The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-12-27
Prince BisEarck's Dilemma.

Prince BisEarcks Dilemma.
After commenting upon the severe SEN
tenee of Count ArniRa, the ". Y. Herald, of
last Saturday, says
Prince Bismarck, it seems to US, has
fallen into q position akin to that of NJ.
Theirs when he was President of the
French Republic and the alliance between
the Bonapartists and Monarebists was
closing around him. When he eeuld not
carry appolicy he threatened to resign. So
long as there was any fear of ths Prussians
Remaining in France this threat was eHec-
tive. But it lost its pswer in proportion
as the 2russian influence came to au end. So
that when NJ. Thiers threatened TO give up
his office unless he could have his own way
thu Assembly tsok him 1T his own word.
He passed FROM power, and with him all
present hopes OF y conservative republic in
France.
In alb the contests of this nature, where
there issues between parties and the
struggle is. for the mastery of an empire,
there are many phases Of strife Before
the war when Bissnarck came into power,
it was as the Minister of reaction against the
spirit of Liberalism. ''k am propd,'f no
said, "to. be a PTussian gunker, and feel
honored by the appellation." Ia. otheF
words he was proud to BE tory of the
tories, and he welcomed the tipae wheH
"Junkerdom would be regarded with
honor aaa .respeets He came into Office in
| the crisis of 1862. % the leader Of the tory
| party, OF that party which had Do higher
| aim than the aggrandizemsnt of the house
| of HohoD Dzellern. His ministry was- a corp
| d'etat. In addressing parliamentary dep
utation in 1862 be expressed his opinions
| with characteristic frankness. What Prns-
I sia needed WAS liberalism, not power.
The power of Prnssia was-of more value to
| Germany than asy. professions OF Liberal
| ism. liberal ideas might do in the minor
! German States,- in Bavacia, Wartembsrg
and Baden, but they were not called upon
| to plsy the part of Prussia. In worde
| which. have become memorable Bismarck
! continned To argne that Prussia. mast hold
| her power together "for that favorable ep-
| portunity whioh had already been some
Jimea- neglected.' The iransiers "f Prussia
| he did n"s regard as favorable. to- II liberal
! constitution. The great Qneslions Of the
day not to be decided hy speeches
and majorties-this had been rhe error of
lS43~ aud lSG4-but by ''nl"od aud iron.''
| This was the inspiration Of the Bismarck
| policy. He dealt with Denmark and
| Austria aud France in this spirit. During
his twelve years power he has Eaa three
wars. He found it necessary to sanimoG
up the liberal sentiments CT Germany by
an appeal 10 the patriotic yearnipg of tht
German heart for union and nationality
but it was not sincere appeal. Lt serves
German Confederation and In hnniliatip9 9
France. Nay, moEe-it put upon the b70w
Gof a HohenZolleTn prince tue crown o!
RCharlemagae and transferred 20 abe deseeu-
dant of German electer the gIAPies Of the
! Roman Empire.
But in achieving these results Bismarcb
has bean compelled to change his policy
| Thus far he has used Germany to serve the
purposes of Prussia. So long as the in.
terest of "German nationality" and "unity'
l1R,I l~s a.
, went hand in hand be has bAen content tC
servo Germany. But since the German
and French war other interests have
supervened. The princes of the old German
States do not kindly accept the suzerainty
OF Prussia. The people do not cheerfuIly
! accept the InpelSnting, harah military sys
t, m of Prussia. They are descended from
g. different race than those who were won
+ to be caned by Prussian king when they
incurred his displeasure. They have theil
, Gown rights and customs aud immemorial ira
ditionS. Many of them are of differen.
{ faith. They did not expect that the spiri
T of Luther would come into their churches
and converts armed with the sword o
Prussia. They have not been accustomed
to sec their noble ladies seUt to prison be
cause they did not believe in tbt> religion
of the Prussian King. They have beer
r shocked at what seemed the sacrliGKe O.
seizinH priest while performing the holi
3 est offices of religion. The Germau Par
? lament, although elected to sustain the
f policy of Bismarck, has been rebellinr
| against the Efforts to impose upon German
the policy of "blood and iron" This re-
helhOn has taken possession of the German
a Parliamept. The ignoring the rights o
/ minor States in apportioning the French
l Indemnity the conversion of so large
3 share of it into the private Golfers of tht
Teigning family for "HoheDzollern war
chest }" the expulsion of the Catholic cler
gymen from Catholic communities tn,
. lcruel measure of enforcing the Reli
bgious laws; the arrest of Count Arnim
, The arrest of Deputy for an ex
preston of Opinion-all of these acts of
kstern, daring, mas erfnl Rnirit have led TO {