The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-11-26
King William and Bismarck.

The following brilliant passage is from
Charles Summers recent lecture on the
European war:
1.-Two personages a. this present mo-
mant hold In their hands this great ques-
ton teeming with new civilization. Hon
est and determined, both are patriotic,
rather than cosmopolitan or Christian, be
levlng IN Prussia rather than humanity
And the patriotism so strong III each keeps
still the early tinge of iron. | refer 70
King William and his Prime Minister,
Count Bismarck. More than any other
European sovereign, William Of Prussia
| possesses the infetua'ion Of Divine right
He believes that b was appointed by God
to be King differing here from Louis
Napoleon, who, In a spirit of compromise,
entitled himself Emperor by the grace
OF God and the national Will. The infat.
uatlon Was illustrated at his coronation In
ancient koDigsberg, the first home OF
Prussian royalty, and better famous as the
birthplace and lite long home Of En-
manuel Kant, when the King enacted
scene of melodrama which might be trans
ferred from the church TO the theater. No
other person was allowed to place the crown
on his royal head. Lifting it from the al
tar, where itrested, he placed il there him
self, III sign that he held it from Heaven
and not from man, and next placed another
on the head Of thesQueen, in sign that her
dignity was derived from him. Then
turning around, he brandished a gigantic
sword III testimony OF readiness to defend
the nation. Since the battle of Sadowe.
when the Austrian Empire was so suddenly
shattered, he has believed himself the
proVldentiai sword-bearer of Germany,
destined, perhaps, to revive the old elories
OF Barbarossa. His habits are soldi .rly.
and, notwithstanding his seven.y-three
years, he continues to find pleasure in
wearing the spiked helmet of the Prus-
sian camp Republicans smile when he
speaks of my army, my allies, and INV
people, but this egotism is the natural
expression of the monarchical character,
especially where the monarch believes that
he holdsby divine right" His public con-
duct is in harmony with these conditions.
de Is Protestant, ard rules the land OF
Luther, but he IS no friend to modern re-
torn. The venerable system Of war and
prerogative is part OF his inheritance hand
ed down from fighting despots, and he evil
IDENTIFY believes i'll il. His minister, Count
Bismarck. is the partisan of divine right"
and, like the King, regards with satisfac
ton that hierarchioal ieudalism from
which they are both derived He is no.
bic and believes in nobility. He be-
iieves also IN force, as II he had the blood
of the god Thor. He believes in wer, and
does not hesitate to throw its iron dice,
insisting upon the rigors of the game. AS
the German question began to o1er his
policy was more persistent. Not through
speeches and votes OF the majority, said
he, In 1862, are the great questions Of the
time decided-that was the blunder of
lS4S and 1919 but by steel and blood.
Thus explicit was he. Having policy, he
became Its representative, and very soon |
thereafter controlled the counsels of his |
sovereign, coming swiftly before the world |
and yet his elevation was tardy. Born in |
1919, he did not enter upon diplomacy
until 1891, when SO years Of age, and only |
IN 1862 became Prussian Minister at Paris, |
whence he was soon transferred to the
Iaolnet at Berlin as Prime Minister. Down
20 this time he was little known. But from
mis- time he drew so large share of pub
&c attention that the contem porary press
u the world became the d ctionary
Shere his name was always found.
Nobody doubts his intellectual re.
sources, his courage or strength of
Will, but 1t is felt that he is nat
lrally hard, and little affected by human h
Therefore is he an excellent
var minister. 1t remains to be seen if he
Flll do as much for peace. His one idea
las been the unity Of Germany under the
of Prussia, and hefe he encoun.
cred Austria, as he now encounters France
5ut IN that large unity, he can do less. so
ong at least as he is a fanatic for kings {
nd cynic toward popular institutions. +;
'uch is the King and such his Minister. I
ave described them that you 1aay see how
ttle help the great ideas already germi-
atlng from bloody fields will receive from
nem. In tins respect they are as one
The people OF Springfield, Mass, felt
mother Sock on Sunday morning, which !
ley suppos. % be that of an earthuuake. ;