St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1870-09-16

c Ter House excited great opposition
throughout Germany and led English Oh
.scrvers TO predict the dethronement o
the IIohcnzollerns, or, at least. tn
| downfall of this ''Brummagen Stratford.
] They were mistaken. The premier wa
more powerful than ever. In 1868, by
Il convention with Gortschakotf he boun,
Prussia to help put down the Polish iii
, >urrection but on the remonstrance o
England and France, assured them i
would not be enforced During tn,
stormy debates provoked by this Russian
alliance Bismarck treated the opposition
: with the utmost contempt, and expressed
the determination of the government tC
make war. whenever it thought necessary,
with or without the consent of the
House. He then suspended the free
dom of the press and dissolved the Prus-
sian Diet.
In 1861, amid the excitement follow
ing the death of the king of Denmark,
Austria and Prussia invaded the duchie>
and sustained the claims OF Prince Au-
gu,lcnburg. Bismarck sounded the Itali-
an government upon an alliance against
Austria. with a view TO secure the duch-
les for Prussia. \ favorable response
had hardly been given when the Europe
was astOni>hed by the intelligence that
Austria and Prussia had signcI the con-
yemtion of Ga>tein, by which they united
TO put down revolution. This treaty
was the work of the Prussian kim. in
opposition Ia the wishes of Bismarck
All the powers of Europe exclaimed
against it. and it was with difficulty that
The premier soothed Italy and pacitied
Napoleon. April ., 1866. Prussia form
ed an alliance with the Italian govern
mcut a9uint Austria. The contest was
| precipitatcl by the conduct of the Wen
Ia cabinet in introducing complaints OF
| Bi>mlIck'S policy in reference to the
ducLics at the German Diet. and sum-
munng the other states TO her assistance
he premier. who had compelled his
sovereign to abandon his ancient allv. to
! proclaim universal suffrage. ami strike
hands with the revolution. went heart
and soul into the contest. I'VE shall
conquer. he said, ''or shall fall with
the last charge OF cavalry" He then
oNcrted al! his energies in the memorable
seven days campaign. which ended in
the great victory OF Salowa. The PruS-
sian armies, IN accordance with hi~ calcu-
IaiIons, moved with >uch decisive rapid
ty ,hat the Austrian shell Was crushed
before Napoleon. then wholly unprcparcI
for war, could intervene.
Bsnarck's subsequent negotiations
rVluccd cun>ummatc skill. by making
large acccs>Iou> to lrussau territory. he
-r"titied the national pride AMI raised lii
country TO the first rank anon. the .rcur
powers. He stood iirm in orpc>ing the
demands o. France iur the frontiers ut
Ieli, and bafii3d the empcrur's attempt
TO form an alliance against Prussia. For
the sake OF reconciliation and peace, lie
consented on certain conditions to the
annexation OF LuXemburg by France.
~ they were not complied with 10y Ma
poiron, Bismarck was free 10 Weld to
rEr vehement opposition OF the German
Parliament, 1t required all his influence
10 keep Prussia from plungin" into a
contest with France. He WAS Tor peace;
though generals and people favored war,
tor which they were - much better pre-
pared than their opponents. To Il learned
professor, who said that the affair OF Lux
rmIburg -hauld have been made a cu>,H
dcE. he observed .vcry seriously: '.Sucl
u wAr would have cost US at least thirty
thousand brave soldiers; and, at best.
would have been protilles> Whoever
has once looked into the breaking eye OF
a dyn" warrior on the battlefield will
pause ere he begins war
The spring OF 1866 was troubled
time for Bismarck. He was Il target for
personal as well rs political assailants
While walking i'll the Inter den Linden,
lac was twice shot ut from behind. One
hullct grazel his side. Turning quickly
round, bismarck seized the assassin 10y
/ the throat but not before he had time
to fire third ball, which inflicted 4
/ painful wound in the shoulder The
young man then passed the revolver from
/ hls right Ia his left hand, and fired two
more shots. One merely grazed Bis
rnarck's coat but the other struck his
rib, teathering it. The minister, how
ever, KEEP; firm hold of the aSSaillnt,
handed him over TO Il battalion of pass
ng soldiers, and then walked quietly
/ home. The ASSASSIN, who proved 10 be
Il political enthusiast, committed suicide
b,t fore any examination could be had
Since 1866 Bi>marck's policy has been
peaceful. Napoleon, smarting under the
consciousness of being outwitted by the
Prussian statesman, is now pi!led against
him. Whatever may be thought OF Bis
marck's policy i'll the past, every liberal
sympathy is with him now. Nor can
his most prejudiced opponents dispute
his great ability in craftsmanship and
war. Without great connections III
place, he has controlled mobiles and kings
Without the graces Of oratory, he has
commanded the ear OF legislative assem-
hlies. Opposed to liberal movements,
he has gained the support Of democrats.
His vehement invectivt, and cool, delib-
crate contempt, have been effective alike
Against French impetuosity and German
phlegm.
Bismarck's personal appearance is
striking. His massive and peculiarly
shaped head, rising high above the ear,
is the more conspicuous from badness
The thin fringe Of brown hair surround
ing it gives prominence to the forehead,
and the large mous;ache adds dignity to
the smooth-shavcd face. Inhexible de-
termination compress his lips, and the
unbridled passions of youth, which have
left their traces on his countenance, can
mot hide tLa foro, of ,,,;II ,,.L;.I i,