The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-04-02

Professor william Wells writes in
lSribners Monthly: Bismarck is by no
means finished, not even ready or nat
ural orator. The knightly appearance
Of the Prince, his ease Of manner, and,
above all, his reputation rs diplomatst
and statesman, would lead us to suppose
him an orator-cithcr one who would
deliver profound and wel-arranged
speech without hesitation or effort, or,
still more, an orator Of natural eloquencc
whose words and figures would flow
from his lips as the creations Of the mo-
ment, and entrance or enkindlc the
hearts Of his hearers. But this is not the
case. Occasionally he may he seen at
his desk winging his way rapidly with
his quill over narrow strip Of paper,
while some member is on the platform.
All know what this means, and at a
slight bow of his head the President an
nounces tat Prince Bismarck, Chancel-
lor of the Empire, has the floor. As he
rises there is a general demand for silence
all over the House, with the exclamation,
"He is speakingl" He inclines his
body toward the Assembly, winds his
thumbs around each other, and casts an
occasional glance at the House but he
stops, hesitates, sometimes even stam-
mers, and corrects himself; he seems to
struggle with his words, which ascend
unwillingly to his lips; after two or
three there will be short pause, when
one can almost here suppressed swallow.
lie speaks without gesture, feeling or
emphasis, and often fails in the final ac-
centation of syllables, 30 as to weaken his
thought. One wonders IL this is the
man with parliamentary career behind
him Of more than aquarter Of century,
during which period he has been in every
legislative body of his country, meeting
ing with bitterest opposition from the
Liberal party inhis early career, parrying
their most caustic words in kind, and
replying, with wonderful presence Of
mind, by the wittiest impromptus or the
most cutting sarcasm. 1t is the same
man, and presently he will prove it.
Gradually his speech flows with more
warmth, and unfolds its peculiar attrac-
ton: series of original, fresh, gritty,
and significant expressions, which tell
more by their power than their beauty.
His speeches are collections Of sentences
rather than the developement Of smooth
and logical train of reasoning. Many
Of them have gone into history ss pro-
verbal, such as Cataline existences,"
"Blood and iron, Austria must move
its center Of gravity to the ORIENT" etc.
Some months ago, after listening to long
diatribes about the evils Of the. recent
wars, and tho burdens which they have
brought upon the people as a nation,
he quietly arose and said "After
each one of the recent wars the nation
has enjoyed greater amount Of parlia-
mentary liberty than before them" This
was SO stsikingly true that it was folly
to argue that they had led to tyranny.
And he closed by saying: " But, never
theless, gentlemen, the German nation
has right to expect from US that we
shall prevent such catastrophe; and l
am convinced that the allied govern
ments desire nothing 80 much as TO effect
this purpose" With this beautiful adj
monition, simple though dignified, and
expressed with fervor, he electrified the
au,lieuce asifh he were the greatest orator
and then sat down amid deafening ap-
plause from all parts Of the House.
Thus, with apparently no oratorical power
he seldom takes the floor without con-
frming his nation in the belief that,
take him all in all. he is a statesman
such as Germany never before enrolled in
her annals, and whom the world at large
may well envy her in possessing.