New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
. NEW PORTRAIT OF BISMARCK.

& Dr.
Boswell phase He began with table-talk and per-
sonal "reminiscences and has ended with an AMI
bilious attempt at historical portraiture. In these
pages he ESSAYS to reveal the characteristic features
of the German Chancellor Although he ostenta
tious!y dsclaims any intention of doing more than
10 make preliminary drawing or sketch, the ti'ie
of the work shows the scope of his artistic present.
ment. 1t is "Our Chancellor" whose likeness Is
mrrored in the successive chapters OF TINS DOOR, III
situations where he is seen TO the best ad'"n'"b0
and in the strongest light. DR.. Busch owes his
literary occupation to the fort,utous circumstance
that he is one of the seryie favorites whom the
Chancellor chooses to tolerate and allows 10 patte
euelessly of his POLITICAL services to Germany MS
nersonal characteristics and his ideas of government
and-aiplomacv His books are interesting because
the subject happens to be the greatest man VINO mas
arisen since the fall of Napoleon but as critical es-
Inmates Of the man and his work they cannot nave
ANYTHING more than transitory value.
Such a character as Bismarcks requires historical
perspective Any judgment which may be formed
by the present generation of bis life and his work
must be crude and imperfect. Fifty or a hundred
wears hence il may be possible to form an accurate
estimate but this cannot be done now. Then there
may be "A true of proportion so that his aoors
in behalf of German unity and his offences against
progressive liberalism and the principles of repre-
sentative government may be judged Alright. At
present the critical faculty is lacking The NINA Is
filled with vague and shadowy conceptions OF the
momcntous part he has played in human history.
He looms mp IN massive proportions the greatest
historical figure of the Europe of to-day. Another
generation must be depended upon to furnish
biography of the Chancellor which shall have per-
manent value The sketches of the present time
will then appear grotesque caricatures lacking III
historical accuracy and crude III handling and treat
mept
There is much that is stale in these pages many
of the anecdotes and incidents having appeared III
the earliest biographies of Bismarck. The volume
is also voluminOusly padded with reviews OF
diplomatic and political situations with outlines OF
Parliamentary debates and extended quotations
from the Chancellors speeches land correspondence
So much material of this sort is re-worked that the
pages are turned lstlessly by well-nformed read
crs and even what is positively new loses its sense
of freshness The first volume deals in five chapters
with his principles of craftsmanship, his religious
views his political prejudces, his diplomatic lndis-
cretons and his campaign against Austria Tie
second volume opens with the French campaign and
his relations with Russia and Poland, and closes
with defining his attitude toward the press ana
State Socialism and delincating his characteristics
as orator, humorist and man. The translator has
done his part of the work admirably, tie German
idiom being reproduced with smOothness and iieXi-
blitv and vet with undated vigor. If the book is
on the whole Disappointing it is not perhaps the
authors fault Tor lie has sought TO make 1t an IN
telligbe portrayal of character OF most absorbing
interest but the inevitable result of premature at
tempt to anticipate the judgment of future biog-
raphers who will study the Chancellor's genius,
achievements and shortcomings under favorable
conditions of historical perspective. Nevertheless
the book deserves to be read if for 10 other reason
as an elaborate study of the Chancellor's career
made with his knowledge and sanction, The pres
ent generation will not be apt to get more dis
eliminating treatment of this subject.
Bismarcks reli gOus convictions are considered at
great length in one of the earlier chapters. The
following passage contains the clearest ald most
intolligbe account of this side of his nature which
We have ever seen:
Lnnriu,is II NAV be confidently assumed that Bis
,n9rck has not always entertained the same view of
these matters and that he has never been quite able
10 make up his mind about them. lie lihSGll ac-
knOwledgeS that in religion as well as II poIlllCs
le has SucceSSVely arrived at different stages of de-
veopment. First of all he passed through ration
was an unbcliever or at least experienced no Teg-
iOus requirements at ALL later on he gave expression
70 sach decided opinions that no doubt could be en-
teItained to his views, obviously those OF man
whose standpoint Christian and even Con
fessona and of late year, he appears to nave re-
famed only as much positive belei as enllts US 10
consider him profoundly religious spirit, believing
firmly in God heavenly order and personal exist
ence continued after death dong his DUTY III con
formity with this faith. aud deriving from 1t
strength wherewith to fulfil his earthly mission;
but making small account OF creeds, absolutely con-
5emning intolerance, and exhibiting no very cen
spicuOus ycarnng to fOrtly his soul with eccieSlas-
tic observances OF by portakng trtey OF the Means
We NAV assume that all the external influences
which brought about Blsmarcks leaning toward
Christian thought AID action would have proved
Intellectual or at least would have failed to govern
him for any length OF time, II the ptsslnlsn OF MS
Inanhood's earlier years had not chung to HIM
throughout his later life sometimes thrust down
into the depths Of his soul sometimes rising 10 MS
lips or pens point in loud complaint still further,
ifChuStlanitv had not appeared to him as the very
basis the State and bulw2rk against the as
tauts of the revolutionary spirit OF the age-lh
other words, means OF defence; and lastly TO
speak THEORETICALLY had not the belief IN personal
God and in the eternal life OF man once adopted ny
him, served bin as compass and gudlngStar Tor MS
ACTIONS, ana as source oi strehsIn aug colnaoI1 III
the heavy DerpcxteS and struggles OF his career as
q statesman
The closing chapters relating to the Chancellors
personal characteristics, while Of absorbing interest
20 readers who are not cOnversant with the dozen
biographies already written, contain few details
that are positively new. The account given of his
peculiarties as an orator and debater lacks definite
ness and the quotations from his speeches and the
specimens of his humor in conversation and corre-
spondence are disappointing. DIR. Buschs con
ception of humOr is essentially German. Anything
that is abrupt coarse, blunt or unexpected passes
current with him as LumOr. BlSnarcks dispatch 10
Manteuffel who WAS about to cross the Elbe in
1866: "Freat them as fellOw-contrymen homl-
cidally if necessary" and his comment on the ar
rest of Deputy Jacoby, arrested as French spy
"If Vogel had eaten him up like rhinoceros cut
Jet. should have had no objection brt what was
the of shutting up an old dred-up jew III
prison r. are Illustrations of what is known as Bis
MARKHAM humor. Another sample of the same sort is
afforded by the method adopted Of enlightening the
major-domo of Ferreres with respect to the virtues
Of hospitality:
Baron Rothschld the hundred-fold millionaire
who moreover, had been PrusSan Consul General
In Paris up 20 the outbreak of the war-had in