New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-07-22
DOWNFALL OF BISMARCK.
A Little Inside History by DR.
| Geffcken. ssSSfSa

E-E51
a Little Inside History by Or.
Geffcken.
When thelate Emperor Frederick Of
Germany died, it will be recalled that
portions OF his diary, kept in 1873,
were published, which showed the
hesitating part played by Bismarck
in the Franco-Prussian war. Intense
excitement followed this publication,
and DR.. Geffcken was arrested on
criminal proceedings on the ground OF
falsifcationif the diary waAnot gen
inc, and for revealing state Wsecrets if
the diary was genuine. On this two
edged Indictment he was tried, but ac-
quilted with the censure Of the court.
10 this DR.. Geffcken, now Imperial
Privy Councillor, submitted quietly
and awaited his turn, which soon
came in the fall of Bismarck.
And the story OF thefall of Bismarck,
with greater detail than it has ever be-
fore been published, atleast for English
readers, DR.. Gefcken now tells in the
July number of The. Forum. The
Iron Chacellor had, naturally perhaps,
assumed that his long and valuable
service and his great influence
(a1nounting in many matters of State
to controD over the old Emperor
William and his retention during his
brief reign by Frederick would insure
his continued power under the young
William II. Not only this, but hehad
Tor many years SO conducted Imperial
affairs and so disposed of men about
him as to make young Bismarck his
successor, aiming to establish an
hereditary chan ellorship.
From this high pinnacle of achieve
ment and OF expectation his sudden
and unexpected dismiissalis one Of the
most dramatic Incidents in political
history.
The central idea in the critical re-
view OF Bismarck's career, made by
DR.. Geffcken in this article, is set forth
in the following extract: -
The true test Of the highest order OF
craftsmanship is it's degree Of success
in forming a school, Such statesmen
were Pericles, Caesar, Char]emagne,
Lord Chatham, Washington, Pitt,
Stein, and in our days, Cavour. When
they died they left successors able to
continue their work, and the reason
is that they believe in institu-
tions rather than in men.
With Bismarck in was the reverse;
he always adhered to the Csesarian
systematic zone man" who I'M
dertakes to think for the whole people.
10 govern was, according to his
idea, not to persuade, but to COM
mand, and representative government
was to command with a flourish OF
speeches, which should always end in
a subserviency to the ruling minister.
In fact, his opinion was, al Empire
c. est moi" and enemies OF the En-
pire were always those who opposed
his policy of the hour, his imperious
nature rebelling against all control.
Such man could form no school; as
soon as he saw a rising talent he press
ed it into his service or crushed it.
Therefore when he was dismissed,
Germany had able diplomatists and
Administrators but no statesmen.
He represented the corruption as
we'll as the absolutist tendency of an
order of monarchy that is now every
where dead exceptin Russia.
On the other hand, the young
Emperor, as described by Geffcken,
in spite Of his strongly military
utterances, recognizes the fact that he
is a constitutional monarch. An out.
line of the portrait of him, drawn by
his Privy Councillor, is as follows.
William II, is undoubtedly the most
remarkable sovereign of the present
tl11ze. He is a modern man, notwith.
standing certain proclivities which still
adhere to him, like pieces Of the shell
of an egg from which the bird has is.
sued. With restless activity he seizes
upon all questions which agitate our
time, be they large or small. Today he
speaks on great European affairs,
opens new issues to German commerce,
and proclaims social reform; tomor.
row he opens an art exhibition and
takes a. personal part in the perform.
ance of Wildenbruch's patriotic dra.
ma, "!The New Lord" He presides
over his Council and shows himself
ready debater, opens scholastic con.
ference, laying down his educational
plans, and indefatigably travels all
over his country in order to see every.
thing with his own eyes. Much in all
this may be attributed to his active
temper, but the moving principle is I'm.
doabtedly the high conception OF
his duty as 'the first servant
of the state" This conception is
bound up with strong consciousness
of his eminent position; he feels him
self to be the pillar OF the state called
to carry out a great mission. AS be-
fore the dismissal OF Bismarck he said
that he would crush any one TRYING
to obstruct his path, so he declared
in his last speech at Dusseldorf:
"Only one IS master in this country;
I shall suffer no other It would be
unjust to see in such utterances,
caused by high consciousness OF his
power, absclutist tendencies on the
part of the Emperor! He is a consti-
tutional prince and hasrigidly respect
ed parliamentary rights. But IN
time when the principle Of authority
and o1<er is. undermined in many
ways, the youthful sovereign feels that
he is the centre OF monarchical dis
cipline, without which the State can