Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-21
BISMARCK.
BY Herbert Tuttlee

One secret Of Bismarck's power of fascination
over the German people lies, without doubt. in
the intellectual sympathy which was established
between them after 1865. Up to that time he
had been judged only by the outward superficial
and transient aspects Of his policy, without refer
ence to--for the greater part even in ignorance
GIFTS ultimate aims; and this is equally true Of
conservatives and of liberals. The conservatives
saw him trampling the constitution Of Prussia
under his feet, and that act of destruction
seemed 30 praiseworthy that they refused to
search into his motives. The liberals saw only
an arbitrary, violent, reckless course, which the
laws did not permit, which no public program
made clear, and which no prospect of success en-
c0uraged; they condemned what they could not
understand. But Sadowa changed that as by
touch Of magic. All parties FASTENED
to embrace and applaud the successful mantle
liberals because he had achieved their purpose
the conservatives because he had achieved it
with their means. The greatest statesman of
the age, he was also recognized as the most
characteristic of Germans-the type as we'll as
hero OF the nation; a combination of Luther.
Gotz Won Berlichingen, and Marshal YOrw&rts,
brawny, staggering giant, fond of eating,
drinking and fighting. gifted with coarse. tell
Ing humOr, ready with the Latin Of a corps"
STUDENT yet with serious purpose beneath the
noise of spurs and beer glasses beneath billings
gate doggerel and insolence, and will which
admirably served his purpose No such pictur-
esque character has appeared in Germany since
Frederick the Great and in some respects he
understands his cOuntrymen better than ever
the hero of Sans Souci did. He has never for
instance shocked their religious sense By his own
Indifference. He is a blunt, stern. almost brutal
nationalist. while Frederick. except in war
showed strong taste for fOppish. sentimental,
and fantastic methods. 1t is impossible to
imagine Bismarck playing an unskillful flute. or
composing French ballads, like a ove-siclt
schoOl-bey. The deadly foe of everything like
dilettanteism he saw at once through the shall
Iowness and insufficency of the liberal plan: put
Germany lin the saddle" as he had promised;
fought out the battles of his generation with
"bOOd and iron, not with parliamentary
speeches." and restored the medieval brigands
to the place which had so long been usurpe6 by
a race Of dyspeptic philosophers Nay. he even
confirmed IN startling way one OF the favOrte
theories of the philosophers themselves They
had long taught, some of them. that civilization
was but an unsubstantial polish. beneath which
was hidden the savage man in alfhs picturesque
ugliness. Bismarck rubbed off this polish and
presented the original. interrupted German: q
braWling trooper, equipped for desperate work;
lighting with Baibarossa. robbing with Carl
Moor, burning towns with lilly. saying mass
with the priest before sacking his church and
drinking with the landlord before robaing his
till: strange compound of frankness and ferO-
city, of depravity and superstition. of barbarian
morals and barbarian valor. This parsonage
little changed by time, with more dec0rum. in
deed but less humOr more method. but less
generosity, ne called 10rth TO complete the task
on which poets. pedagogues and barristers had
spent their feeble strength. 1t was a hazardous
game and. confident of success the bold gamb-
Ter did not neglect to provide for failure.
popular legend credits him with the intention OF
blowing out his brains on the battlefield if
Sadowa had been lost. The plan was worthy OF
him. and is not improbable; but it has been
stated by the prince himself that his more rea-
s0nable purpose was to flee to America i'm case
of disaster and found neukxistcrce this side
OF the Atlantic. What field of speculation is
opened by the thought of so iustrious an exile.
What cominotion would have been caused
among the crude trifers of American politics if
this martial figure had stalsed upon the scene
with helmet and saber and cavalry boots!-
radiy atlantic.