The New York herald., 1874-11-03
The Won Arnim Affair.

Inc arrest ana imprisonment OF Count
Won Arnim is something more than mere
personal controversy between Prince Bismarck
and an Ambassador. IF this were all it would
be an important event. The scandal of q
controversy between two great and powerful
nobleman, of worldwide repute, who had
held high place under the Empire and had
been largely instrumental in the regeneration
and consolidation Of Germany, is itself cal
culated to excite the largest measure Of inquiry
and wonder. This is more than an ordinary
quarrel Bismarck, like Wolsey and Richie
lieu and other statesmen Of vast influence,
has raised up against him extraordinary
antagonisms It is in the nature of such a
man, and almost inseparable from his policy,
that there should be controversies. When we
look at the full measure of the work which
Bismarck has done, when we see what Ger
many was few years since, an aggregation
of fragments tumbled together into q diet,
at the mercy of Austria and Prussia, and what
she is now, o compact, powerful Empire, sway
ing the destinies of Europe, we can under
stand how difficult the work must have been
and bow the enpities it necessarily fostered
may lead to his fall.
The position of q Minister who depends upon
parliaments or party support for his career
is precarious enough, but not so precarious
as that of Minister like Bismarck. who is
only strong SO long as he has the affections Of
- king. Therefore this controversy between
the Chancellor and the Count is most likely o
struggle for the Kings affections. There is o
rumor in one Of the foreign journals that
Count Arnim spoke Of his imprisonment as q
step toward the Chancellorship. In other
words, Bismarck the thrower will himself be
thrown, and Arnim will take his place. This
ending of the controversy would be an ex-
ceedingly important event. The fall of Bis
marck would produce more results in the Con-
tinent than the fall of any man since
NapoleonL German unity in its present fresh
moistened and scarcely hardened condition
would receive severe blow. There would be
an end of the Italian alliance. The temporal
power of the Pope would return, the progress
of the religious question would be arrested,
and there would result no end of complica-
tions with Russia. Prince Bismarck seems
to be one of the most difficult of servants hard
to keep and hard to dismiss. For an Emperor
who loves quiet life, and an Emperor nearly
eighty years of age would be apt to yearn for
peace, his constant restlessness and stirring
activity and facility for making trouble make
him the worst of all chancellors. But for
German unity and the consolidation of the
higher purposes of German policy no man
would do as well.
Yet there comes to all nations, even as to
men, time when the body Graves rest.
Heroic, radical craftsmanship will do now
and then, but we gradually wish for conserva-
tism. We see how England passed from the
radicalism Of Gladstone to the conservatism Of
Disraeli, and in America we have been slowly
passing from the radlcalism of Lincoln to
more conservative purposes. We can well
understand how Germany should weary Of
Bismarck. 1t is we'll to put the spur into the
side in the fierceness of the strife; but the
spur and always the spur results in sure
muiny and exhaustion. Germany has felt
Bismarck's spur since 1859, and we can well
believe she would now long for the gentler
processes of o chancellor like Count Arnim.