Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-04-11
DIR. HENRY oEFEcKEN.
The Edltor-Professor Who Excited
Bismarck's Enmlty.

Bismarck'S EnmIty.
A short but comprehensive biograph-
ical sketch Of the man who has
just lately suffered from the re-
vengeful displeasure OF that in
Bcrutable master OF muscular diplo-
macy, Prince Bismarck, may not be de-
void Of interest to newspaper readers.
Dr. Geffcken is a wiry little man, con-
siderably past middle age, for when in
1855 he was charge d'affaires at Berlin
for the then free city of Hamburg, his
birthplace, he was twenty-five years
old. An earnest, persevering, but
somewhat noisy politician, OF strong
national aspirations, he obtained ready
recognition from many notabilities OF
the diplomatic world. But OF higher
social rank than these partisans, the
late Prince Anthony OF Hohenzollern-
Sigmaringen had more than an ordin-
airy feeling OF respect for his abilities,
while the present Emperor William III.
who had known him at the University
OF Bonn, treated him as friend and
companion. At the time of the German
crisis, which had its inception in the
.swar of the duchess" and terminated
at the battle OF Sadowa, Geffckcn made
no secret of his partialities and dis
likes. His sympathies were rather
with Germany as a confederation than
with Prussia as a nation. Later on,
Hamburg having lost the right OF
accrediting diplomatic agents to
foreign countries, his fellow townsmen
by a vote of 18th of July, 1869, elected
him a member of their syndicate.
In that position he might have re-
manned, in useful but inglorious activ-
ity, had not the political storm OF 1870
afforded him another opportunity OF
answering tho calls of destiny which
even the influence of Hamburgian as
pirations was not sufficiently powerful
to control. DIR. Geffeken, the popular
member of the syndicats, sent in his
resignation, being determined to try
his fortune with the hubbub of politi-
cal social commissions, where the man
of active mind often finds the road
which leads to success and distinction.
Armed with his diploma of DR.. der
rechte Cd. c. L., he joined the agita-
ton which had for its aim the founda-
ton of a Strasburg university. Here
the choice of professors was based on
q principle of wide tolerance in the
matter of political and religious belief.
1t was by no means sine qua non that
they should be fervent disciples Of NJ
de Bismark. What was principally re-
Quired of them that they should intstil
into the minds of their pupils the es-
sential conditions of the Germadic sys-
tenn OF civilization. DR.. Geffeken was
appointed professor of civil law at this
university, where he pursued his call
ing with credit to himself and benefit
to the youths of Alsace.
When Marshal Manteuffel made his
appearance on the scene as statthalter
(governor), he not only renewed his
friendly relations with Prof. Geffcl1en,
but he accepted him as q colleague, by
comforting upon him the title of coun-
cillor of state. About this time the
doctors health began to be affected,
and possibly also his scholastic duties
became irksome to him. He had
never succeeded in freeing himself en-
tirely from his political aspirations;
and even at Strasburg he was the de-
termined opponent of Bismarck's plan
of revision OF the old church laws, the
'Kulturkampf," and in consequence in
CURED the grave displeasure OF the
iron chancellor, who plainly intimated
to him that he would have to go to
"Canossa" in fulfillment of that pre-
diction.
Later on DR.. Geffcken published an
interesting work on the Crimean war,
with transcripts of letters on the SUBJ
ject written by Prince Frederick Will
liam, and copies of dispatches ex-
changed between the courts Of London
and Berlin.
In the chancellor's official report,
which was the preface to the arrest
of Dr. Geffcken, there occurs, as
everyday readers knows, the extraordi-
nary statement that the late Emperor
Frederick had disclosed state secrets
to the court of St. James. That such
slur should have been cast on the
memory of Frederick by Prince Bis
marcll has possibly not surprised many
people. One thing, however, is GER
tain, that while the unfortunate Count
Arnim was undone, and ultimately
driven to despair and death, in his re-
sistance, with regard to DR.. Geffcken,
he has indeed reason to rejoice that he
has not been left to the tender mercies
OF his unrelenting and unforgiving an
tagonist. Mall Gazette.