The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-10-24
BISMARCK SPEAKING
Chara cteristic Utterances ofthe Iron Chan.
cellor in the German Parliament.


Der of seats are vacant; some drowsy
representatives drop forward on their
desks in sweet communion with the god 4
of dreams, the busy mass throng the
aisles, buttonholing one another and de-
monstrating the 'fallacy of the last
speakers argument" the country MEM
Der writes letters, the entire assembly is
manifestly inattentive, producing as
much confusion as physical faculties
will furnish or the speakers gavel per-
nit. But there are days when this
changes and stiffness falls upon the
tumultuous house. Such quiet fell upon
the Saturday preceding the close of the
present session. As entered Tribune
b. the unwonted calm in the body of the
house and the interest shown by the
spectators indicated that something UNI
usual was about to occur. People peered
over the ratings, rushed here and there
in the boxes, stretched their necks to
ostrich-like proportions in vain endeayoI
to see the speaker Their actions indi-
Gated that the chancellor was present
which nod from the porter soon certi-
fed. To hear Bismarck is treat which
does not often fall to ones lot in these
days, as he appears only at rare in
tervals. succeeded in wedging my
self into the first row and held it the en-
tire afternoon, not dismayed by the fact
that my neighbors were socialists, nihil-
lists and peace-breakers of the worst type.
The Sunday labor question was ION the
boards" and Bismarck was strongly at
tackled by the opposition. The chan.
cellor is in some respects disappointing.
He is not the colossus in appearance
that his photographs indicate; his head
is comparatively 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 demolishes some puny
opponent. The Princes speeches are
not unadorned. They abound in clas-
steal quotations and citations from his.
torical and philosophical works. Wit
and pathos flow from his tongue with
the same unchanged mien. No smile
crosses his face, no line of sadness be-
comes apparent on his brow. His voice
is not that of an old man. All the So
norous vigor of youth seems to animate
it, and though indistinct it penetrates to
every corner of the great room. While
sitting under attack this particular after
noon 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 Presidenthe said:
THE gentleman has imputed to me the
crime of repetition. | had forgotten
that had used those words before, but
if 1 have it is only p proof of the unity
of my course and policy. Perhaps,
when the gentleman has reached three.
score and ten, as l have, he, too, may
be guilty of like misdemeanor. Old
people, as is well 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 sometimes his right
hand was thrown behind him; some
times he twirled a golden button of hi;
curiassier uniform or widened its vel
low stock; yet withal his gestures were
Websteran in their almost studied sim.
plicity. Retaking his seat, the house
again became noisy, the aisles were
emptied, Bedlam reigned supreme
Again attacked, the chancellor arose
the second time. Men appeared from
every corridor, the sleepy ones awok'
and rose from the velvety depths of thu
corner sofas and elbowed their way
through the fast concentrating crowd
the confusion was hushed, even the nihil
lists in the galleries ceased their MUNICH
ing and pricked up their ears. Proudly
and clearly, with raised head and ring
ing tones, Bismarck cried 1.-THE gen
tleman wishes the laborer to follow hin
rather than the chancellor. 1t is natura
that he should attack me-natural tina
he should say the time has come when
could fulfill my promises did Idesire Il
do so; that he should say l stand witt
the people of Manchester on the side o
the employer and not the employed
that AL Il have formerly uttered favor
ing the oppressed was hypocrisy an
stimulation, intended only to subserv
some political purpose. do not deman
that the gentleman be Just 10 me; but
shall say to others and to my countr
that he does me bitter injustice. Istan
neither on the side of the employer no
Of the employed. l stand on the sid
of this nation and her commercial pros
perity, and will perform what, in m
Judgment Independent of desire fC
popularity with either parity, l can d,
fend and back with the signature of m
hand~ 1t was dramatic scene; fc
, once the cold eyes flashed fire and del
! ance. A storm of applause greeted tt
outburst. "Bravol" "Bravom echoe
!, from the ranks of every division. Col
,, fident Of his vindication, BismarC