The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-07
BISMARCK AND WILLIAM |.
New Stories of the jealous Difference
Between Them.

"Prince Bismarck and the llOhenZOllern"
tung has given to the world a new and 49,
tOnishing version Of some events in recent
German history. SAYS the New York sun.
At first the articles under this head were
regarded a a triile too sensational 10 be
worthy Of credence. CorrOboratlve proof Of
the truth Of them has, however, come from
various sources in the last two or
three weeks, and all the German dailies
have been forced to discuss the relations Of
the eX-Chancellor and William !. IN the
new light. AT no time" says tle Bres-
lauer /etung, ibid the legendary relations
of uuruilied serenity exist between emperor
and chancellor. With every new success
the chanCellOr's desire 10 rule increased be-
yOnd measure. success and ambition rails
ed his position 10 such an unusual height
that il began 10 OyershadOw Che throne.
King William saw this in 1861, and
looked about for a remedy. At that time
he said 10 the crown prince: This
man has grown too great for us. We must
yet substitute, and | ask you to help in
nv efforts to find one The Crown Prince
turned at once to Herr Won Grunef. assist
ant secretary Of the interior in the Liberal
Ministry. For an unknown reason the plan
10 elevate Won Gruner 10 Bismarck's posi-
ton fell through. We know, however. that
ever since this affair Prince Bismarck has
cherished his deepest resentment against
Won Gruner, and when the honored old man
on his 10Th birthday was elevated tothe rank
of real priyy councillor, Prince Bismarck
did the Unprecedented act Of preventing
the publication of the event in the Reich
sanzieger, thus combining the eXcellency Of
Herr Won Gruner 10 the limits Of the court.
We also know that after this episode the
chancellor felt uncertain i'm his Office, and
regarded with Jealousy every gifted and
favored minister who might in any way be
considered rival. And with some justiii-
cation. for the feeling that possessed the
king in lSG, grew stronger with the next
fifteen years. The position of the chancel-
lOr became ever more despOtic, his irritable
ity ever greater, his presence in Berlin ever
more infrequent, his requests for release
from his official duties ever more presis-
tent. Why did not the king grant these
requests: simply "a account Of extreme
difficulty OF finding man equal - assuming
Bismarck's heritage.
"The age of the king was also of moment.
In 1861 King William might have felt able
to carry on the government with the aid OF
a new minister. Ten years later, after his
eightieth birthday. and with a constitution
shaken by the Modelling attempt at asssssi-
nation. such an effort was out OF question.
Thereto were 10 be added the marvellous
successes Of the chancellor, and his
ingenuity in finding a way out Of the
most desperate straits. 80 the En-
perOr eventually resigned himself to his
painful position a. the less OF two evils.
From such considerations came the famous
never if it was ever spoken, when Bis
marck handed in next to his last request
from him for relief from duty. The last re-
quest was refused so cOOlly by the emperor
that Bismarck never made a move toward
making another One''
Among the many journals that have pub
lishcd circumstantial evidence OF the cor
RICHNESS of this new view Of an old subject
is the Frankfurter Zeitung, which says:
'As the relations between Bismarck and
Emperor William |. have become the sub
ject Of general discussion, it may be inter
esting to know how fully conscious the
chancellor was OF the sensitiyeness of his
imperial lord as to the common report OF
the minister's prepOnderance in the gov.
eminent. Bismarck frequently related 10
his most intimate friends this story. During
the French war Bismarck and the King
sat one afternoon in the same compartment
OF a train that halted at a way station tor
water. German peasants were discussing
the war on the station platform, and
one of them shouted: Yes, yes, the Bis.
marckians are coming The king asked
at once: What did that man sayi' Bis
marck answered that he had not under
stood There was long silence. Then the
king said; The people should understand
)hat the troops are mine, not yours since
them added the chancellor, my wife has
often reminded me of this little cOnyersa-
ton, and whenever | have been in danger
OF hurting the pride OF my old lord, has
warned me: Remember the Bismarck
ians.'-
The memories OF Privy Court Councillor
Schneider, recently published. contain nu-
merous incidents illustrative OF the ill-feel-
ing with which William |. regarded the
tendency of his people to ascribe all good
and great German things to his chancellor