the preliminary ne
| gotiations were carried on between Prim and Bis
marck there can be no doubt. 1t has been asserted
! that scores of kilograms passed between them
before the secret negotiation leaked out. Whether
this be true or not it is unquestionable that Bis
marck entered into Prims project earnestly and
willingly, although the intimation on June IL that
the at that time nameless candidate was unwilling to
| contest the crown Of Spain may possibly
afford clue to the fact that Bismarck entered into
| the scheme with extreme caution and some misgiv-
| ngs 1t is, OF course, waste OF time and space to
indulge in speculation at present as to whether he
foresaw the objections OF Napoleon and anticipated
the struggle upon which France and Prussia have
entered Since the Treaty OF Prague which termi-
mated the conflict with Austria in 1866 he had pur-
sued ostensble policy Of peace; but his manage
ment of the trouble between Prussia and France the
| time of and previous to the Luxembourg imbrogo,
was adroit and successful as to render appeal
to arms not less inexpedient than it would have
been unjustihable. When the candldature of Prince
Leopold was finally withdrawn, in response to the
protests Of Napoleon, the dignfed stand taken by
King William in refusing to make further conces-
sions and guarantees was doubtless inspired by him,
| md 10 W.
merely seeking a pretext for war; and would find
pretext of some sort, unless Prussia consented to
such self abasement as would practically and
morally undo the work of the past five years.
And now that war has been inaugurated and the
hostile armies are facing each other the Rhine,
Bismarck is in his place as Chancellor OF the Con-
federation and the moving spirit OF the Prussian
cause. To the herculean task now before the
nation which he has built up, he will bring all the
audacty and unscrupulousness well as all the
zeal, energy, and patriotism which nerved him
throughout the struggle with Austria; and aside
from the struggle in the field, Napoleon will find
him. as he has found him in the past, more than
match in the wiles and tricks and ntrgues OF dipo
macy.
In the winter of iS49, Bismarck had removed with
his family to Berlin, and since then his atten-
ton has been almost wholly absorbed by politics.
With his entrance upon married life in 1Si7, he
abandoned the wild and reckless manner OF life to
which he had been welded at Gottngen and Kniep-
hof, and became thereafter man of unexception-
able character in his personal relations. He is de-
scrbed as being, in private life, unusually attrac-
tive, of genial and friendly disposition, sparkling
in conversation, sharp at repartee, and remarkably
good at telling story.
But in his public character, as will be seen from
the sketch OF his life which we have given, he is
reckless, obstinate, self-possessed imperious, and
unscrupulous brooking no restraint and hesltating
at no device to secure the accomplishment OF his
ends. Ambitious to an nordinate degree, his pa
triotism is nevertheless unimpeachable, and his
own personal aggrandizement happily is never
brought into conflict with the best interests OF his
country as a whole. His moving spirit is emphat-
cay OF personal repression all his incinations
and associations are aristocratic; his sympathies
are never enlisted in the OF popular rights or
individual freedom; the King, to him, rules by
divine right, and not by the consent or approval OF
his subjects. The grand aim OF his life has been 10
render Prussia the controlling power in Germany,
and to make himself the most consequential person
in Prussia II to succeed for the time in both these
tasks constitutes him statesman, he is entitled
to place In the very front rank In pepsen, Bis
marck is tall and well-formed OF great bodily Ygor
originally and with the fair hair and light blue eyes
thai are typical of his pure North-German ex-
traction.
Bismarck and the United Stat es.
In this connection, the following extracts from a
detailing afternoons conversation with Bismarck,
will be found interesting The conversation touched
briefly npon American topics when Bismarck said:-
'rIn our relations with the United States, never
had doubt. The Tory party In Prussia, to which
am supposed to belong at the outbreak OF your war,
: besought the King to recognize the South L op-
posed it inheXibly. To me it clear that the
North only could be the true ally OF Prussia; with