The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-09
THE DOWNFALL OF BISMARCK

THE DOWNFALL OF BISMARCK.
When the late Emperor Frederick of
Germany died it will be recalled that
portions Of his diary, kept in 1873, were
published, showing the hesitating part
played by Bismarck in the Franco-Prus-
sian war. Intense excitement followed
this publication, and Dir. Geffcken was
arrested on criminal proceedings on the
ground of Justification if the diary was
not genuine, and for revealing state Sc
crets if the diary was genuine. On this
Jwo-edged Indictment he was tried but
acquitted with the censure of the court.
To 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 the fall of Bismarck
with greater detail than it has ever before
been. published at least for English
readers, DR.. Geffcken now tells in the
July number of The Forum. The Iron
Chancellor had, naturally perhaps, as
sumed that his long and valuable service
and his great influence amounting in
many matters of state to controD over
the.old Emperor William and his reten-
tion during his brief reign by Frederick,
would insure his continued power under
the Young William H. Not only this,
but he had for many years so conducted
Imperial affairs and so disposed of men
about him as to make youngBismarck his
successor, aiming to establish an heredi
tary CHARACTERISTIC.
From this high pinnacle of achieve
ment and Of expectation bis sudden and
unexpected dismissal is one of the most
dramatic incidents in political history.
The central idea in the critical review
of Bismarck's career, made by DR.. Geffc-
ken in this article is set forth in the
following extract:
The true test of the highest order of states
manship is its degree of success iii forming a.
school. Such statesmen were Pericles, Caesar
Charlemange Lord Chatham Washington, Pitt,
Stein, and in our days, Cavour. When they died
they left successo able to continue their work
and the reason is that they believed in institu
lions rather than men. With Bismarck
it the reverse; he always adhered to the
Casarian systematic ''one man who under
takes to think for the whole people To govern
was, according to his idea, not to persuade, but
to command and representative government.
was to command with a flourish OF speeches.
which should always end in happy subservien-
cy to the ruling ministers. In fact, his opinion
was "LEmpirr cest MOI and enemies of the
Empire were always those who opposed his pol
icy of the hour, his imperious nature rebelling
against all control Such man could form no
school; as soon as he saw rising talent he
pressed it into his service crushed it. There
fore when he was dismissed. Germany had able
diplomatists and administrators. but no states
men
He represented the corruption as well
as the absolute tendency of an order Of
monarchy that is now everywhere dead
except in Russia.
On the other hand the young Emperor,
as described by GeiTcken. in spite Of his
strongly military utterances. recognizes
the fact that he'is a constitutional mon
arch. An outline of the portrait of him.
drawn by his Privy Councillor, is as fol-
lows:
William II is undoubtedly the most reInarka-
BILE sovereign of the present time. He is mod
ern man, Notwithstanding certain proclivities
which still adhere to him, like pieces of the shell
of an egg from which the bird has issued. With
restless activity he sezes upon all questions
which agitate time, be they large or small.
Today he speaks great European affairs,
opens new issues to German commerce and pro-
claims social rel ornn; to morrow he opens an
art eXhibitiO2 and takes 4 personal part in the
performance of Wildenbruch's patriotic drama,
1.-The New Lord" lie presdes over his Council
and shows himself a ready debater. opens a
scholastic conference, laying down his educa-
tional plans and ndefatigably travels all over
his country in order to everything with his
own eyes Much ia all this may be attributed
to his active temper but the moving principle
is undoubtedly the high conception of his duty
as 'the first servant of the state" This concep-
ton is bound up with strong consciousness of
his eminent position; he feels himself to be the
mission. As before the dismissal Of Bismarck
he said that he would crush any one trying to
obstruct his patf,so lie declared in his late speech
at Dusseldorf: Only one is masttr in this coul-
try; shall suffer no other 1t would be unjust
to see III such utterances, caused by high con-
seriousness Of his power, absoutist tendencies
on the part of the Emperor He is coDstitlI-
tional prince and has rgidly respected parlia-
mentary rights. But in time when the princi-
pie of authority and order is undermined in
many ways, the youthful sovereign feels that he
is the center of monarchial discipline, without
which the State neither exist nor progress
and he is resolved to maintain his authority
against social democrats as well against in
terested coalitions of privileged classes and
persons.