The Wilmingtonian., 1884-12-20
Prince Bismarck's Weakness.


Prince Bismarck's Weakness.
Could their be more pitiful sight than
that witnessed in the Reichstag on Monday
last when Bismark arose in the House, ap-
pealing to the representatives of the German
people in the following significant words:
81 have sacrificed my health and my
strength in the service of the Emperor and
the Fatherand. Don't refuse me what is
necessary to the best interest of the service. 5"
He added his official assurance that his
present staff was inadequate and that re-
fusal to comply with his request would only
embitter his life.
On the motion being made in the House
as to the propriety of creating second
dictatorship it was lost by vote of 143 to
ia.
The most interesting revelations were
made, however, DUNG the debate on this
motion when Herr Vollmar ''hinted that
official oaths were worthless as had already
been proven in the courts" Herr Yollmar's
statement evoked great uproar
How contradictory is this pictprei 1t is
undoubtedly a true oue, of ~ ical political
status that exists in Germany between the
upholders and demonstrators Of ihe edwin
ity that doth hedge King" of which Bis
marck is the leading spirit, and the popular
party.
The contradiction of this revelation
of the Chancellor's real weakness exists in
the fact of the current custom of lauding to
the skies the gigantic influence, personal
influence he controls in the affairs of Europe.
The diplomats of England and the CONT
nent cannot but see that Bismarck's tenure
of power is limited to the term of life of the
present incumbent of the thrown of the
Hohenzollerns. When the Enporer dies,
a contingency that is looked for any day
:
GUS still for constitutional restriction OF
imperial prerogative claims that are now
put forward by the chancellor in the impera-
tive, high-handed couchings of demands
must then be formulated as requests and
will be met by the representatives of the
people and treated by them as con cessions
if granted at all.
The much lauded solidarity of the German
tury of European history has revealed. What
interest can those Kingdoms, Of Bavaria
Saxony, Nuremberg and Hanover, placed in
forced allegiance by the iron hand of Bis
marck, have in the individual glodfcaton OF
the Hohenzollerns! What but the creates
repugnance can the Catholic communities o
Baden, Bavaria and Wiremberg have for
the Church lws, the Falk laws pressed
with an iron hand upon the people of tn
Southern Bund. What is there in Alsac
and LOrrauie but detestation for Prussial
rule! How Schleswick Holstein aches t
renew its allegiance to Denmark, its racial
and lingual affinity
Can there be expected in the towns of th
Hanseatic League anything but ffe-lon
memory of their spoliation by the grea
chancellor of their own ancient privileges {
centuries of commercial Independence, til
f deprivation of their Z)llverein powers, til
world knows what an outrage that wasl
} But Bismarck's gIeatest trouble is nj
here, but in the fact of the political INTEL
gence Of the opposition! 1t is fact that
1 Berlin the name of Virchow is greater tina
D that of Bismarck. And who is Vrchow ?
e the literary world need not be informed. L
: is only professor in the University! Evel
: student in every University in Christendol
: is familiar with his name! And Yirchow
s only type of his followers. Another acc
Q dental element in Bismarcks weakness
o DR.. Windhorst of the Catholic party. The
l men, aside from the Herr Lasker type,
e the more contemplate one of Herr Mos
g represent formidable bulwark of popul
n demonstration against imperial aggressio
If All these elements have to be taken in
g account when the situation is reviewed
n the cable announces the demise of the o
IS EN-. .eror and the accession of Unser Frt