Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-25

men Tee Read About IN the Rsrsiga
Dispatches.
fforn pla Har1

Temple Bari
Bismarck we know, and We arc also
acquainted with most French politi.
clans 10 the third and fourth degrees Of
msdiocrity but few could "put faces"
on to the names Of do Giers, Kalnoky,
Andrassy, Tisza, Taafs, Karaveloii,
Garaschanin, Robilant, and others,
whose powers or influence extend over
the larger half Of Europe, men who
are important factors 10 all interns-
tional calculations, and who ought not,
therefore, to be unknown quantities.
Here the name Of NJ. de Giers starts
up, and 1t is q name that must be men,
toned with respect, for NJ. dc Giers is
the most honest and pacific minister
Russia has ever had at its Foreign
Office. But he has no real power.
For . long time secretary to Prince
Gortschakoff, no succeed the latter as
minister, but not as chancellor, his
nomination being due primarily to his
admirable business capacities second
", to his most agreeable manners; and,
thirdly, 70 the fact that the Gar wishes
to keep the foreign policy Of the en-
pire under his own control. This
would not have been possible had q
man like Ignatieff or Count Peter
Schouvaloff, or Prince Lobanof
been appointed. M. de Giers comes
from q Swedish. Finn family Of Jewish
extraction. lie is slight, csreworn-
looking man, with hsggard eyes, thin
hands, and q nervous smile. Modest
in demeanor, melancholy in mood, and
kind to q fault, he is liked but not
feared by the officials and diplomstists
of his department, who are accustomed
to find in him the greatest indulgence
for ali blunders or breaches Of duty.
A gentle rebuke for failure, q shake OF
the head for excess Of zeal, is all they
have to dread. This is the minister
whom naughty Grand Dukes, intriguing
Panslavists, and impatient generals
sheer at as "the jew" Unfortunate
", NJ. dc Giers, who is by nature be-
neyolent, cautious, and truthful, is
mostly engaged in assuming response
bilities and inventing explanations for
acts committed without his approval
or cognizsnce, either by the Car him
self or by men whose exploits the
Gar has been induced to condone.
After the Pepjdeh incident NJ. de Giers
rendered his resignation in Cabinet
council. Alexander III. brought down
his huge hand with q slap On the coun-
Gil table, and cried; " We are not in
constitutional country, and you will
remain in office as long as | want you"
This incident gives the measure Of NJ.
de Giers's power. He is the Emperor's
servant, and faithful.
The Austro- Hungarian Minister for
Foreign Affairs since 1881 has been
Count Gustav Kalnoky, who succeeded
Baron Haymerle. The latter was
elevated to his high post on the mystic
rious and still unexplained resignation
of Count Julius Andrassy, who,
though out of Office, remains by far
the most capable authority on foreign
affairs in Austria. Hungary.
Count Andrassy was eminently fitted
to be the chief Of the first Hungarian
Cabinet. lie was, and is to this day
the most typical impersonation of the
Magyar nobleman. Of middle height
and elegant figure, with curly hair, hus-
sar.like moustache and beard, a flash
ing eye, bright smile, and ready tongue,
he bears himself gallantly, and his &C
tions, like his talk, are full Of dash.
His quickness Of repartee is as the
straight thrust Of q skilled fencer.
Haymerle tackled obediently under Bis
marck's orders; but when he died
much more eager, able, and adroit adj
vocate Of the three Emperors' alliance
appeared in Count Kalnoky. who was
SUNNI ,ned to the Foreign Office from
the Embassy at st. Petersburg. Kali
noky is Numerically the opposite of
Andrassy. lie lis a slim mana head
less than Bismarck, Viennese wags
say-very bald, with an eyeg.ass, a
military moustache, stiff gait, afrown-
ing expression, and superciious man
ner. lie affects to give diplomatists Of
the minor degree one finger. lie is I'M
married, not addicted to hospitality
there has been no ball at the Foreign
Office since he came there, and he
never absents himself from his post
more than three or four days at time.
His defect is conceit his qualities are
untiIing methodical industry, evenness
of temper, and really remarkable tai
ents as liDguist. English he learned
while secretary to the Embassy in Lon
don, and he speaks it with faultless
ease. AS Foreign Minister it has been
Count Kalnoky's object to remain the
subseryient protege Of Prince Bismarck
whom he sees regularly once year
and to promote the best understanding
between Austria and Russia. 1t was
with the most tranquil satisfaction that
he watched the Afghan imbroglio draw
Russia away from European affairs, and
with utter dismsy that he heard of the
revolution at Philippopolis, which sud-
denly reopened the Eastern question.
His lack Of authority was then shown
in his inability 10 restrain Seryis from
making war upon Bulgaria and his
want Of statesmanhke shrewdness in
stopping the Bulgarians at the moment
when they were about TO win a decisive
victory over King Milan. All through
the Eastern crisis he proved that h9
was not a belmsman who could be
trusted 10 gale; and II his system of
nervous little concessions to Russia
should end-as such system generally
does--in making Russia grasp abruptly
at more than Austria Hungary can al
low her to take, Count Kalnoky Will
certainly have to retire. His successor
in that case might be Count Andrassy,
but would more probably be NJ. Ben
jamin de Kallsy, now Finance Minister
Of the empire.
NJ. de Kallay is handsome man o
middle age, with good figure, mos
intellectual head, soft, dreamy eyes
and fascinating conversational powers
Besides being Minister Of Finance 70
the empire, he is Administrator o
Bosnia and Herzegovina, and spend
several weeks every year trayellin
about these provinces to promote pub
lie works and acquaint himself with th
wishes and grievances Of the inhab
tants. He Is generally liked an
trusted, and should it happen that theI