New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-03
THE HAND ON THE REG GA TOR.

The German Emperor'S visit to COnstanti'
nope is not to be regarded as an isolated event
nor as an act of youthful caprice. 1t marks
the elimination Of Prince Bismarcks curious
Eastern policy. The sovereign of military
empire, who succeeded two warrior kings with
out having witnessed a battle or drawn his
sword except on dress-parade, would naturally
have desired TO bring himself into Fictitious
prominence in Europe by making round OF
visits to the courts attended with the pomp
and ceremonials of military power. The Ger
man Emperor, after his accession to the throne,
being forced to introduce himself to the Con
tinent, was impelled by his own ambition to
remove the impression that the glories of the
Hohenzollerns had passed away with the hon
ored veteran of the NapoeOnic wars and the
brilliant General who saved the day at kOenigS-
graetz. If it was a plan of his own deysing,
Prince Bismarck undoubtedly encouraged him
to cary it out and to visit all the leading cap
itals in turn But COnstantinople lay outside
the conventional lines of royal progress. For
centuries the Sultan had been regarded by
Christian sovereigns as the unspeakable
Turk" with whom no personal relations were
possible. The German Emperor would have
lacked both the Imagination and courage re-
qured for an enlargement of his itinerary so as
to include in one of its stages the lildiz Kiosk.
| Prince Bismarck alone was capable OF suggest
ing so radical departure from the lines of the
traditional diplomacy of Europe. The same
master mind which for nearly thirty years has
been shaping the destinieS of Germany and
Europe has had a clearly traced plan of action
in the East. The young sovereign has not
come laundering upon the scene at Constant
nope like circus clown. The grim Chancellor
is the experienced dramatst who has arranged
the play, and shrewdy timed the temperance
of a Christian King at the Ottoman Court.
Before Koenigsgraetz and Sedan Prince Bis
marcl1 had openly encouraged Russian diplo-
matists to enlarge the sphere of their ambi-
tons in Southeastern Europe. He bargained
| for their neutrality in two great wars by con-
ceding TO them liberty of action in the Balkan
When the German Empire was founded and
converted into the greatest military Power OF
modern times, the Russian Foreign Office per
| ceived too late that it no longer had two riva
States in a loosely formed confederation to play
off against each other. In the war of 1877
Alexander IL made a desperate attempt to ex-
tend his empire to Constantinople by forming
a secret compact with Austria for a division OF
territory. and by appealing to Prince Bismarcb
to cancel the obligations incurred during the
bohemian and French campaigns. His eX-
| pectations were thwarted after San Stefano
when Lord Beaconsfield's spirited policy wa
secretly supported by Germany and the Treaty
of Berlin was negotiated in the interest Of
European peace. That treaty conferred upor
Prince Bismarck the functions Of regulator
in maintaining the equilibrium Of the European
State system. Neither Russia nor Austria wa
allowed TO obtain prcponderant influence il
the Balkan. Prince Bismarck, the homes
broker became arbiter of the destinies OF tina
part of tho world When Russia grew indg
nant over his ngrattude for past favors anc
displayed unmistakable resentment, he strength
ened his alliance with Austria and drew Ital,
into the coalition but his strong hand ha
3 never lost control Of the mechanism by whicl
he, and he alone directs the future Of thu
Sultan's European Empire.
The fact that Germany had declared on ever,
| occasion that whatever might be the rivalrie
I and ambitions Of other Powers, she had no di
rect interests in the Balkan, predisppsed tn
Sultan to solicit the good Offices OF the Chan
cellor Whenever he wanted engineers t
fortfy his ports he sent to Berlin for them
whenever he needed 6nanciers to pat his treas
u,y accounts in order and to discover neN
sources Of revenue he employed Germans; an