The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-10-23
BISMARCK SPEAKING.

BISMARCK SPEAKING.
Characteristic Uttsransss ofthe Iron Chan-
eellor In the Germsn Parliament.
During ordinary session the German
Parliament presents scene similar to .
sitting of Congress. The wonted num-
Der of seats are vacant; some drowsy
representatives drop forward on their
desks in sweet communion with the god
of dreams. the busy mass throng tho
aisles. buttonholing one another and de
monstrating the '.fallacy of the last
speakers argument" the country menu
Der writes letters, the entire assembly 10
manifestly inattentive, producing as
much confusion Is physical faculties
will furnish or the speakers gavel per-
init. 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 I'M
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 endeavor
to see the speaker. Their actions in di-
Gated that the chancellor was present
which q nod from the porter soon certi-
fed. To hear Bismarck is a treat which
does not often fall to ones lot in these
days. as he appears only at rare in
tervals. succeeded in wedging nv
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 tho
boards, and Bismarck was strongly at
tackled by the Opposition" The cham
cellor is in some respects disappointing.
He is not the colossus in appearances
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 a 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; bat 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
his fam Enn Of
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 President he said:
1.-The gentleman has imputed to me the
crime of repetition. had forgotten
that had used those words before. but
if l have 1t is only proof of the unity
of my course and 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 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 golden button of his
euriassier uniform or wideDed its vel
low stock; yet withal his gestures were
Websterian in their almost stndied 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 awsks
and rose from the velvety depths of tho
corner sofas and elbowed their way
through the fast concentrating crowd;
the confusion was husheG, 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 him
rather than the chancellor. 1t is natural
that he should attack me-natural that
he should say the time has come when I
could fulfill my promises did desire to
do so; that he should say stand with
the people of Manchester on the side OF
the employer and not the Employed;
that all Il have formerly uttered favor
ing the oppressed was hypocrisy and
intended only to subservs
some political purpose. l do not dernand
that the gentleman be just 10 me-: but
shall say to others and to my country
that he does me bitter injustice. Tstand
neither on the side of the employer nor
Of the employed. I stand ON the side
Of this nation and her commercial pros
perity, and will perform what. in my
Judgment Ghdependent- of desire for
with either parity, L can de-
fend and back with the signature of nv
hand!" 1t was a dramatic scene; for
once the cold eyes flashed fire and def
snce. A storm of applause greeted the
outburst. "Bravo!" .'BravOl'- echoed
from the ranks of every division Com
fident of bis vindicatiOn, Bismarck
closed his lsster-chest, picked uphis cap.
and left the house as silently as he came.
Berlin Cor. N. Y. Tribune.