Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-03-26
DOES 1T MEAN WAR
Grave Fears for the Result OF Bis
marck's Retirement.

marck's Retirement.
LONDON, March 20.-Is the peace Of
Europe to be involved by the resigna-
ton OF Bismarck?
This is now an absorbing question.
Those versed in European affairs have
foreseen as inevitable this step, but its
effect is different matter. Tie iron
| chancellor held the will of the
grandfather Emperor William - in
the hollow of his hand. With
him Bismarck's word was law.
Whether, under the hostile infu-
ence OF his Empress and her party, the
invalid Emperor Frederick would have
| changed this, cannot be conjectured.
But it was the gossip of Europe that the
/ present young Emperor, before his &C
cession, had as his intimates clique
headed by Count Won Waldersee,
known to be inimicable to Bismarck,
and which was regarded as O warlike
copy. The French press was in favor
Of excitement over the accession of the
young Emperor, regarding it as certain
war.
This feeling all Europe nervousy
| shares. To still this feeling it required
repeated pacific utterances on the part
of the young Emperor, and the apparent
continuance OF Bismarck in his position
| as confidential director of affairs. But
g most significant thing was the eleva-
ton of Count Won Waldersee to high
position in the army, and one close to
| the Emperor, which must have been q
| bitter pill to tie iron chancellor, and
one he doubtless swallowed with but i'll
| grace.
| The German press is kept under such
a close supervision that the true state of
| affairs there is not reflected. While
| everything that Germany does is re-
| garded by France with the keenest in
| terest-shown by columns of German
| gossip daily published in the French
press, involving the most minute per-
| sonal details concerning the Emperor
and those around him, much is so col
| ored by bitter prejudice as to make
| clear judgment.
From time to time there have sew
/ eral things leaked out which indicate
| there can be no doubt there would have
| been rupture long before between
| Emperor William and Bismarck but for
! two deterrent conditions. First, the
| Chancellor regarded himself, and was
| regarded, as the creator of the empire.
| Second, the burden of the debt of graf
itude OF the Hohenzollern family to
Bismarck rested heavy on the young
ruler, and he could not afford an issue
with the Chancellor too soon, as it
| might place him in an unpleasant posi-
ton before his subjects.
Bismarck is for peace, and William
wants to be second Frederick the
Great. There will be a war between
France and Germany. there can be no
doubt, and it will be short and unsan-
culinary.
Berlin, March 20. = The National
Gazette, referring to Prince Bis
marks remarks, yesterday, to Sig.
Boccardo, one of the Italian dele
gates to the labor conference,
that the paths of Italy and Germany
would be identical in the future as they
had been in the past, says that the OBJ
ssrvation may confidently be applied to
orally. The appointment Of Gen.
B B4n GaprG the to sueoeed PrP nee
nothing Of a threatening character. 1t
calls attention to the fact that the Duke
of Wellington was at one time prime
minister of Great Britain, and declares
that German generals appreciate the
blessings of peace no less than other
Germans IN responsible positions.
The Vossische Zeitung says that the
tension has been brought to climax by
the fact that the destinies of Europe
have been suddenly deprived of their
axis. Prince Bismarck was guarantee
of peace. History will preserve the
memory of his services in the
cause Of peace. His successor will
be compelled to Immediately deal
with the question of a reduction of
the military burden, in the interests of
peace. The nation witnesses the retire |
ment of Prince Bismarck with regret, |
but without anxiety, hoping that his life |
will still be long and happy, and that he |
will be able to follow the development |
Of the country.
The North German Gazette prince |
Bismarcks organ) gives prominence to |
the announcement that Gen. Won Ca |
priv las succeeded Prince Bismarck as |
chancellor Of the empire. 1t also gives |
equal prominence to report that Gen. |
Won Caprivi will succeed Prince Bis |
marck as president of the Prussian Min |
isterial Council.
Prince Bismarck has made arrange
nents to vacate the palace of the chan
cellor at an early date.
ST. PETERSBURG, March 20.-The No
vosti to-day publishes another article
on the retirement of Prince Bismarck |
from the German chancellorship. The |
paper takes pessimistic view of the
situation which will result from the
chancellor's resignation, and declares
that the solitary support of the edifce
OF European peace has crum bled.