New-York tribune., 1891-08-30
BISMARCK no YOUNG MEN.
A NOTABLE SPEECH AT KrssINGEN.

The speech Of Prince Bismarck to the Germsa
students In Kisslpgen August 10, upon the occ~
sion Of the presentation Of the students Cup 10 mo
great Chancellor has been printed far and VIDE IN
tho Journals OF Europe More than ever is the Psnce
the idol Of the German "sons Of the Muses. IL Is
not probable that they win forget the lessons which
he attempted to teach them.
al thank you gentlemen said the Prince, Tor
this beautiful mernento. II shall have prominent
place among my treasures, not only on account Cd ~
beauty but also account Of It's crgn The present
has for ITO historical significance. We belong 70
different generations belong to the battling. stue
cling one OF Emperor William !, about to depart
You belong TO the future.
sWhen / entered the University of Gocttngen In
1892 Germany was weak because of It's division into
more than thirty States The individual States dis
trusted one another and cared less for one anosher
than they did for foreign lands. The only common
elements In Germany were art and science. Even
then there was neither Prussian nor o Bavarian
science; It was German. The German universities
preserved In those days the feeling OF unity they
were the bearers Of the idea OF nationality The hame
which they started was bright and powerful but IL
was not great enough TO niet into congruous mass
the various elements in the Faherland. For that tho
dvnastes the governments and their armies were
necessary Former attempts To realize the dream OF
unity failed because tho dynastic might and the
power OF blood and iron were underesumasca.
Without this power and without tne "u
Of the dynastes, no lasting benefit for "ef-
many can be accomplished. That was uhe IN
ls48; IL Is true to-day. The problem whicn conironpS
you, gentlemen-after the unavoidable Internal con.
Gicts have been overcome-is one OF preservation IL
institutions are TO be preserved they must also DO en-
larged and improved. But what must be preserved
Above all things wish you n the future To orinR tne
Imperial Constitution TO your hearts, IL is lmpeF
feet, but 1t the best which we could MAKE unoer
the circumstances. Guard that constitution; watch
zealousy that the rights which 1t grants and protects
be not circumscnbed. ! am not friend OF centmi-
ization, as is to be with Paris In France SEQ
the blessings Of decentralization In the creation OK
numerous centres Of culture. / do not wish 10 SEQ
all things brought TO q common level any more thah
wish TO the disappearance Of the various Na'iona
costumes
"Aga!l, say, guard the Constitution, even II In
coming years 1t should not please you in all regards.
Advise no change that Is not agreeable to all interested
parties. That is the first condition Of the ponucai
welfare Of the Empire. / fear nothing nom foreign
countries All foreign attacks will act upon us ~
hammerbeats; they will strengthen and increase our
unity. Internally consider the German tendency
paricularism to Ito In parties, tc locus MINORS
reslstental. This tendency lies in our blood Just
as two regiments with different uniforms In tho
garrison become easily involved In disputes )
Just formerly the individual German States looked
cross-eyed at one another so to-day We have the
conflict among the parliamentary fractions which
threatens the development Of the union. 1t Is difficult
70 bridge the chasm between the parties con-
slider parliamentary fractionssm disease whose con
unuaton depends upon the ambition OF the politicians
Try to this tendency to ito In partes 10 par
| ticularlsm II we remain united, drive tho
Devil out from He'll You must accustom yourselves to
| see In every German the countryman and not tho
political opponent. .
al make this request of you, gentlemen. as the
bearers Of the national idea at the German universities
You to transmit that idea that hope, to coming
generations beg you TO drink wisl me from this
cup which stands before me. drink to the welfare
of the German universities, to the prosperity OF the
German students whose representatives stand before
me- and TO their teachers In the words Of the old song:
"Vivat membrum quodlibet,
Vvant membra quaellbet,
Semper sint In fore"