The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-25

Berlin that will not allay the bitterness
that exists between the French and the
German people. 1t appears that Prince
Bismarck, during and after the siege OF
Paris, was in the habit of expressing him
self very freely in regard to the distin-
guished personages with whom be had
been IN contact in a diplomatic political or
military capacity. Aud gentleman of
his personal staff was also in the habit of
writing down very freely what the great
chancellor had said and now the words
that he spoke in the closet are proclaimed |
from the house top. lie is represented to |
have spoken as follows of the late French |
emperor: Whatever may be thought of |
the coup a. etdt, Louis Napoleon is really
good-natured, full of feeling, even senti-
mental; as to intelligence and knowledge
Wissen), he has but little of either. He
is particularly badly off with respect to
geography, although no was brought up
and went 10 school in Germany; and he
lived in all manner of fantastic magma
tions His acquir ements are of that sort
that he would certainly be able to pass
our examination for the post of refendery.
l knew this long ago, but nobody believed
me. | told the King so in 1854 and 1855.
He (Napoleon) has not the least idea how
matters stand with us. When Twas made
minister in Paris had long conversation
with him in 1861. 1t was then his opinion
that we should not last long-that there
would be az emeute in Berlin and a revo-
luton throughout the whole country and
that if a plebiscitum were held the king
would find everything against him. told
him there that our people were no barri-
cade builders, and that 10 Prussia nobody
but kings made revolutions; that 1t the
king only chose to endure the strain then
existing for three or four years he would
win the game; that if his majesty did not
get weary Of the whole business and did
not give me up, l should not fall; and that
if he even then appealed 10 the people and
allowed them to vote, nine-tenths OF them
would be in his favor. The emperor,
speaking of me at the time, said, ''Ce
nest pas un homme serieux," l did not
remind him of this when we met in the
weavers cottage at Donchiryi"
1t will be remembered that Jules FaVre
was sent to treat for peace when the Prus-
slams were before Paris. The incident oil
his weeping having been mentioned
Prince Bismarck saio: True, he certain
ly looked like it; and l endeavored &c
comfort him 10 some extent; but when
watched him little more closely l cam
to the conclusion that he had not squeezed
out single tear. He probably thought b.
could work upon me theatrical perform
ance. as the Paris advocates do upon thei
audiences; aud l am positively convinced
that at Ferrieres he had painted his tacC
white-especiall the second time that h
came to see me there, That morning hC
was of a much greyer tint than before, II
order to play the part of one overcome b.
grief and in deep suffering Perhaps b
may really have felt something, bu
he is no politician-he Ough
to have known that explosions of feeling
are not appropriate to politics When
mentioned something about Strasburg an
Metz he made q grimace, as though ha
been cutting joke. might haveItold hiI
what the great furrier in Berlin once sal
to me. One day / went with my wife
look out for fur coat, and he asked me
long price for the one which best please
me, You are surely joking, | observed
No, he replied, neUer an business. In We
sailles Favre had got still greyer, ar
stouter to boot-the latter, probably {
horse flesh. But he looked, on the Who'll
like a man who had gone through so nut
vexation and excitement that he did q
care a curse what happened to him.
was extremely difficult to make militia
matters at all Ineligible to him. He oft
remarked to me that France was the lal
of freedom, whilst we were reigned ov
by despotism, On one occasion l mentio
ed to him that we we're in want of none
and that Paris would have to find some
us. He rejoned that we could issue
law. l replied that we could not do th
without Parliament or the Diet. Ali
cried, you can manage to get hold of 5
millions of francs without the chamber
/ answered, No; not five francs He wnu
not believe me, but l told him that b
lived for four years in chronic state
war with national representatives;
that the issue Of loan without the &C
sent of the Diet had always been the bi
rier up to which / had arrived, and that
had never even occurred to me to step ov
it. This appeared somewhat to shake
convictions; he only remarked that -
France on ne Sc generait pas!" a
promptly returned TO his theorem th
France was in possession of enormo
liberties. 1t is really uncommon
funny to hear Frenchmen talk in this ws
especially Fare. who always belonged
the opposition. But that's how they
are, You can administer five and TWEEN
lashes to any Frenchman, if you will on
make him fine speech all about the fire.
dom and human dignity expressed in tho
same lashes, making the appropriate &
lures to your grafton; he will forthw
persuade himself that he is not bel
logged"
a curious anecdote about Morny is
lated by his former diplomatic colleague
st. Petersburg: When Morny was {
pointed as minister in the Russian capt.
he arrived with long procession of spl,
did, elegant carriages, and countless trur
all crammed full OF laces, silks aud lad
toilets, for which, as a foreign envoy,
had nc. duty to pay. Every single serv,
had bis own carriage, every secretary q
attache at least two, and he himself
OF six. Two days after his arrival he s
the whole lot by auction, carriageS Ia
fashionable costumes and all The pro
by this transaction were enormous,
had no conscience whatever, but he W
really charming person"
Speaking of Moltke, Bismarck ga
War IS his business. ! remember WI
the Spanish question became burn
one, that he Immediately began to look
years younger. When ] had told him Il
the HOheuzOlern had given in he at OF
got to ok old and worn out. And VIII
soon after, the French were not satisfi
with even that concession, Moltke v
suddenly quite fresh and young again
|
The Real Reason.
H. H. -