Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-07-24

lation OF Mad Bismarck YhaS oatIVed
the d~eprecatory opinions of his youth
full critics, and has, By the strength of
his viii and the force of his political
genius, torn the prestige of German
leadership from Austria, raised Prus-
sir to rivalry with France for the
premiership Of Europe, and real
lied the dream of a great Ger
man empire BY the consolidation of
all the German States under the
guidance of Prussia. To Bismarck's
towering abilities, andto the immense
strength Of his political combinations
is owing more than to any other
single or personal cause the present
war. The tradition of French di-
plOmacy viii not admit of a superior
or even of an equal in the political
| equilibrium of Europe. Napoleon
has found himself equaled, If not
dominated by Bismarek's political
maneuvers, and neither the ambi-
ton of the Emperor nor the genius of
the French nation can tolerate such
an attaint on the national honor.
Bismarck'S moral courage and con-
sammate tact have made Prussia
what she is in this generation, and
in the accomplishment of his high
objects il is more than doubtful
whether ne did not cOuntermine Ma
pOleOn's own plans. Certain il is that
his position of armed neutrality after
SOlferino precipitated the imperfect,
unsatisfactory termination of the Ital-
ian question, and his subsequent
splendid triumphs at konigsgratz and
Sadowa were a humilating counter
pOise to the imperial blunders in
Mexico; while at home the cOnsoIida-
ton of Prussian supremacy has been
a painful contrast tothe concessions OF
imperialism to liberal institutions for
the sake of assuring itself an extended
lease of power Bismarck's predilec-
lions, both personal and ancestral, led
him to identity himself with the cause
of kingly rule in Prussia. He fdenti-
fed the veal of the nation with the
persoI al government by a king. He
is monarchicaI by instinct, audi each
concession made tofiberalism has been
wrung from hima as q departure from
the true principles of all government,
and as an attack upon the peoples
own happiness. The theory of his
foreign policy was that Austrian pre-
p%onderanee was inimical to the vel
fare of Germany. and the general in
terest of the Teutonic race would be
promoted by the elevation of Prus-
STA to the first place in Ger
man councils. His antipathy
to democracy was increased BY
the events of 1S4S, and in 1851 he be-
came member of the PrGssian Parlia-
ment, where his speeches ON the new
constitution and his aristocratic loyal
ism attracted the attention OF the
court. While on his wedding tour he
accidentally encountered the King at
Venice, and personal intercourse so
confirmed the impression he had ere
ated that very soon afterWaTd he was
appointed PrusSian Representative at
the Frankfort Diet. There IS, perhaps,
no man in Europe of whom better
stories are told than of Bismarck.
Among others one is told of this par
tieular epoch, showing his sense of his
own dignity, and of the respect due
to him as representative of Prussia.
The young minister paid a ceremonial
visit to Count Thun, the Austrian
minister and President of the Diet.
Count Thun did not ask him to take a
seat, but continued smoking. Bis
marek, nothing Disconnected, took out
his cigar case, and drawing a chair
forward, asked the President for a
light, and fairly smoked him into
civiIity. In 1859 he was recalled from
Frankfort, and sent ambassador to st.
Petersburg. In 1862 he was placed in
charge of the ministry of Foreign AT
fairs. The whole course of Prussian
politics was at this time a constant
protest at every point by the liberals
and the democratic party against the
crown and its authority. The opposi-
ton to every ministerial plan was
virulent, and no success at home or
abroad modified the hostility of the
opposition. Even Prussian successes
In the Schleswig-HOlstein affair
brought no peace to the councils Of the
nation. The general tendencies of
Europe we're toward a eXpan-
sion of liberalism. Bismarck
and the King believed that the
national welfare lay in the consOlida-
ton of the royal power, in the
control of the press, and in the in
crease of the standing army. The
dispute with Austria sprang out of the
increasing preponderance Of Prussia
in all questions touching the common
interests of Germany. The German
prineipalities were being rapidly me-
dated into Prussian dependencies.
The question of ornaments was q new
jealousy, and the alliance, offensive
and defensive, between Prussia and
the new kingdom of Italy, led to the
Warlike movements by Austria for
the purpose of defending her Venetian
dependencies, which led to Napole-
on's appearance on the scene and to
the expulsion of Austria from italian
soil. The sudden close OF the italian
campaign at Solferino leaving Victor
Emmanuel's position only half assured
and transferring Savoy to France was
hardly satisfactory to Prussia. 1t is
generally believed that, in interviews
which Bismarck had at Biarritz with
Napoleon about this time, the Prus-
sian favored the Napoleonic claims to
Rhine frontier as a Set-off to Prussia'S
longings for SchIeswig- HOlstein and
Baltic ports. Austria now expressed
her diSapproval of Prussia'S aggran-
views on the Duchies; but to
these protests Bismarck paid 10 atten-
top, and the battles of SadOwa and
KOnigsgratz affirmed Prussian rights
and sileneed Austrian remonstrance.
After the Austrian defeats Prussia
consolidated the North German States
and brought them all under her con-
troll, substituting their princes and
granting them pensions and allow
ances in place of their independent
Arrangements were also
made with Southern German States by
which they retained their nominal in
dependence, but Prussia was made
eommander-in-ehief of the Joint army
and head of the customs union,
and the line of the territorial demar-
completely excluded Austria
from all participation in the new
bund. The Luxembourg affair, it will
be remembered, originated from an
attempt by Prussia to get possession
from Holland of that fortress by pur-
This was Objectionable to
France, and the fortress was eventu-
aIIy diSmantled and the territory neu-
tralized. AT this moment, owing to
the consolidation of Germanie pow
ers to the supremacy Of Prussia and
to the powers granted Won Bismarck
c~ildHCetAOH VI tHO ICuOidl CtdtSS, H0
is the most powerful minister in Eu-
rope, having personal influence and
weight more analogous TO that of
or Kannitz than to that of
any modern minister.
In person, Won Bismarck is tan, |
well formed, fair haired, blue eyed,
and of great vigor. He is as hearty
and Joyous as he is energetic and de-
termined. His tastes are simple and
popular, as a proof of which the ma
beer, both white, book and lager
great silver tankards and foaming
goblets, is feature of his entertain
ments. He has been once shot at, but
slightly wounded, arrested the
assassin with his own strong hand,
and the offender subsequently, killed