Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-02-17
EUROPE'S WAR CLOUD.
Prince Bismarck'S Pacific Ad-
dress on the Situation.
A Highly Dramatic Scene in the
German Reichstag.

The recent concentration of large bodies of
Russian troops on the Austrian frontier, to-
ra-her with the publication of treaties be-
tween Germany and Austria for
protection against Russia, and Ger
many and Italy for protection against
France revived the war scare through
out Europe. The announcement that Prince
Bismarck would speak on the situation in
the German Reich tag was therefore regard
ell as a matter of unusual interest a Berlin
dispatch gives the following particulars:
Berlin, although not saying 50 much about
Il as Vienna and Pesth, has been deeply stirred
bv all these months of obvious Russian pre-
paratlOns. This was shown to-day when vast
crowds assembled all the way from the Radez-
will Palace past the Imperial castle and up the
whole length of the Inter den Linden to the
Parliament House, packing the sidewalks and
roadway alike and cheering the Chancellor on
his way uhither as he rarely has been cheered
in Berlin before. There had been a terrific
lam for seats, over 5000 applications hav-
ing been made for the gallery, which only
SEATS POO and there are stories Of as high as
so being paid for a place to the fortunate
holder of a ticket Unprecedented tele-
graphic press arrangements had been made
for circulating the speech verbatim at its
conclusion.
Under the inspiration of Prince Bismarck's
closing words about Germanys position,
wedged between enemies, and her determine
ton TO seek or provoke no war and to
fight TO the death if attacked, there
was a spectacle rarely seen in the Reich
stag before The leaders of every one
of the groups into which the body is divided
rose and earnestly echoed his words and
swOre fealty to the cause of the fatherland's
defense The whole scene, as described by an
eyewitness, must have been wonderfully
dramatic and impressive to the spectators.
the Rechstag, and Prince William was in
the box reserved for the imperial family.
Prince Bismarck was enthusiastically cheered
By the crowd and his reception on enteringthe
House was wildly enthusiastic. The applause
that greeted him was repeated over and over
again
Immediately after entering the Reichstag
Palace at about ! 80 p NJ, the first reading
of the Military Loan bill was begun, and the
President of the Reichstag gave the Chancel-
lOr the floor. Perfect quiet prevailed when
he began his speech He said:
lido not believe [ can add anything to the
do not address you on that account My
object is to speak of the general
situation of Europe. L may cOnfine my
self TO referring to what | said on the
very little change since then, when l feared
with France. Since then France has
elected a peace loving President, and a
pacific dispos ton has prevailed. l can
therefore rea sure the public that
prospect has become more peaceful. Regard
ing russia, also, l am of other opinion
than when said we have to apprehend no
attack from Russia. The situation must not
be Judged from press comments.
" have no faith at all in Russian newspa-
pers, but ] have absolute faith in the word of
the Car of Russia The situation on the whole
Is not different from that of 1879. grant that
the concentration of Russian troops on the
frontier IN SariO1S hut I npcpaiUa
no cause preteXt for a Russian or a
European war. Russia has no interest to
conquer Prussian or Austrian provinces.
-, Il go so far in my confidence as to say
that even a war with France would not ne
cessitate a war with Russia, although the
latter eventually would involve the
former. 1t is true that [ cannot COM
mand an explanation from the Russian
ton of tooops on the frontier, but,
having been well acquainted with
RussaS foreign policy for a generation,
l may have my own opinion on the
matter. l believe the Russian Cabinet in
tends to make Russias voice heard at the
next European crisis, and therefore wishes to
push her military forces as far westward as
possible" g
Continuing, the Chancellor pointed out
the fact that Germany had only a
secondary interest in the advances of Rus
SIa IN the East, and must refuse to be in
VOWED III any attempt to check
tuem de thought that the Gar was deVel-
opIng his military resources with a view to
giving his country greater weight i'll the di-
pIomatIc consultations of European powers
rather than with the idea of precipitating a
European war.
In conclusion Prince Bismarck took brief |
retrospect of the relations between Prussia
and Germany since 1884, and showed that !
on many occasions, of which the public !
had no cognzance, affairs mad as
sImed a threatening aspect, but |
mat IN each case the calm, self-reliance of !
GERMAN diplomacy had averted blOOdShed. |
he had personally not the slightest doubt that |
similar result would follow in the present
complications