The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-28

Appearance and Manner Of the Chancellor
in Addressing the Reichstag.
Berlin Letter.
To hear Bismarck is a treat which does not
often fall to ones lot in these days, he appears
only at rare intervals. / succeeded in wedging
myself into the first row and held it the entire
afternoon, not dismayed by the fact that my
neighbors were Socialists, Nihilists and peace
breakers Of the worst type. The Sunday labor
question was ION the boards" and Bismarck
strongly attacked by the Opposition"
The Chancellor is in some respects disappoint-
ing He is not the Colossus in appearance that
his photographs indicate; his head is compare
lively small, and has not the bulldog likeness
attributed to it; but the iron will, the stubborn,
aggressive nature, shows in every line of his
face. He stammers little; the door
of his verbal treasury does not always open at
his bidding. He fairly gasps for word at times,
clears, his throat, throws back his head waves
his arms; but when the word is found it demol-
ishes some puny opponent The Princes speeches
are not unadorned; they abound in classical
quotations and citations from historical and
philosophical works. Wit and pathos flow from
his tongue with the same unchanged men; no
smile crosses his face, line of sadness becomes
apparent ON his brow. His voice is not that of
an old man; all the sonorous vigor of youth
seems to animate it, and, though indistinct, it
penetrates to every corner of the room. While
sitting under attack this particular afternoon,
he became restless, pinched the table, crossed his
legs, folded his arms, and finally picking up
huge penholder, swiftly wrote his reply.
Looking toward the President, he said: ''The
gentleman has imputed to me the crime of repe-
tition. l had forgotten that had used those
words before, but if l have it is only proof of
the unity of my course apd policy Perhaps,
when the gentleman has reached three score and
ten as have !, he, too, may be guilty of like
misdemeanor. Old people, as is known, fall
into the habit of repeating the same story He
spoke nervously, and the ''bravos" seemed to
excite him. The paper he held trembled; some
times his right hand was thrown behind him;
sometimes he twirled golden button of his
cuirassier uniform, or widened its yellow stock;
yet withal, his gestures were Websterian
in their almost studied simplicity. Retak
ing his seat, the house again be-
came noisy; the aisles were emptied. Bedlam
reigned supreme. Again attacked, the Chancel-
lor arose the second time. Men appeared from
every corridor, the sleepy ones awoke and rose
from the velvety depths of the corner sofas and
elbowed their way through the fast-concentra-
ting crowd, the confusion was hushed, even the
Nihilists in the galleries hushed their munching
and pricked up their ears. Proudly and clearly,
with raised head and ringing tones Bismarck
cried: 1.-THE gentleman wishes the laborer to
follow him rather than the Chancellor 1t is
natural that he should attack me-natural that
he should say the moment had come when l
could fulfill my promises if desired to do SO;
that he should Say / stand with the people of
Manchester on the side Of the employer and not
of the employed that all have formerly uttered
favoring the oppressed was hypocrisy
and stimulation, intended only to subserve some
political purpose. l do not demand that the
gentleman be just to me; but I shall say to
others and to my country that he does me bitter
injustice. / stand neither on the side OF the en-
ployer nor of the employed l stand on the side
of this nation and her commercial prosperity,
and will perform what in my Judgment (inde-
pendent of desire for popularity with either
parJy), can defend and back with the sigma
ture of my handw 1t was dramatic scene; for
once the cold eyes flashed fire and defiance A
storm of applause greeted the outburst; bravo"
bravo echoed from the ranks of every divis-
ion Confident of his vindication, Bismarck
closed his letter chest picked up his cap and
left the house silently as he came.