Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-08
STORY OF BISMARCK'S FALL
The Young Emperor De-
manded His Resignation.
AN EMPRESS SWEET REVENGE
The Chancellor lmplores
Frederick to Save Him.


LONDON, Jan. "A profound sensa-
ton is caused all over Europe to-day by
the following story published and guar
anteed to be authentic by the London
Times,
"France now begins for the first time
TO understand the cause of Bismarck's
fall and the circumstances, unknown
until of late, which accompanied it. All
these revelations are such that the ex-
chancellor's bitterest enemies hardly
venture to discuss what shadow he
cast in his descent from power over his
brilliant past.
"The iron rule of Bismarck had of
late been an obstacle, an embarrassment
and cause of irritation to everybody
and constant difficulty in the dispatch
of public affairs. Latterly he had seen
none of the ministers, of whom he was
the chief; had listened to none of their
objections, and gave positive and def
mite orders, as if the opinions of his as
sociates in the government were of no
value.
HAD BECOME A TERROR.
"He was almost inaccessible, and re-
ceived those only whom his caprice
invited round him. He tolerated no
objections and listened with conde-
scending smile, which condemned be-
forehand the ideas submitted to him by
his young master, the emperor. He
even ceased really to work, while com
planning bitterly if the slightest decision
was come to without consulting him,
and yet professed himself overwhelmed
with labor whenever documents were
sent to him to sign.
"He had become terror to all who
were obliged to come near him. No
body ventured to contradict him. Even
the Emperor William II. saw him only
occasionally, because his majesty was
afraid of disturbing or irritating him.
At last the moment came when his
pupil, now his master, confronted the
fact that he was not master, but only
chief servant. The long restrained i'm.
perial discomfort broke into open quar-.
rel on minor question and poured
forth in such torrent that the chan.
cellor, taken by surprise and discon-
certed, suddenly said: Then can only
offer your majesty my resignation
TAKEN AT HIS WORD.
(, "The emperor was silent and Bis,
marck withdrew. Two hours afterward
+, the resignation not having arrived, the
emperor sent an aide-de-camp. The
chancellor greetedhim very aifably, being
convinced that the emperor wished him
to return and reconsider his idea of re-
signation, but to Bismarck's horror an6
surprise the aide -de-camp had been sem
to demand his written resignation.
1.-THE prince, very uneasy, made the
tame excuse of not having drawn it uI
and deferred the matter until thu
morrow. Next morning the abide
camp reappeared. This time Bismarck
was calmer, but again made the SAINT
excuse, saying that before preparing {
written resignation he was bound t
pay visit. Accordingly he did pay {
visit, which, incredible as it may APP
pear, we can vouch for was to thu
Empress Frederick
THE EMPRESS DECLINES TO INTERFERE
eyes, in a panic at his fall, this man
who but the day before had been thu
great chancellor, now stopped befort
her whom he had so long humbled, anC
explained the danger to the empire in
VOWED in his fall, and the fatal conse
quences which the young empero
risked in thus overturning the founde
of the empire. He begged her majest,
to intervene and prevent the disaster t,
Germany and the remorse that her SOY
ereign would feel at this unmcriteC
humiliation of his most faithful servant
"The empress heard him out. Sh,
saw, humiliating himself before her
the man vino had hated implacably he
husband and herself and who had sow
distrust between father and son. N
doubt she enjoyed the spectacle of see
ing at her feet this bitter enemy, nov
dismissed by the very son whom he hat
reckoned on making his tool against he
and in single instance becoming al
empress, mother and woman, sh
returned to this cringing diplomatist al
eAe insults he had cast upon her.
much regret being quite powerless.
should have been extremely glad to in
tervene with my son in your favor, bu
you so employed all your power il
estranging his heart from us, maxim
his mind foreign to mine, that ca
only witness your fall without bein
able to ward it off. When you are Ii
longer there my son will perhaps draN
nearer to me, but then il will be too lat
for me to help you
"The prince withdrew with downca,
head, and returning home found til
aide-de-camp, who, for the fourth time
had come for his resignation, which til
fallen statesman handed to him.
Behring Sea Matters,