Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-14
AFTER BISMARCK, WHO?
VIII Il be Count Herbert, or VIII n %
the Emperor


Berlin correspondent Of the Ak-opohs %
Athens recently sent his newspaper an slSbors
ate explanation Of the relations existing be-
tween the four chief figures in German politics
Emperor William H.. Prince Bismarck Count
Herbert Bismarck and Count waldersee. His
letter attracted widespread attention on the
continent, and has been literally quoted by the
German newspapers Il said:
III Is worthy OF consideration that the eco.
ond offcial In respect of influence in the Ger
man empire, Count Herbert Bismarck, il the
son Of the imperial chancellor. Count her.
bert Bisn arck represents his father in all af-
fairs OF foreign policy. He accompanied the
emperor on his journey 70 St. Petersburg,
Vienna and Rome. A few months ago 30
went to London on an important political
mission He guided the negotiations in the
samoan conference. Many newspapers which
tried hard TO secure the special favor OF
the chancellor have long been wont. con,
sequently, TO compare Bismarck the father
and Bismarck the son with the elder and
younger Pitt. All this, however. has had little
influence upon Emperor William. Despite his
great respect for the father he was unable to
feel corresponding confidence in the son.
Recent German politics have been character
lied by series of events which have placed
in the mouth OF the opposition press the cam
paign cry, No more suocesses.'
This campaign cry does not concern events
OF the greatest importance. but the proceed
ings against Prof. Geffcken and several lib
eral newspapers concerning the Emperor
fredericks diary placed Emperor William
In rather disagreeable position, and the
complete collapse of these proceedings Of
necessity injured the monarchical cause.
The rather questionable diplomatic cam
palgn against the British ambassador in ST
Petersburg. Morier, had a similar result and
made an exceedingly bad impression upon
DpOnlp he first
marck found il necessary TO publish some Of
his own private reports. but he failed thereby
to erase the disagreeable impression already
made. And when the complaint against
Ceffcken. despite the contrary resolution of
the imperial court, was published, even the
conservative hreuzztitunq warned the gov.
ernment against shattering the mouarchical
sentiments OF the people by further blum
ders. But that Is not all. In Zanzibar, on
the Samoan Islands. and most recently In
Switzerland, German diplomacy has by no
means earned any laurel wreaths. Now. the
participation Of Count Herbert Bismarck in
foreign affairs is exactly contemporaneoua
with these untoward events and in certain
conservative circles people are ready TO as
cribe the miscarriages to the clumsiness Of the
son OF the imperial chancellor. The conse-
quence Of all this is that the imperial chancel-
lor, who has long wished that his son Herbert
should eventually succeed him. has begun to
fear that the emperor might select the future
chancellor from another circle. Count Wal
dersee Is regarded as the coming man. He In
looked upon generally as the representative Of
the hreuzzettu.g party. Hence the chancellor's
uneasiness. hence his bitterness against that
party, which secretly seeks to undermine his
position Of confidence near the emperor. OF
course certain official organs, which wish to
be still more Bismarckish than Bismarck him.
self, are quick enough 10 pick up his mood and
to denounce the Waldersce- Rreuzzelttng
party as dangerous political contingency
ready to plunge the empire into the perils
OF war. The emperor appears to take little
interest In this official campaign Despite
all the attacks on Waldersee the en-
peror selected him as his companion on his
trip northward. and the Rreazzeitiing, which
has great deal to say about foreign affairs
these days seems to be basking in the glow Of
imperial favor. 1t is also kable that While
Bismarck the father and Bismarck the son were
conducting hot newspaper campaign against
switzerland, the emperor himself was speak
ing IN South Germany in the warmest terms Of
affection concerning Switzerland. and the Count
Naldersee hastened to make the announce
ment that he would pass several weeks OF his
summer vacation in the little land which the
imperial chancellor was attacking. Ii would,
therefore, seem that the two leading warriors
o. Germany, the emperor and the chief of his
general staff consider it beneath the dignity Of
European great power to bulldoze little Swift
Zerland with threats of war.
The conclusion to be drawn from this state
of affairs is that the parole Bismarck is becom-
ing old must be changed so as to read: The
dynasty OF Bismarck has become impossible
Emperor William respects and honors Prince
Bismarck as the first promoter of German
unity and the tried adviser of his grandfather
The retirement OF the chancellor is an impos-
sibility; equally impossible is il that Count Her
bert should become the successor of his father.
On the contrary. present appearances indicate
that Emperor William will become his own chan.
cellor. Indeed, unless all signs fail, we are
approaching an epoch which, unlike the Bis.
MARKHAM era, will be characterized by the gen.
eral promotion of the policies of the sovereigns
themselves, with the young German emperor
at their head"