The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-30
Bismarck Painted by an Enemy.

Bismarck Painted by an Enemy.
Perhaps tho most interesting article con-
tanned in any OF the August periodicals is
that contributed to the Forum by Prof f.
HEINRICH GEFFcKEN, who, it will be re-
membered, was arrested for alleged COM
plicity in certain publications which gave
umbrage to Prince BISMARCK. Times iiavo
changed since then in Prussia, and every
man is now at liberty to criticlsc tho de-
posed Chancellor. Ostensibly Prof. GEFFcK-
EMS article is all account OF the character
and policy Of Emperor WILLIAM II. But
there Is not great deal said, or rs yet to be
said, upon that subject and the writer's real
purpose is to belttle BIsMARcK's achieve
ments and lower his reputation. Tho in
dictment Is drawn with some shrewdness,
all OF the Chancellor's triumphs being
passed over, and only his acts Of doubtful
expediency being held up to the light. Yet
we believe that not single reader will re-
ceive with anything but laughter the sug-
gested conclusion that WILLIAM II. and
Gen. Won CAPRIvr arc greater statesmen
than the man they have displaced.
Prof GEFFcKEN's most serious attempt to
impugn the quality OF BIsMARCK's states
manship is the assertion that he founded no
school, and thus made extremely difficult
the task OF choosing his successor. In this
respect he differs we are told, from men
like CHARLEMAGNE, Lord CHATHAM. WASH
INGToN. and CAvoUR. Inasmuch as CHARLIE
MAaNE's empire broke up after his death. it
Is clear that the administrators he trained
up were incompetent for the work they had
to do The notion that the Earl OF CHATHAM
created school OF statesmen is entirely I'M
known to history. His own Ministry was
extremely vigorous. but 1t was very short
and was succeeded by one Of the most inef-
fcient and shortsighted governments by
which England was afflicted in the last
century. AS for WASHINGTON. not even
his most Jealous biographer has cred
tied him with superlative statesman
ship, much less with the develop
ment OF school. 1t was not WASHINGTON,
but HAMILTON, who organized the Federal
ist party and transmitted certain principles
and methods to series Of distinguished
politicians. Neither is it accurate t. speak
OF CAvoUR's SUCCESSORS as his pupils. except
in the sense that they were the product OF q
system OF responsible Parliamentary gov
eminent, which CAvoUR had uniformly IA
vored. Unquestionably the weak point in
BIsMARCK's career, or what seems the weak
point to those who deem the English plan of
Parliamentary government applicable to all
European countries, was his refusal to apply
the rule which held good in the kingdom OF
Prussia to the German empire and to
make the imperial Ministers accounta-
BILE to tho Reichstag But wo cnn
scarcely on that account reject his
claim to preGminent greatness in statesman
ship. II VIC did, we should have to exclude
rs HENRY II. and EDWARD I. OF England,
as RIcHELIEU and MAzAB1N. as GUsTAvUs
ADoLPHUs. PETER the Great, and FREDER-
ICK the Great, and such women as ELIZA
BETH and CATHERINE II. 1t is what they
who are charged with the direction of q
State actually effect, rather than the means
whereby they accomplish 1t, by which their
claim to respect Ia graduated. Neverthe-
less. We repeat that here Prof. GEFFCKEN
touches one OF tho Chancellor's short
comings, which tho latter may now himself
regret and that CAvoUR really outshincs BIS
MARCK in this one particular, that he pro-
motel and consolidated the system Of Min
isterial accountability to Parliament
The other three charges upon which Prof.
GEFFCKEN lays most stress are the follow
ing: First BISMARCK did not render an
account of the manner in which the Guelph
Fund was expended, whereas, his successor,
CAPRIvI, has promised to make an explicit
statement on the subject to tho Prussian
Landtag. Secondly. he undertook an abor-
tive crusade against the Social Democracy,
which his successor has wisely abandoned.
Thirdly. tho protectionist policy, which the
Chancellor since 1878 had carried out,
proved q failure and must be superseded by
q series OF commercial treaties with neigh
boring countries. embodying at least partial
reciprocity. AS to tho secret use OF the
Guelph Fund--the name given to the sum
OF $3.50. 900 year accruing from the indem-
nifty withheld from the deposed King OF
Hanover: the responsibility must be shared
with BISMARCK by the King OF Prussia,
and by both Houses OF tho Prussian Par
lament For Article ~. OF tho bill
placing that sum at the disposal OF the
Government, expressly stipulated that the
Executive should not be obliged to render
any account OF tho manner In which 1t was
spout. From that day to this, although
there have been some individual protests.
neither House OF the Prussian Parliament
has passed bill repeating tho article Just
mentioned. There could not. therefore,
have been any deop and widespread convic-
tlon that tho secret service money was i'm
properly expended. We come now to the
laws against the Socialists. which are gen.
orally presumed to have been abortive,
because during the period Of their enforce
ment the number OF Socialist voters rose
from ll200O to l,l2700O. The next elec-