The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-27


great German Chancellor, Prince Bismarck.
mas been fighting with sea Of troubles In his
own native Prussia. After Sadowa, which laid
Austria prostrate, and Sedan, which left
France In the dust It was not unnatural for
Prince Bismarck, who was the victor in the
one case and the other, to conclude that his
country would allow him some rest from his
labors What had he not done2 He had
made Prussia, which one hundred years ago
had scarcely begun to exist, the first of the
German States; he had also made Germany.
through Prussia, the first Power in Europe.
All future history must admit that Sadowa
made Prussia mistress of Germany, and that
Sedan made Germany mistress of the Con-
tinent Of Europe; and 1t will not be denied
by the faithful historian that the master mind
which brought about both results was that Of
Prince Bismarck.
1t Is notorious, however, that the Prince,
since his return to Berlin, has found matters
even less to bis taste than the toilsome work
which had to be done in the brilliant and
cushioned saloons Of Versailles. On his re-
turn he found things slightly chaotic. Since
his return his enemies have revealed them
selves His enemies are numerous. They
are found among the ultramontanes, who
regret the union Of the German States. be-
cause Of the power which the Protestant
North must henceforth WELD over the Catholic
South. The ultramontanes are keen and de-
termined opponents. They are found also
among the separatists, who, without any re-
gard to religion, feel disposed to resist the
Prussianization of Germany. In all the an.
nexed States the doings of 1866 are more
or less bitterly remembered. The separatists
are numerous in all the States which have
lost their independence; but they are particu1
larly strong in Hanover aud Saxony. His
enemies, in consequence of an educational
question, to which we will Immediately REFER,
include what are called the pietists of the
Prussian Kingdom class with which the
Emperor William and the Empress Augusta
deeply sympathize. With these enemies, from
their numbers and from their influence, Prince
Bismarck has found it hard to fight. The
man, however. who gave to his country tho
glory of Sadowa and the glory of Sedan was
not to be easily beat; and the presumption
now is that he has won third victory greater
than either of the two which went before.
It was found by Prince Bismarck that in
the Catholic provinces everything was being
done which could be done by the ultramon,
tanes to make the schools a medium through
which TO encourage disunion. The Princes
first move was to take the schools under the
charge of the government. But Prussia is 9
land of religious equality. What is done with
the schools of one sect of Christians must be
done with the schools of all others. The bill
for placing the inspection Of schools in that
State in the hands of State officials and taking
tout of the hands Of the clergy was fercely re-
sisted in the lower house of the Prussian
Parliament, but it was ultimately carried after
hard fighting by majority Of twenty. Now;
however, began Bismarcks greatest trouble.
Would the upper house sustain him9 If the
upper house did not sustain him, would the
Emperor-King desert him2 What could the
King do if,the vote was against himp He
could, as in England, and as was effectively
threatened by Earl Grey in the first reform
struggle, sanction the creation of as many
peers as would give the government the vic-
tory. Whether the King would do so was for
time doubtful; for the Queen was in the
hands of the pietists, and her influence was
immense; but the Kings consent has been obs
tanned, and Bismarck Is now master Of the
situation. Bismarck's position in regard to
the Catholic Church has 80 often and so
grossly been misrepresented that we choose to
give his own words used in the debate in the
lower house:-
sBe as Romanist as you please''-this was the
great theme on which he harped over and over
ton as YOU ike to be- so long as YOU are true to the
| German empire, and do not care so much for Rome
rs ssu pFoow the example Of the French Papsts
who are never so Paplst but what tney are before
s ana mve MSavsr
Poland and toe restoration q Hanoyer ana tne rnp.
S;ermany then nv government must interfere. Ana
| 1t Is order to prevent this that we assume tnd
e paad leave no
| longer to the clergy"
There Is nothing in these words which hin4
ders lis from expressing the hope that Prince
Bismarck may come forth from this fresh
struggle triumphant. Sadowa and Sedan have
made this school question fight necessity:
When we add that defeat on this question
would imply the sacrifice Of the fruits of those
two great victories we have said enough to
show that Prince Bismarck must again carry
the day. Prussia cannot yet spare him, and
to Germany he is indispensable.
WHOSE FUNERAL IS THIS ?-The Chicago,
7ri5une-quasi OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES that
ssthe democratic party, as WHOLE, has made
mn It's mind to lay down its life, and, relieving