The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-05-10
BISMAaCK'S CRAFTSMANSHIP

NO one questions the veteran
Prince Bismarck genius as Il great
statesman. or his eminence as com.
manding figure in the political drama
of the age. He has probably made a
deeper impress upon the history of
this century even than the first Ma
poleon. His mastery over events in
Europe during the past twelve years
has been well-nigh supreme.
1t was Bismarck who planned the
series of brief, brilliant and vlctnri-
Gus wars which brought about Ger
man unity, the revival of the German
Empire, and the asceudancy of Prus-
sia over the other G German States. He
thus carried the popularity and power
of the royal house of Prussia to a
height of which Frederic the Great
never dared to dream. Since that
great event Bismarck 3 influence not
only in Germany, hut throughout
Europe, has quite oys rshadowed that
of every other statesl IAN.
How has he used the power thus
centered in his hands In one sense,
he has used it to the political we'll
heing Of the German people. He has
worked sturdlly to set the new EN-.
pire upon firm basis. He has made
a nation so strong and solid that it
can defy the hostility Of any or of all
of its rivals.
But ON the other hand, it must be
confessed that Bismark has failed to
1se his enormous influence for the
best interests of the people whom he.
under the emperor, has so vigorously
ruled.
Bismarck is an aristocrat and q
thol ough partisan Of the divine right
of kings. His temperament is des
potlc, naughty and Overbearing. He
believes in strengthening the power
of the crown not in enlarging the
liberties of the people.
Through all this period, during
which his will has been law in Ger
many, he not ONLY has not enlarged
the rights of the German masses, bu
he has persistently opposed every eli
fort to that end. He has borne him
self, not as the minister of a consti
tutional king, and as the Servant of {
nation, but as the adviser of an absO
lutte monarch.
Prussia. the Kingdom which Bis
marck has set over the rest of Ger
many, has what is called ''cOnsti; u
tion." This constitution is supposed
to give the people controlling voic
in the affairs OF the nation. But Bis
inarck has again and again show
his contempt for it. If the peOpl
sent u Parliament to Berlin which OF
posed the chanc>lior's projects, h
caused it to be dissolved, anJ wen
ON with his schemes on his own rt
sponsibility.
But despite this. the popular powe
1 seems to have been growing, and ha
become formidable even to the haugl
r Ity Bismarck himself. Parliame1
e after Parliament has dared to resis
t and reject his proposals; each bod
;. being more liberal than the one wLic
r preceded it.
Thus thwarted by force winch /
4 long despised and ignored. Bismarc
is said to have now adopted cour<
of high.handed defiance of the pop
- lar will.
y There formerly existed in Pruss
: a body called the ''State Council
Its members were named by the king
and very large power was intruste
:. to it. No measure could he introdn
. ed by any one in Parliament. unle:
that measure hal alrea ay been al
proved by the State Council. III
D. representatives of the people, in
10 Eword. had no right to propose bill
y which did not gain the assent
II these appointees of the king. 1t
O now reported that Bismarck pos
u to revive this despotic body. and
endow it with its old powers; al
c. thus to resist the popular leaders
e, Parliament.
e. The Germans are the most patie
s and orderly, as we'll as the most i
8 telligent, of continental races. B
20 their patience is likely. soon or lat
st to find It's limit. So arbitrary and r
!: dictionary a course as the revival
q. the State Conncil may goad them
IN to a sterner resistance to the despo
re lc old chancellor than he has ever b