New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-10
RJSN4RCF and TIE EMPERORS.


Prince Bismarck has always protested con-
tempt for the Metternich school Of diplomacy.
It's methods were as unlike his own as inaction
is unlike action yet in one respect the Two
Chancelors had similar experience each
made his Emperor sovereign Of commanding
influence in Europe, one by the statecraft of
blood, iron and ornaments. and the other by
policy of mastery inactivity. Prince Met
ternichs Emperor was one Of the most modest
of soyereigns. Princess Melanie in her diaries
quotes him as saying that he was only simple
straightforward man, who would never havc
risen into notice if Prince Metternich had not
imputed to him everything that was particu-
larly good OF clever in his own policy. He was
in peculiar sense Metternch's Emperor, his
dominant ideas Of sta.ecraft and administra~
ton being derived from one source. The
Chancellor for his part strove to put the sovcr-
cicn FIRST in everything, disclaiming all merit
for himself, and eXtolipg on every occasion
his great and noble qualities. Similar rela-
tions have existed between the Emperor Will
lam and his Chancellor. The Emperor in
variabiy acknowledged his overwhelming sense
of obligation to his greatest subject and Prince
Bismarck was bound to him by ties of affection
and sympathy even stronger than those OF
loyalty and sclf-interest The Princes emotion
manifested in announcing his Empcror's death
to the Roichs.ag was as sincere and as natural
as was Metternich's grief in receiving the last
messages Of his Emperor.
The political testament which Francis left
to his son embodied the principles which
Prince Metternich taught throughout his
career. The tutor must have recognized the
spirit of his own instructions when he read
this passage in the last letter of Royal counsel :
"Disturb nothing in the foundations of the
cdifice of the State Govern and change moth
ing. Respect all lawful rights and then you
nav Justly claim the reverence due to your
own rights as sovereign" Prince Metternch.
in his diplomatic circular announcing the En-
perors death termed this "a complete code Of
governmental legislation" 1t was his idea Of
craftsmanship to do nothing, to change moth
ing to yield nothing, and to keep on govern
ing by system of restraint and stagnation.
Government with him was a mechanical con-
trivance for paralyzing the energies of the
Empire and of Europe. Prince Bismarck $
has been craftsmanship Of action, and his
idea Of government, while beaurocratic, has
been essentially different from Prince Met
ternich's; but if he could have dictated q
political testament in bis Emperors name to
the son and the grandson he would probably
have been we'll content to repeat those historic
phrases "Disturb nothing Govern and
change nothing Prince BIsmarck's ono
source of regret in his career, if we may judge
from his speeches, is that he respected tho
traditions of Frankfort in granting universal
suffrage He considers that grant the extreme
limit to which the Monarchy should go in re-
spouse to the demands of German liberalism.
In his Judgment there should be no moro
changcs-no additional concessions to de-
mocracy and nothing should be done to render
that grant really effective by making Ministers
responsible to the representatives OF the people,
as they are under European forms of Parla-
mentary government.
Whether the Kaiser has or has not left a
political testament to his son and grandson,
there will be no changes Of government or
system while Prince Bismarck lives. No
alteration will be wrought by the Emperors
death and his sons succession, whether for a
months reign or for a longer period. The
grandsons accession, whenever it may occur,
viii have, while Prince Bismarck lives. as little
significance as the present transfer of sover-
eighty from the Imperial veteran of the Ma
,,oconic wars to the middlc-aged invalid OF
san Reno The Chancelor's life is the
strongest guarantee not only Of European
peace but of tranquility in Germany. No
new Emperor can dispense with his services
nor disregard his counsel. The Kaiser is dead
but with Bismarck Germany and Europe re-
main as before Germany without Bismarck
will be something very different from what il
is now So heavy has been that iron hand in
the scale Of human destiny that Europe without