The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-08
wiudthOrst. the German Clerical.

There have come up for solution
during the brief life of the diet many
grave and momentous problems, and
| the gilded roof of the great hall has
often throbbed and shaken under the
violence of debate. The most recent
OF the great combatS was that be-
tween free trade and protection. Its
angry echoes have not yet wholly
CEASED to reSound. But the earliest,
| the iierceSt and the bloodiest was one
which was only renewed, not begun,
which the historical reader will easily
1 trace back to the middle ageS-the
great national duel between kaiser
and pope, between Ghibelline and
Guelph, between the just claims of
| the state and the arrogant pretenSionS
of the church. This struggle. resumed
ten or fifteen years ago, in form the
same, though under conditions
different, united the Catholic depu-
ties into the parliamentary centre.
But it did more than that. Besides
party, it created the leaders of a party,
and leaders who for eloquence, audaci-
ty. adroitness, are the peers of any
men in the house. The first of these
| far above all rivals, is Windthorst.
Puny in size, almost deformed, ugly
as Socrates, he is an antagonist before
witch the boldeSt deputies tremble,a and
| under whose assaults even the great
chancellor loses his coOlnsSS and self
command. As tactician he is unsur-
passed. Starting as the chief of a
small and prescribed faction, he has
built it up to be the most numerous
party in the house, and, holding the
balance of power, yields it with the
skill which O'Connell made famous in
the house of commons. But he is
something besides mere wit OF par
liamentary athlete. Short, crisp,
pungent retortS are indeed his
chief arms of controversy, but he
is also q politician of culture and
real Statesmanlike ability, and can
discuss public topics from an elevated
Intellectual plane. That his success
in serious methods and sustained eff
forts has been less frequently demon
Strated may not even be a fact of his
own preference, though the habit of
his mind suggests such an inference.
1t may be-and the SuppOSition is
reasOnable-that the nature of his
task, or at least his views OF it, has
imposed another policy upon him as a
GClCttCdl ucCCSSlJJ lOI, Cul vi Gto TIC Is
by the character of the relations of
his party from an active share in crea-
tive legislation, he is practically con-
fined to the work of criticism, of mere
negative opposition; and this, of
course, is best performed, not by sus-
tanned and elaborate strategy, but by
sudden changes, by brisk and auda
cious dashes in every part Of the
field. Hence. though be- make
few periods himself. be effectually
prunes those of his enemies. not ex-
Guiding Bismarck himself. If he
makes parliamentary bargain with
the government or another party, he
eXacts and receives the equivelant in
advance. But he seldom enters into
such transactions, for, as he himself
once said, he has mo wish to be
duped." And he who tries to dupe
me-" added the little man with a
knowing twinkle in his eye, "must
rise very early in the morning." at
which Bismarck looked foolish and
the House rOared with approving
laughter. Winthorst is Hanoverian,
and up to 1856 was faithful and
trusted counselor of blind King
George. A kindly, entertaining old
gentleman, he is cultivated on many
sides; and OF che occasions of the an
nuaLexnlbition of the academy finds
time to write discriminating and ele-
CANT art critiques for the journals of
the capital.