The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-12-17
NOT GOOD FRIENDS.
Ehe Relations Existing Between
Bismarck and VIII am I,
New stor es OF the Jealous differences
Betwson Them Th' Old Kaiser Didn't
Like His Chagcsi.0TH prepondcr-
ance In the A.-,;rs nf state.


Betwson Them -TIi' Old Kaiser Didn't
Like His Chancei;or" prepondcr-
ance In the A..,;rs of state.
"Princc bismarck and the uohenzol-
lern," is the title under which the Bres-
lauer Heitung has given to the world
anew and astonishing version OF some
eyontsi in recent German history. At first
the articles under this head were regard
ed As a trlnc too sensational to be worthy
OF cFedence. Corroborativc proof OF the
rulh 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 the Bres-
laucr Heitung, did the legendary rcla-
tions OF unruifled serenity exist between
Emperor and Chancellor. With every
new success tho Chancellor's desire to
rule increased beyond measure. Success
and ambition raised his position to such
an unusual height that it began to over
shadow the throne. King William saw
this in 1867 and looked about for rem.
edy. At that time he said to the Crown
Prince: This man has grown too great
for u3. We must get a substitute, and
! ask your help in my efforts to find
one The Crown Prince turned at once
to IIorr Won Gruner, Assistant Secretary
Of the Interior in the old Liberal Min
iStry. For an unknown reason the
plan to elevate Won Gruner to Bis
marck's position fell through. We
know, however, that ever since this
affair Prince bismarck has cherished
Sho deepest resentment against Won
Gruner, and when the honored old man
on hiB s2ycntieth birthday was elevated
to the rank OF Real Privy Councillor,
Prince Bismarck did the unprecedented
act Of preventing the publication of the
event in the Roichsanzeiger, thus con-
flning the Excellency OF Herr Won Grun-
er TO the limits of the court. We also
know that after this episode the Chan
cellor felt uncertain in his office and re-
garded with jealousy every gifted and
favored Minister who might in any way
DO considered . rival And with some
justification, for the feeling that pos
sesscd the King in 1861 grew stronger
with the next fifteen years. The posi-
ton OF the Chancellor became ever more
despotic, his irritability ever greater,
his presence in Berlin ever more infre-
Qpept, his requests for release from his
04cial duties ever more persistent.
Why did not the King grant these re-:
quests? Simply on account OF the ex-
trcme difficulty of finding a man equal
to assuming Blsmarck's heritage.
"rhc age OF the King was also OF mo-
mont In 1857 King William might
have felt able TO carry on the Govern
ment with the aid OF q new Minister.
Ten years later, after his eightieth
birthday and with constitution shaken
by the Modelling attempt at assassina-.
tioa, such an effort was out OF the ques.
tlon. Thereto were to DO added the
marYelous successes of the Chancellor
and bis ingenuity in finding way out
ofthc most desperate straits. So the
Emperor eventually resigned himself to
his painful position as the less OF two
eI1lS. From such considerations came
the famous never II it WAS ever
spoken, when bismarck handed in next
% his last request from him for relief
FROM duty. The last request was re-
fused SO coolly by tho Emperor that Bis
marck never made move toward max
ing another one"
Among the uiauy journals that have
published ciroumstantial evidence OF
the correctness Of this now view OF an
omsubiect is the Franlifurter Zeitung,,
which says:
''hs the relations between Bismarck
aud Emperor William |. have become
the subject OF general discussion, 1t may
'be. Interesting TO know how fully con-
,scious the Chancellor was OF the sensi-
itiyeness Of his imperial lord as TO the
bouinon report Of the Minister'S pre-.
.ponderance in the Government. Bis.
,narck frequently related TO his most in
.tGIate friends this story: During the
French war Bismarck and the King sat
oip afternoon in the same compartment
,oIb tIulH IlluJ nalJcu ~ way bJaIlOH
lfot water. German peasants were dis
iotssing the war on the station platform,
ufnd one Of them shouted: yes, yes, the
lRisnarckians are coming Tho King
tac.sed at once: What did that man sayP'
Bismarck answered that he had not un-
.derstood. There was long silence.
Then the King said: The people should
understand that tho troops are mine,
;I,ot yours Since then, added the
E.aDcellor, my wife has often reminded
IRe Of this little conversation, and,
Whenever have been in danger OF hurt
Nag the pride Of my old Lord, has warned
me: Remember the Bismarckians."
The memories OF Privy Court Council
1or Schneider, recently published, con-
tain numerous incidents illustrative Of
Che ill-feelfng with which William l.
regarded the tendency OF his people TO
ascribe all good and great German
things to his Chancellor.