The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-05
NOT GOOD FRIENDS.
The Relations Existing Between
Bismarck and William I.
Now Stories OF tho Jealous Differences
Between Them-The Old KaIsor Didn't
Like His Cbancelior's Preponder-
ance in tho Affairs OF State.

Between Them-The Old KaIsor Didn't
Like His Cbanceitor's Preponder-
ance in the Affairs OF State.
"Prince Bismarck and tho Hohenzol-
lern," is tho title under which the Bres-
laucr Zcitung has given to the world
anew and astonishing version Of some
events in recent German history. At first
tho articles undor this head were regard
ed as q tritlo too sensational to bo worthy
of credcnce. Corroborativc proof of the
truth of them has, however, como from
various sources in the last two or three
weeks. and all the German dailies have
been forced to discuss the relations of
tho cXChancellor and William |. in the
now light. at no time" SAYS tho Brcs-
lauer Zeitung, did the legendary rela-
tions of unruiilcd serenity exist between
Emperor and Chancellor. With every
new success the Chanccllor'S desire to
rule increased beyond measure. Success
and ambition raised his position to such
an unusual height that it began to over
shadow tho throne. King William SAW
this in 1867, and looked about for II rom
cdy. At that time he said To the Crown
Prince: This man has grown too great
for us. We must get substitute, and
ask your help in my efforts to find
one Tho Crown Prince turned at once
to Herr Won Gruncr, Assistant Secretary
of the Interior in the old Liberal Min
istry. For an unknown reason tho
plan to elevate Won Gruncr to Bis
marck's position Tell through We
know, however, that ever since this
affair Prince bismarck has cherished
tho deepest resentment against Won
Gruncr. and when the honored old man
on his seventeen 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 Reichsanzeiger, thus con-
fining the EXccllcncy OF Herr Won Grun-
er to the limits of the court. We also
know that after this episode the Chan
ccllor felt uncertain in his Office and re-
garded with jealousy every gifted and
favored Minister who might in any way
he considered Il rival. And with some
justification, for tho feeling that pos
sessed the King i'll 1861 grew stronger
with tho next fifteen years. The posi-
ton of the Chancellor became ever more
dcspotic, his irritability ever greater,
his presence in Berlin ever moro irfrc-
Qucnt, his requests for release from his
official duties ever more persistent
Why did not the King grant these re-
quests? Simply on account of the OK
treme difficulty Of finding man equal
to assuming Bismarck heritage.
The age of the King was also of mo-
mont. In 1867 King William might
have felt able TO carry on the Govern
| mcnt with the aid of Il now Minister.
Ten years later, after his cighticth
! birthday and with constitution shaken
/ by the Modelling attempt at assassina-
| ton. such an effort was out OF the oucs-
ton. Thereto were TO be added the
| marvellous successes OF the Chancellor
and his ingenuity in finding way out
of the most desperate straits So the
Emperor eventually resigned himself to
his painful position as the less OF two
| evils. From such considerations came
, tho famous never if it was ever
spoken, when Bis..,ccrcly landed in next
TO his last request from him for relief
from duty. Tho last request was re-
fused so coolly by the Emperor that Bis
marcif mover made a move toward max
ing another one"
Among the many journals that have
published circumstantial evidence of
the correctness of this now view OF an
old subject is the Frankfurtcr Zcitun@.
which says:
AS tho relations between Bismarcl,
and Emperor William |. have become
the subject of general discussion, it NAV
be interesting to know how fully CON
scious the Chancellor was of tho scnsi-
tiveness of his imperial lord as to the
common report OF the Minister'S pre-
pondcrance in tho Government. Bis
marck frequently related to his most in
timato friends this story: During the
French war Bismarck and the king sat
one afternoon in the same compartments
of train that halted at u way station
for water. German peasants were dis
cussing tho war on the station platform.
and ono of them shouted: 'Ycs, YES. the
Bismarckians are coming The King
asked at once: What did that man say?'
Bismarck answered that he had not I'M
derstood. There was long silence.
Then the King said: The people should
understand that tho troops arc mine,
not yours Since them, added tho
Chancellor, my wife has often reminded
mo Of this little conversation, and,
whenever havo been in danger of hurt
ing the pride of my old Lord, has warned
me: Remember the BismarIkians'"
The memories of Privy Court Council
lof Schneider, recently published. con-
tain numerous incidents illustrative Of
tho ill-fceling with which William I.
regarded the tendency Of his people to
ascribc all good and great German
things to his Chancellor.
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Tho t,rcon,a Fc ,,,ilv Circle