The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-04-08

aud friend of autocratic power. HIS
object was not to make a German
state governed by parliamentary
majorities, on the English model, but
to build up strong central authority
in the Crown. He was the servant
of the Hohenzollerns, respector OF
their name and inherited authority,
and no believer in government by the
people. This attitude of Bismarck's
coupled with his immense influence
with the Emperor William, has been
the controlling factor in the develop
ment of German nationality. 1t
virtually determined the form which
that struggling nationality should
take.
Bismarck kept the Grown Prince
Frederick insignificant, and prevent
ed his exerting the influence which
ought to have been his, and which,
! exerted, would have aided amazingly
the development of real constitu-
tional government at Berlin. Bis
marck kept the Crown Prince from
influence, and the Emperor's won
derful vitality kept him from the
Throne. Both facts were disastrous
to Germany, and postponed the
natural political development of the
country, twenty years.
The moment at which Bismarck
retires aptly illustrates the disastrous
character of his autocratic policy.
He leaves no one worthy to wear his
mantle, and he leaves Germany help
less, because unschooled in constitu
tional methods. Government by
benevolent and capable tyrants, to
be permantly successful must pro-
vide the retiring tyrant with benev-
olent and capable heir. Bismarck's
failure to do this is the bankruptcy
of his policy. 1t is browning fail
ure after thirty years of success.
Two facts enabled Bismarck to
control the Reichstag and govern
without substantial resistance for
nearly a generation. One was the
tremendous prestige which the graft
tcation of German pride, success in
two great wars, the achievement Of
German national unity, the leader
ship of Prussia not only in Germany
but in Europe, lent to the admins
tration. The second fact was the
veneration which the entire German
people feel for the Hohenzellerns,
and in particular for the person of
the venerable Emperor. These two
circumstances made it possible for
the Chancellor to defy the Liberals
and govern by one-man power for
twenty years. The end of the period
witnesses the break down of the sys-
TEN, and Bismarck retires in the face
of an unfriendly Reichstag, con-
demned by hostile majority in the
capital of the Empire.
Speculation as to the causes which
lead to the Chancellor's retirement
is idle as well as uncertain. A want
of harmony with the enthusiastic
schemes of a young and headstrong
Emperor has probably simply hast
ened an event which failing energies,
coupled with the increasing compli-
cations of the situation, would of
themselves speedily have made in
evitable. The Chancellor was natur-
ally unable to cope with the situa-
ton, as long as he could not com
mand the support of the Emperor.
Enthusiastically enough, he de-
clined responsibility which was not
accompanied with power. IL the
person of the Emperor he was sub
ject to sort of Auditor General who
was as stubbornly determined to
rule as any of the species. 1t is no
miracle that he declined the situa-
ton.
After every deduction, Bismarck is
and must remain a great man. If he
had added to his great qualities, to
his insight and sagacity, to his
effectiveness, his iron will and his
practical sense. the liberal views, the
wise and enlightened philanthropy
of Gladstone or Charles Sumner,
his place in history would have been
not merely that of the greatest states
man of his time, but that of one of
the chief lovers and benefactors of
mankind.
The Kinau is due from windWard ports