River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-05-15
STEIN, THE STATESMAN.
The First Minister of Prussia under Frederic
William Ill.

The First Minister of Prussia under Frederic
William Ill.
Correspondence of the Springfield Republican.
According to the English saying, lit
take 100 years to make gentleman,
three generations, as Herodotus rCckops,
and 800 years to make lawn. Heroes
are quite as slow-growing, oftcn-tine as
either of these two British institution
that is to say, in their capacity as herocs.
1t took two centuries to place Cromwell
on the pedestal where Carlyle has finally
set him up, and where with some iaud ol:-
casionally flung at him. he will pIObahly
remain. Luther and Washington Calso
to their inheritance more promptly, bat
did not get their full growth as popular
heroes until at least 100 years after they
began business. Napoleon discounted
his glory, as many smaller men do and it
has been below par now for some years,
while the men that upset him in his Gu
rcer have been coming into greaier re-
nown This is particularly true OF Stein,
the long -nosed, heightened, sharp-tempcr-
ed German statesman, who did as much ms
anybody, and more than most, to conglo{n-
crate the allied mass of Europe WHICH
finally howled down the Man of Destiny,
after his long career of conquest and ic-
construction. In NapolcOn's own day,
few people heard anything of Stein out of
the ministerial and diplomatic circle; the
soldiers and kings quite overcrowed hun
but now he stands forth with his small,
flashing eyes, his pointed chin and his
lecturing turn of mind as the great Cont
mental statesman and Prusslan Tetormcr
He was, like all national reformcrs, an
embodiment of certain long-formipg and
well -crystallized national traits, among
which the martinez and the professor
claim their share. Stein was school
master by nature, though a noblcpan by
birth, and he snapped the ears of his pu-
pills, princes though they were, without
ceremony.
1t appears that Stein at one time, had
thought of becoming an American
citizen, and Kentucky was the place ne
had pitched upon for his home. II was
in the dismal time after the conquest of
Prussia and all germany by Napoleon.
when Sticn, who never submitted to that
conqucror as Goethe did was sick sc his
conquered country. In July, 1919, ne
wrote: "Do enjoy rest and independence
it would ne best to settle in America, in
Kentucky or Tennessee; there one would
find splendid climate and soil, glorious
rivers, and rest and security for century
not to mention multitude of Germans
the capital of Kentucky is called Franz
fort" Had he come over and lived There
half century, in 1861 the civil war would
have disturbed his reposc. But in truth
rest was not what Stein wanted, by any
means; he was born for action, and for
prompt and severe action. Ills rapidty
and inpatIence,' says VarnhageTi, Won
Ense, ''were closely connected with his
bodily organization. He once asked me
the rate OF my pulse, and then, wilh
laugh, he held out his wrist and babe me
count the beats. They were more tbm "A
hundred to the minute. He declared that
had been his ordinary pulse when in per-
feet health. lie seemed to regard this
popularity as a charter from nature, al How
ing him to indulge in more fiery cbulitions
than other people He was also very eX-
acting and rs the same writer says: $50
ciety could seldom CRAFTY his rteiuii
ments, for he made constantly the !Iigli
est demands. He would have propl,
honorable and German, but they must
he also refined and well hammered and
scientifically trained they must he also
resolute and energetic and, if possible,
they must give entertainment by THEN
intelligence and wit. 10 bc sure, he was
all this himself. but he did not often inject
with such persons
But who was Stein anyhow! mcthiDk
| heard the impatient reader cXclaimt for
we have heard good deal more in this |
country of Carl Schurz and of Aucrhach, |
the novelist, than of Heinrich, Frederick, |
Karl, Freihcrr ven und yum Stem whom, |
for which means Stone. He was oHe of |
those stones, mentioned in the New Tesla I,
ment, upon which if any man fell he was
broken, but if ii fell upon him il grttund |
him to powder. Napoleon fell upon
Stein and was broken then Stein fclEup- i
on Napoleon and brought down all Ger 4
many and then all Europe upon bin.
This at least, is what we must believe. IN !
Stein into Il heT9-lnd it svas
not far from what he did; for without
Stein at certain critical moments. Prussia !
could not have recovered from the rain !
which Napoleon brought upon her at Jena, (
and in the peace - Tilsit; and ae4in.
without Stein at his side, the Gar Ak.X
inder would hardly have taken the cOprsc
he did after the defeat Of Napolcor in
Russia, which was followed by his defeat (
1t Lepsic and his banishmeni To Eliza. !
Stein in fact, played such part in PrIs-
ia as Sam Adams did IN the American :
,olonies before the outbreak of our Rreo- /
ution Inc prepared the way for the vitAo-
IF his couetIy. though he did not have
very actiAe share in that victory itself
Among political economists, also, Stein is
as the Prussian TurgOt @ho
lut in paactice with swift and stToag
land, for few years, the maXime Of
common sense and the principles of lkb-
,rty which Adam Smith had formulated
N the Wealth Of Nations" 1t was jlc
xho drew the royal edict by which sc.f-
lOm and caste in Prussia were first bfttk-
N down. they are not yet wholly broken
lp-and which established that useful |.
and tenure which England still lacks and
uffers for want Of He was born IN
Sassue in 1857, and died in 1881. having
,een "a Prllssian official the first half OF stIs
ife, and in his later years disconnected |
BECAUSE he was no longer one. He began
n the civil service of Frederick the Great
n 11sO-served through the varieils
rfades till 1907. when he became fist
minister or dictator Of Prussia unGer
frederick William I'LL; was dismissed sn
he autumn OF 1903 for having offended
Napoleon, who prescribed him in Decesis
,er. 1905: was invited to Russia by al
xander in the spring Of 1912; retuTedsto
;crmanv as the representative Of Aiexafl-
Ter early in 1873, and assisted IN the cfsa-
Of Germany against Napoleen