The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1872-11-23
glSMARck's AccovnI OF the 0RIolN
Of the LATE WAR.


or the LATE WAR;
The London Spectator seems to have Of
tanned an advance copy" of the new boo
on the late war by General Hazcn, of til
United States army. Our cotcmporsr
quotes the following very interesting pms
sage from tho work:
September 81. 1901 have just visitc'
Count Bismarck with General Burnside
We found him qusrtercd 1t the Ferrieres
the country scat of the Paris branch Of tn
Rothschilds, where the King 1t present ha
his headquarters. On our arrival Count Bis
marck was engaged with one of the French
Legitimate princes, who was urging upor
the Premier the claims of his house. Or
being shown in VIC found Count Bismarck
busi,y engaged in copying. with q lead pen
ell rs thick as ones thumb, some very rough
draft of document. lie came forward and
received US with warmth and smile of gen.
uinc amisbility and kindness, and after q
few remarks upon the latest war news,
begged to be permitted to finish his copy,
which would take but moment. He
occupied small room, in which were few
chars and a writing desk. lie Is some.
thing over six feet in height, with large
frame. filled out. but not gross; hair quite
gray. and clear blue eyes. In conversation,
the usual stcrnncss of his countcnancc chan {.
gcs to kindness, with manner of open
frankncss that cannot fail to win the listen.
or. On finishing and dcspatchlng his copy.
he turned to us. and. scarcely waiting for n
fresh cigarette, began a very interesting
talk of ut least two hours duration. in which
he was the uninterrupted speaker.
lie said THE people of Germany were
astOnislIcd TO find themselves involved in a
general war. After long and labori"us
season Of duties n, Berlin. l had gone down
10 my plncc In Pomcrania, and was en-.
gagged in laying on. my grounds and plant.
ing my gardens. with my wife and all NY
children about me, happy in the belief that
! should have an uninterrupted summer,
without the distraction of official work.
Sometime in May dispatches began to reach
me. sometimes in cipher, indicating that
there might he trouble with France; but I
gave little heed to them. ard continued the
rural work of which l am 50 fond. and
which my health seemed to require. My
place is not directly on the line Of commu.
nication, SO that my letters and papers did
not reach me very regularly, and had al.
most forgotten the events made possible by
previous dispatches The subject Of the
Hohcnzollcrn's pretensions 10 the throne Of
Spain had already been brought to the notice
of the King, who opposed them, on the
ground Of unfitncss Of German Princes to
rule Latin subjects, as shown by the expert.
ment In Mexico. had not been officially
consulted on the subject, but it appeared to
me pity for young man who desired
kingly career, and had the position at his
disposal, not to take Il; and q he was mar.
ricd to an exemplary, good woman, and
was himself man Of uprigh,ness and cor.
rect life, his religion also being that of
Spain. l thought that his example, along
with that of his wife, together with the
management Of Spain promised by his
scholarly habits, might he advantageous to
the Spanish people, and his reign success.
full. The matter had the year before been
brought 10 the notice Of the young man and
he acquainted the Emperor with the scheme
rs matter which his sovereign character
gave him right to know. The Princes
acceptance. IL the matter should 1t last he
fsvsrably considered, was still to bc subject
u vote Of the Spanish people. On his
mentioning to me casually that the Spanish
Throne had been offered to him, Ire,nasked
that a crown was not offered to . lieutcn.
ant of hussars every day, and urged him to
make sure Of 1t, promising that would sec
that the King consented The King At
last reluctantly gave his consent, not a .
sovereign for the matter had not advanced
10 fur - 10 bc discussed In that light,
but o. the head of the army of Prussia,
In which the young man held acommission.
lie had doubts as 10 the propriety of Prus.
sia's favoring the scheme, for the political
reason that Prince Leopold would be too
strongly In favor Of the French idea and
against Prussia lie was blood relative
Of the Emperor; bis fsthcr had projected |
for the Emperor his Strasburg .aasco. and
was always the bosom friend Of Napoleon;
and II was he, In fact, and not the son. who
was arranging the Spanish throne business.
The thought that It could in any way be |
to the French Sovereign never
occurred to any member Of the Prussian |
Government. 1t was at this juncturc that
. note came from the French Government |
requiring the remuneration of the young |
mans ambition. Seeing that it was likely
TO make serious trouble between the two
countries, he had, by the advice of his
father, made personal remuneration before
the matter had been fairly brought to the
notice Of the Prussian Government; and
coming himself to Berlin. found, rs he
supposed. everything settled, and next
morning went back 10 his country home,
and the King to his summer resort ut Ems.
Imagine the surprise Of all Prussia on hear.
In few days tia. France was not satisfied,
but required that the Prussian Government |
should disclaim all future intention of plac.
Ing . German prince upon the Spanish
throne Instructions were ut once given to
the Prussian ambassador at Paris to sec to
It that the dignity Of his Government was
fully sustained, but he did not seem to
quite comprehend the character Of the bu.
sincss he was dealing with. Tho Govern.
mcnt Of Berlin no- wrote me that II seemed
for the King IL rcmain longer
1t Ems. unaccompsnicd by his Minister.
The kingnbhors war, aud our military sys.
tenn Is such rs TO bring into the ranks the
very best Of our men. lie seemed ready u
make great concessions rather than bring
great sacrifices upon the country, and
wrote dispatch To the Emperor virtually
making the disclaimer asked for. The dis.
patch was sent to me, his Minister. for 10
vision, and ito tone somewhat sltcrcd 10
better suit the emergency. I now tcle-