Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-22
BISMARCK AND Won ARNIM.
why the Two Prussfan Statesmen
Fell Out-An Interesting Chapter Of
Contemporary History. "a
Rerliu Correspondence Of the New York Tri-

The BismaIck-Arnim controversy is as
suming the dimensions of public ques-
ton: The German press are full of dark
paragraphs, limiting at the fate which
awaits the ambassador, now ON his way
to Berlin; and the public waits expectant
for fresh developments. In the meantime
l think can give you pretty correct his
tory of the whole affair. Count Harry Won
Arnim belongs to a German family, which,
thoroughly respectable, is neither ancient
nor illustrious. BY the old aristocratic
houses, indeed the Arnims are called par
renues: but this fact, or insinuation, If it
be not based on a fact, does not exclude
talent of very high order, as the State Of
Prussia has often had occasion to learn.
Count Harry, if not the best known,
is the cleverest of the family. He
is a man of great accomplishments, both
natural and acquired, profound student
of art, and a writer of excellent taste.
The opening of the GcuInenical Council
gave him new field for his activity, and it
was known at the time that no other diplo-
matte agent at the Vatican followed so
closely the proceedings of thes conclaye.
Thanks to publications recently made, the
nature of his reports to the Prussian Gov
eminent is now revealed. Count Won
Arnim has publicly denied having effected
the publication of his two dispatches in
the Presse of Vienna. He is a man of
honor, and his word is entitled to respect.
But il can not be indiscreet to say that, in
spite of his denial, the German Foreign
Office is not convinced that the PreSse did
not obtain the papers with his tacit COLI
sent, if not with his direct connivanee.
The assignable motive with the Embassa-
dor would be desire to put himself right
on the record in view of his recall from
Paris; and at the same time to propitiate
Austrian friendship on his way to the Bos-
phorus.
Count Won Arnim had a plan, it seems,
to prevent the dogma of infallibility by
active political intervention. He saw
clearly that the Council, as an ecclesiasti-
cal Legislature, was wholly in the power
of the Italian Jesuits, and he saw, too,
what great many statesmen did not see,
that the non pldcetS Of tie German, French
and American Bishops ould not have tile
slightest moral effect on'the Council, and
would not be maintained even by those
prelates themselves without the active sup
port of the civil power. His recommenda-
ton to the German, ar rather the Prussian
Government, was therefore first to appoint
an agent who should demand the privilege
of being present at all sessions of the Coun-
ell, and second, to make the resistance of
the Prussian and German Bishops a State
cause, to be supported as such. Here was
the draft of a distinct policy, which, If
adopted, would have wholly changed the
relations Of the European States to the
Council. Il is but just to Count Won Arnim
TO say that many men who are in no special
sense his friends concede to him now a re-
markably clear view Of the matter at the
time, and even believe, in view of the ac-
ton which the State is now taking toward
the Church, that his advice was wise, and
ought to have been followed. He was GER
taInly correct in predicting that the Ger
man opposition TO infallibility would not
stand without the aid of the State.
Whether the converse be true, as he thought
in 1870, and persists to-day, is q problem
which will never be solved. Prince Bis
marck, then only Count, declined 10 in
terfere with the course Of legislation at the
Vatican. In two dispatches, which he has
since published, he set forth his reasons
for leaving things to take their own course,
and testifies furthermore to the complete
Indifference On the subject which then pre-
vailed in Prussia.
Prince Bismarck, little later, sent Count
Won Arnim to Paris. 1t is now sometimes
said that the Chancellor does not like
clever subordinates sufficiently independ>
ent in temper to have wills Of their own,
and sufficiently high in position to compete
with his own fame. Count Won Arnim
supplied, indeed, many essentials of good
envoy for the circumstances in which he
was sent to Paris. His mind is, in fact,
Gallo rather than TeutOnic; he is, as |
have said, gentleman of admirable man.
ners, and long residence in Rome has Sc
cured him the acquaintance of many old
French Catholic families. His selection
was regarded at the time as in many re-
spects a good one. There were not want
ing others who foresaw that the German
ambassador at Paris would have a thank
less Office in any case, and that Won Ar
MINIS restless spirit would be sure to bring
him into trouble. lie first gave ofense, as
ssems now to be admitted, in taking too
active a part in French political in
trigues. A devoted ROyalist, he
worked faithfully for the overthrow
of NJ. Thies and the substitution
of MacMahOn as a step toward a Bourbon
restoration. The interference itself was
an offense, but All interference in favor of
Henry ' was blunder. If the secret cor
respondence between Paris aud Berlin be
ever published, it will show beyond doubt
that Prince Bismarck has long been dissa-
tisfied with his ambassadors conduct, and
that his transfer was only question of
time. When the occasion came the blow
fell. The elevation of the Turkish Lega-
ton here to the rank of an Embassy
made necessary a similar change in the
German Legation at Constantinople; and,
instead Of promoting Won Eichmann, the
Foreign Office decided to send Won Arnim
there. This was in theory no disgrace. All
embassies are equal in rank, and only per-
sOnal preference makes Paris more desira-
BILE than Constantinople. Blu: in the case
Of Count Won Arnim it was understood to
be the first step towards his expulsion from
the service; at least he seems to have re-
scented it as such. He began the publica-
ton of letters, to which the inspired or
gans Of Prince Bismarck have replied, and
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