Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-10

| Carlyle says that great men are privi-
legged society, and that their history is the
history of the world. Bismarck is one of
| the few, whose enlightened and far seeing
craftsmanship has controlled the destiny of
| nations.
Otto Won Bismarck Schoenhausen was
| born at Brandenburg, April 1st, 1913, of a
| wealthy and noble family. He received his
education at the Universities of Berlin and
studied law. AS school boy, he was as
commanding and stern as Frederick the
Great. A little story is told of him which
illustrates the impression he made upon
people as boy. While visiting friend, it
is said, at Griefswald, Bismarck, then a
student, met his first love. He became
strongly attached to the young lady during
his stay, and after his departure wrote her a
letter containing a formal offer of marriage.
| The girls parents Indignantly refused to
entertain the overture of $50 rude boy"
She afterwards married and came to Ameri-
! ca, residing for some time in the cities of
New York, Brooklyn, and in the State of
Minnesota. She left this country in 1872,
| and is now living in Hungary.
Having completed his studies, Bismarck
retired to his ancestral estates, where he
resided until he was thirty-two years ofage.
| In 1917, he married Johanna Won Putkam-
mer, and in the same year entered the Prus-
| sian Parliament where he distinguished
| himself at once as an ultra rOyaliSt and an
enthusiastic advocate Of abSOlutism. He
was one of those who opposed the scheme
of German empire, proposed by the par
| lament in 1S49. His diplomatic career be-
gan in 1851, when he was appointed chief
secretary of Prussian legation, at the Ger
| man dietmeeting at Frankfurt-on-the-Ia Main.
| Here he manifested a great zeal for the ag-.
grandiZement of Prussia and pronounced
| which was dominant in the Assembly. He
soon acquired the special regard and conf
dence of King Fredrick William vi, who
sent him, in the spring of 1862, to Paris, for
the purpose of giving him an insight into
the politics of Tuilleries, before he was in
trusted with the direction of affairs at home.
In Autumn the king began to have serious
trouble with the lower house and Bismarck
was recalled to take the portfolio OF the
ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Presi-
dency of the cabinet. Not being able to pass
closed the chambers, and announced to the
deputies that the kings government would
be obliged to do without their sanction.
This high handed policy was continued
through four sessions of the house. At this
crisis, the death of the King of Denmark
revived the Schleswig Holstein question
and excited fever of national feeling
among the Germans, which Bismarck was
adroit enough to utilize for the aggrandize-
ment of Prussia, by the acquisition Of the
Duchies, while lie reconciled his opponents
| by pointing to the success Ofthe re-OrganiZed
army The struggle with Austria came as
the result of Bisrnarck's conviction that in
order to ensure German reconstruction, this
empire should he eXclued from the fedora
ton. The war of 1866 led to the humilia-
ton of Austria and the ascendency of
Prussia.
In July, 1870, the French Government de-
clared war against Prussia, under a preteNt
which failed to conceal jealousy of the enor-
NOUS gain to Prussian prestige, which had
recently followed Bismarck's mastery for
eign policy. All the German States, except
those of Austria, were represented in the
army which destroyed the French empire,
successfully besieged Paris, saw the assump-
tion of the emperorship Of Germany by the
King Of Prussia in the halls Of the French
monarchy, at Versailles, compelled the ces-
sion of Alsace and part of Lorraine, and the
payment of an indemnity of a billion dol
lars. In 1871, Bismarck was made Prince
and Chancellor of the new German empire.
He ceased to be prime minister of Prussia
in 1873. Later he gained popularity with
the Liberals by opposing the pretentiOns OF
the ultra-mOntane party in the church of
Rome, which policy he has considerably
modified.
An amusing manifestation Of his diplO-
matte genius was made in August 1851
when he was entrusted with Il legation at
Frankfort. Prince William halted there on
his way to N1ayence, where Il grand review
was to be held, and took Bismarck among
his escort 1t being hot in the carriage the
two unbuttoned their high military coats.
Shortly before arriving at their journeys
end, the coats were again buttOned up, with
the exception of one button on the coat OF
the Prince, which he had overlooked. Bis
marck eyed it with a troubled expression
on his face for some time and finally said !:
"For Gods sake, Prince, don't leave your
coat partly unbuttOned. 1t would be dis
graceful" He feared violation of militia
ry dignity that would make Il bad impress
sion.
On the first of April, 1888, the anniversa-
ry of his birth was celebrated by the Ger
man people, and he received congratula-
tions from nearly every European power.
Bismarck 5 body resembles his mind. 1t
is large, rugged and herculean. We dis
like to think of great men who are crippled
and hump-backed like Pope, Scarron and
Luxembourg. There seems to be some
thing wrong about it if their frames are not
as colossal and majestic us their minds. But
infrmities come upon them, and even Bis
marck must soon fall. For some years his
health has been failing and the announce
ment of his death at any time would not be
| MIC tn thn world