Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-27
Windthorst, the German Clerical.

Ihere nave come up for solution during the
brief life Of the Diet many grave and moment
Gus problems, and the gilded roof of the great
hail has often throbbed and shaken under the
violence of debate. The most recent of the
great combats was that between free trade and
protection. Its angry echoes have not VET
wholly ceased to resOund. But the earliest. the
nercest and the blOodiest was one which was
only renewed. not begun, which the historical
reader will easily 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
pretensOns of the church. This struggle. re-
sumed 10 or Is years ago. in form the same,
though under conditions different. united the
Catholic deputies into the parliamentary center.
But it did more than that. Besides party, 1t
created the leaders of party. and leaders who
for eloquence. audacity, adroitness are the peers
OF any men in the House. The first of these.
lar anoye all rlvalsis windthorst. Puny in size,
almost deformed, ugly as Socrates he is an an.
tagOnlst before whose wit the bOldest deputies
tremble. and under whose assaults even the
great chancellor loses his GOODNESS and self
command. AS tactician he is UNSURPASSED.
Starting as the chief of a small and prescribed
lactiOn, ne has built 1t up to be the most nu-
merOus party in the House. and. holding the
balance of power, yields it with the skill which
oConneIl made famous in the House of Com
mons. But he is something besides mere wit
VI parliamentary aInlete. snort, crisp, pungent
retorts are indeed his chief arms of contro-
versy. but he is also politician OF culture and
real statesmanlike ability, and can discuss pub
TIC topics from an elevated intellectual
Plane That his success in serious methods
ana sustained efforts has been less frequently
demonstrated may not even be q 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 Ills task, or at least his views of it, has i'm
posed another policy upon him as tactical
necessity; for, cut off as he is by the character
and the relations of his party from an active
share IN creative legislation. he is practically
confined to the work of criticism, of mere Mega
tive opposition; and this, of course is best per-
formed mot by sustained and elaborate strategy.
but by sudden charges by brisk and audacious
dashes. In every part of the field. Hence though
ne make few periods himself he effectuaiy
prunes those OF his enemies not excluding Bis
marck himself. II he makes parliamentary
bargain with the government or another party.
ne exacts and receives the equivalent in advance
But he seldom enters into such transactions. for.
az he himself once said. he has mo wish to be
duped." ''And he who tries to dune me-" added
the little man, with knowing twinkle In his
eye, must rise very early In the morning." at
which Bismarck looked foolish and the House
roared with approving laughter. Windthorst is
Hanoverian, and up to 1865 was q faithful
and trusted counselor Of blind King George.
A kindly, entertaining old gentleman. he is
cuItlVated on many sides; and on the occasions
OF the annual exhibition of the academy finds
time to write discriminating and elegant art
crftiques for the journals of the capitaL-Hy.
oes9 1uttde N Hdrper's for February.