The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-12
VIII Bismarck Reappear in Politics.

tant date to take his place In the Prussia
House Of Lords. and also to accept a seat i
the Relchstag. This news seems con1rme
by information which has reached Vienn
from an independent source. As BIsMARCl
has made no secret OF his disapproval OF tn
Kaiser's labor programme, the purpose o
his temperance in politics is seemingl!
the creation Of a new party under his leader
ship, whose aim would be to check the 30
cial and economical tendencies OF his SOW
ereign. The report OF his return to public
life has excited good deal Of discussion on
the Continent and In England, some writers
applauding his intention and others pro
Tossing to believe that dignifed retirement
would be more conducive to the main
tenance of the ex-Chancellor's reputation
The kreuz Zeitung expresses the belief that
"in view OF the loyalty OF Prince BIsMARCB
to his royal master he will give his advice
only when asked for 1t by his Majesty"
That loyalty to sovereign should be sup.
posed to imply abstinence from criticism OF
proposed legislation, shows how imperfectly
the English theory of parliamentary gov
eminent Is understood in Germany. Her
Maiesty's Opposition Is as essential part OF
the British legislative machinery as Is her
AOyuAtS VI
an ex-First Minister can In no way be better
displayed than by vigilant and critical at
titude toward the measures Of his successor.
1t ia BISMARCK s own fault that the principle
oftMinisterial accountability to the peoples
representatives has not been accepted
In the German empire, and even In
Prussia the system received severe
shock through his governing without
budget for some years previous to
the war OF &c. He Is the one man
In Germany who can redress the Injury
which he has himself inflicted upon parla-
mentary institutions, and should he enter
the Reichstag as q private member no fear
Of being taxed with inconsistency will pre-
vent him from doing so. Should he, by
combination Of parties, be able to defeat
the new Chancellor's programme, he will
undoubtedly expect the latter's resignation
and his own reinstatement. and should such
an event take place, precedent OF Ministe-
rial responsibility will have been estab-
ished. The truth is, that even the
German type of parliamentary gov
eminent has not yet had fair trial
because the representative Of the sovereign
has hitherto utterly eclipsed in respect OF
prestige and popularity the spokesman Of
the people. There is indeed, no doubt that
BISMARCK, II the Office of Chancellor were to
be filed by ballot, would receive more votes
than any other German. He is therefore,
just the sort OF man to teach the young EN-
peror what is meant by her Majesty's Oppo- |
sitlon, and to transform the anomalous |
regime, at present prevailing in Germany, |
into genuine example Of parliamentary |
government. 1t might prove wholesome |
discipline for the Kaiser were he to receive |
some Of the lessons which WILLIAM PITT in |
flicted on the youthful and self-suffcent !
GEORGE III. 1t would also be spectacle OF
peculiar interest to those who believe In the |
manhood and intellect OF Germany to watch |
the attempt to make the traditional respect |
for the HoHENzoLLERNs outweigh the ma
tional gratitude to BISMARCK.
But while we have no doubt that Bis
MARCK's temperance in politics as the |
leader Of an organized opposition would |
benefit Germany, and would. indeed. consti- |
tute his browning service to his country, We |
are by no means certain that 1t would BEN
eft himself 1t would ut once provoke a |
large part Of his countrymen to assume to-
ward him depreciatory, II not hostile, atti- |
ude, The reptile press, which he has |
taught to sting others, would have fangs for |
him. Instead Of the unbrOken chorus OF ac-
camation and affection which followed him
into retirement he would hear the
unfamiliar outcries Of party detraction
and dislike. His great abilities. which,
may have been the dcflec-
lions of his judgment, have hitherto
been consecrated to the general welfare OF
the fatherand, would DO unconsciously or
devoted to partisan advantage
His fame, which Ia now the heritage Of a
whole nation, would become the capital Of
faction. Wirepullers would trade upon q
reputation which Is perhaps the most re-
splendent trophy bequeathed by our own
times to history. Upon BISMARCK, as upon
other mon, parliamentary warfare would
leave its scars, and, even should he be sue
cessful in the end his triumph would have
been purchased at the cost OF the bitter hos
tility Of his sovereign and Of large minori-
ty Of Germans.
1t should also be remembered that Bis
sIARCK, although an impressive and at
lines an eloquent speaker. when allowed to
develop his ideas ut length from the ros-
rum, is i'll fitted for debate. His temper Is
90 imperfectly controlled for the give and
AXE OF parliamentary discussion. On the
loor of the Rcichstag he will no longer be
invested with the majesty which used to
,lothe him in his role OF Chancellor, and it Is
% be feared that in some Of his hot headed
outbreaks his dignity may suffer. In
Ter any circumstances, however, his ex-
,erence will be OF great value and his
opinions will have great weight. Moreover
lis willingness to assume the duties OF
imple Deputy after having shaped the des-
ines of Prussia for almost generation,
md played for nearly twenty years the part
# arbiter for Europe. will signally elevate
he ReIchstag and its functions In the eyes
If Germany and Of the world.
Handwriting.