The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-24
The Bismarckian Professors.
TFortnipht Review

The members of this school, like the
master himself, are men of wit and cul-
ture, and command the public attention
through the press, the PLATFORM and the
chairs of the universities. Like him, too,
they are sincerely Indifferent to their own
fortunes, and thus acquire undue credit
with people who fail to reflect that vr-
tue and wisdom, fir nkness and sagacity
are not always found united in the same
person; while a certain tone of philoso-
phical scientific liberaity, fierce hatred
of intoler nee in school or church, foster
the delusion that cirpolitical views are
equally free from prejudice and passion,
that their political aims are no less lofty,
generous and bcncfrent They are
thus enabled to teach with impunity the
most subtle and dangerous maxims Of
absolutism. The chief tenet of their
creed being that Germany must be strong,
they easily associate external strength
with internal despotism; and from this
original fallacy to the acceptance of a
dictator or a Caesar, the passage is never
difficult. That the dictator. in this case
happens to be a Bismarck does not affect
the principle. The vice of Ctesarism is
not that it selects incompetent men
which in fact it seldom does-but that it
selects them by false method, under
the influence of popular frenzy, or from
ba.e motives of expected profit, at the
cost of national dignity and self-respect
or at best in the terror of some public
crisis, which invites brief expedients Of.
relief, but leaves them as settled inslitu-
tutions Of State. In the course of time
the difference between the upright patr-
ots who accept such expedients in spir-
it of mistaken duty, and the adventures
wno pursue only their own advantage,
grows ~eusibly less; process of assimila-
ton reduces them TO a common level Of
prohigacy. What was once reluctant
acquiesence becomesa positive and hearty
support. which, although it may still
clothc its reasons in more decorous forms,
is but little less corrupt and dissolute than
the zeal of the original favorites. This is
The process which seems to be taking
place in Germany at the present time.
The race Of scholars and thinkers who
carry over into active life the broad,
manly, and inyigorating results of lib
eral culture, in whom the great heroes Of
antique freedom and the noble MARTYRS
of modern progress still arouse respect and
excite emulation, is apparently passing
away, and in the rival school under the
sway of the new enlightenment, a sordid
offensive passion for mere national ag-
grandizement is taught as the highest
patriotism. The doctrines of these phi
losophers do not even end with Bis
marck, although they just now rally
about his name and person, but are in
tended orpermanent circulation through
all the vicissitudes of Cabinets and Diets.
Bismarck is only the best available in
strument for the practical conduct of the
scheme. They recognize in him the man
of iron will, Of approved courage, of far
reaching sagacity, of character which
inspires respect at home and fear abroad,
and they have no reluctance to endow
him with the most sweeping prerogatives;
but their bounty will be no less reckless,
their homage no less complete, if the sue
cessor Of Bismarck prove to be equally
worthy of his mission.