The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-20

Berlin MS WISH 10 Irlnce Blsnlarck anu TIE
various adventures in the German capital
of our American Ulysses, who has gone
strange countries for to see" under much
more delightful circumstances than his
ancient namesake The account he gives of
long conversation between the great Ger
man Chancellor and the ex-President will
be read with lively interest here by every
body.
That Bismarck should compliment Grant
on his youthful appearance must be evil
dence TO US that our General bears his travels
well and is in good health and his neat re-
he could receive no more flattering compli-
ment than to be called young man, shows
that he has recovered his spirits. We sus-
pect it gave Grant great delight to find that
the conversation opened with an allusion to
Sheridan, whom he is never tired of prais-
ing, and of whom he now repeated what he
has often before said, that he believes him
to be one of the great soldiers of the world
a man fit for the highest commands. No
one who ever served under Sheridan will say
nay to these words Of the able soldier under
whom Sheridan served.
1t was natural that the Congress just then
in session and under the same roof where
this conversation was held should be al
luded to-; and Bismarck remarked that
these famous political doctors had been
called in consultation over case of indi-
gestion. In making the Treaty Of San
Stefano, the Prince said, ''Russia ate more
than she could digest" If he had ever
heard it, he would no doubt have preferred
TO use the more picturesque, if less elegant
Western phrase, that "the man bit of more
than he could chaw." 1t is curious to read
that one Of the minor worries Of the Con-
gress was that the old gentlemen who COM
posed it spoke in such low tones that they
could not be heard and had to repeat their
opinions 1--WE do not get on very rapidly
for one reason" said Bismarck because
nearly every member when he speaks does
it in SO low q voice that he has to say it all
over again"
The atrocious attempt to assassinate tie
Emperor gave the two great men occasion
to discuss this phase of socialism, which
they seem to unite in believing ought to be
stamped out. General Grant remarked that
.sthe influence which aimed at the EN-
peror's life was an influence that would
destroy all government, all order, all
society, republics and empires" 1t had
not then become known that the act of the
assassin Nobiling is not countenanced, but
detested and disowned, by the German
socialists. Grant and Bismarck both be-
lieve in capital punishment, that is very
plain, and the General summed up his
conclusions on the subject in one Of those
pithy and epigrammatic sentences of which
public men. He could not agree, he said,
with those who opposed capital punish
ment, though he respected the sentiment.
Something is due to the offended rs
well as to the offender, especially
where the offended is slain" 1t is
as those who make war; and these two, who
have, each in his way, dealt in war on a
very great, indeed on the greatest scale,
are evidently the kind of men who SO
strongly dislike disorder that it seems to
them the greatest crime against society.
They will have peace il they have to fight
for it. General Grant was right in saying
that the atrocious attempts on the German
Emperor's life have inspired universal
horror and disgust among all classes here.
We could wish he had told Bismarck also
that repression may be carried too far, and
that while crimes against society, as Com
munistic outbreaks and violence are fifty
called, must be crushed with stern hand,
the best way to prevent them is to allow
the largest liberty Of discussion, and train
the people to stop there. 'Say what you
please, but hands off and obey the laws" is
the true rule.
We confess to a more lively interest In
Grants discussion with the German officers
concerning the armament OF the modern
soldier Military students and officers will
read with curiosity that he thinks the
bayonet and the sabre might be dispensed
with. For the latter he would substitute
the pistol, and he would relieve the infantry
of the bayonet and perhaps substitute an
equal weight Of rations or ammunition.
eff soldiers come near enough to each
other to use the bayonet they can do as
much good by clubbing their muskets. F"
We suspect the General has here thrown out
a suggestion which will be very widely dis
cussed in military circles. The Germans
did not agree with him, but replied that in
their late war there were occasions
when effective work was done with the
bayonet. 1t is, we believe, generally
held that when men in battle APP
proach near enough to use the bayonet
they oitenest prefer to club their muskets.
There were numerous instances in the wars
of the First Napoleon when this was done,
and in all modern wars bayonet wounds have
been Of the rarest. General Scott, we re-
member, used to assert that such thing as