St. Paul daily globe., 1890-05-20
WITHOUT BIS IsMARCK.

OlIC VI tuC DlOoU iilOl lIlSo iIlOiNtN IL W
that come to men IN life is the oc-
casional parade before the eyes Of others
of the fact that the dropping out OF the
individual from some position that it
was fancied could not be properly filled
by another stops no wheels. Not cog
is slipped. The machinery goes on with
the wonted regularity and precision,
and to the general view no change is
noted or loss suspected The stranded
and retired individual looks on III
amazement and tinge of Indignation
that there is no jolt, and chaos does not
ensue. The world and society are too
well organized to be seriously disturbed
by the exodus of any one, however es-
sential apparently to the normal and
wholesome movement of things. When
men die in the midst of their activities,
probably they can take the elating
illusion with them that the hole
they left will never be so well
filled. 1t is we'll that they think it is
the other fellows that suggest the hole
made in the waters by the dropping
pebble. There may be a friendly the
Ory left undiSturbed at times that So
ciety, or the state at times, suffers Seri-
Gus and permanent disaster in the de-
parture of some trusted one. When
Mr.. LINCOLN was stricken down in the
hour in which the country was in pc
culiar need of great pacificator, it
seemed that the hand had fallen that
could best do the work: and In the light
of subsequent events, there is reason to
believe that he could have spared the
country years Of angry ferment. Still,
it would be impossible to absolutely
know that any substantial final good
was abated. The more immediate his
tory of Germany has afforded signal
illustration OF the fact that modern So
cial and governmental affairs are too
we'll organized to be greatly affected
by the loss of any director of machin-
cry. The venerable Emperor WILL
lam was in wide estimation essential to
the peace and prosperity of the nation.
He departed in the course of nature,
and was soon followed by his successor
and son, FREDERICK. Then came an
inexperienced youth, versed in none of
the arts that make for the nations
veal. He was believed to be impetuous
and rash, and shudder went over the
nations that foreboded war. But the
grand old man, BISMARCK, was still the
great anchor of peace. His hand was
upon the lever that kept the motive
elements from finding destructive chan
nelS. Hope seemed lost when he hoped
down so suddenly. 1t was mistake, a
blunder of the hour that would soon be
repaired. That there could be great
German power and BISMARCK not at
the helm was inconceivable. The en-
peror would find that he was blunder-
ing to ruin without the strong guiding
hand that had been with his father,
and vastly more with his grandfather
The days roll on. BISMARCK hears in
his retirement no imploring tones of re-
call, but another is put in his place. No
doubt he sees that unframed hands are
laundering where skill had so long
directed, but the country does not seem
to lose any needed slumber. 1t is, we
may believe. most disagreeable disen-
chantment to BISMARCK that the nation
he did so much to make a great power
has really outgrown him. and can move
on prosperously under other direction
He possibly sees the danger that
his successor will fill the vacancy
quite full so far as the popu-
lar eye discerns. New policies are even
being substituted for his. and there is a
possibility that they will rebound to
the advantage of the nation. The indi-
cations are that there will be new align
ments of the great powers, and greater
assurance of continued peace. More
satisfactory domestic policies are likely
to be enforced. 1t is TOO soon to out
line all the consequences that will take
their rise in this change of adminstra-
ton, but very moderate sort of op-
timism sees probable a decided advance
in generous recognition of popular
rights, and the better conditions of
economic and civil relations. Fortu-
nate is the man who can quite measure
his relations to the aggregate, or dies in
the light of an "iridescent dream"