The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-26
THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.
Prince Bismarck.

CharleS Loves historical biography or the great
r1fon Chancellor of Germany, published by Cas-
sell g. Company. consists of two fine octave vol
umes OF over GOO pages each. The first vol
ume. From Waterloo to Versailles embraces
81 outline of his youth and early manhood, his
parliamentary career, diplomatic career, and
then follows over 100 pages devoted to his sery-
ices in war AS might be expected. the BIZ
ographer of the Iron Chancellor paints him in
ssrong colors, but his admiration is tempered
with his sense of his duty as writer of history,
90 that the reader is able to get very fair idea
OF this notable man as he is. The reading pub
lie is measuraby familiar with his record as
statesman and it will be of more than ordinary
interest to be afforded elimpses Of his personal
and domestic lfe which Mr.. Lowe does to the
satisfaction of his readers.
When in Paris as diplomatic, yet busy with
the thought Of graphing with and numbling
Austria, he sought an interview with the EN-
peror just prior to presenting his letters of re-
call. After I became Minister" said he, II
had an interview with Napoleon. He then said
that things could not go on long as they were
doing that there would be rising in Berlin,
and a revolution in the whole country, and that
the King would have everybody voting against
him in plebiscite l told him that the people
Of our country were not Observation-Disclosures. and
that n Prussia revolutions were made only by
the kings. If the King could stand the strain on
him for three or four years. and I allowed that
there was one-the estrangement of the public
being very painful and disagreeable to him--he
would certainly win his game, unless he got
tired and left me in the lurch. would not
fail him. If we we're to appeal to
the people, and put it to the
vote, he would even now have nine tenths of
them in his favor. The Emperor at the time.
said Of me, Ce nest pas I'm homme revieux'-a
mot Of which I did not think myself at liberty
to remind him in the weavers hut at Doncherry,"
after the capture of Napoleon at Sedan
It appears from this that Bismarck already
entertained an exalted opinion of his own abil-
tiles, and possibly felt some premonition of what
was in store for him.
But when Bismarck, Immediately after, was
made Prime Minister is was evident that his
fellow-countrynen did not entertain any high
estimation of his abilities who, in heavens
placed in such high stationg' most
people in Prussia began to ask.
"Bisrnarck-c'est lie coup detat," was
the ready reply of the Liberal press. which
greeted his advent to power with storm of
abpse, calling him staggering junker,"
'hollow braggart." Napoleon-worshiper"
and ''town-uprooter." 'The Prussian people"
wrote tho Cologne Gazette, 'know that Herr
Won Bismarck merely wishes to bring about
foreign complications in order to alay, or at
least silence, domestic troubles" And. again,
the Berliner Allgemeine Zeitung, organ of the
old Liberals: ''As country gentleman of mod
crate political training, with views and knowl-
edge not superior to that which is the common
property of all educated persons. he began his
caseer. The climax Of his parliamentary fame
he reached in the Diet of 1849 and in the
Union Parliament of 1850. His speeches
were rude and inconsiderate nonchalant
to an insolent degree, and sometimes
even roughly witty; but when did
he ever express political thought9 At Frank
fort he has acquired some knowledge of diplo
matte ceremonial, while at st. Petersburg and
Paris he has managed to worm secrets out of
intriguing princesses; but with the bitter labor
of administrative routine he is unfamiliar and
never has he been able to gain clear insight into
the working of the state machine in all its de-
tails"
1t had lost sight of him. to great exte It.
for the last ten years, bat his words and acts
during the revolutionary period were raked up
against him. as previous conviction is hunted
out to aggravate new indictment The King,
however, seemed to have better appreciation of
''the country gentleman of moderate political
training and paid no attention to this roar
of disapproval of his choice of a Prime
and Foreign Minister. VOLTA mon medecin, his
Majesty, pointing to Bismarck is said to have
replied to Russian princess who complimented
him on his improved looks
Though diplomatic by profession and educa-
tion Bismarck was instinctively and naturally a
soldier, and, doubtless, would have made fine
field commander. AS is known. he has been
honored with several military commissions
though he never was in active service. Incl
dents are related, however Of his bearing as a
spectator in various engagements. At the ter
rible battle of Koniggratz he was urged by yari-
GUS officers to have the King expose himself less
to the missiles of the enemy. soldiers super
stition preventing them doing it in person. Bis
marck says
'The attention of the King was so wholly
fixed on the progress of the battle, and he paid
not the slightest heed to the shells that were
whizzing thickly around him. To my repeated
request that his Majesty might not SO carelessly
expose himself to so murderous fire, he only
answered: The commander-in-ch must be
whore he ought to be- Later on, at the village
of Lipa, when the King in person had ordered
the cavalry to advance, and the shells were again
falling round him, ventured to renew my re-
quest saving: IF your Majesty will take no cara
of your own person. have pity at least on your
poor Minister-president. from whom your faith
full Prussian people will again demand their
King. and in the name of that people entreat
you to leave this dangerous spot Then the
King gave me his hand with Well. then, Bis
marck. let us ride on little So saying
his Majesty wheeled his little black mare
ard put her into easy caEter as if he had
been riding down the Linden to the Thiergarten.
But, for all that felt very uneasy about him.
and q III dnrlz cha 70 Goda