New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-22
RISUIRCK,S POPULARITY.

Tho enthusiastic welcome which Prince Dis
,,aro, has recoived on his way to Vienna must
ha,.o astonishod as well as pleased him. Dur
~, h;s nrotractod term of office he was seldom
favored with demonstrations or popular ap'
proyal. so that it was an essentially mover eA'
nerience which was in reserve Tor MN WHICH,
he found excited throngs at the railway STA,
t;ors SINGING the songs of the Fatherland ana
converting his Journey into trlumphal prog
ress A statesman of less self-possesson would
have been intoxicated with thus 1uii u'""s".
Of nonularity. but the Princes good judgment
never forsooll him. When forccd 10 auurcs'
the enthusiastic crowds he said nothing "hich
could be construed as indicating desire 10 re-
turn to public life. lie spoke IKE Ve'era"
who was fully persuaded that his work was
done and that he was supcrlluous hSuro OH
q stage already crowded with new heureS
With n touch of unaffected pathos he remarked
that no rcpresented the closed past and world
mayer again accept Office The popular greet
inc undoubtedly amazed him, but he was too
old statesman to be allured by unerrlng IN
dications of public gratitude for his services
to united Germany
Sentiment has never had much to 90
with Prince Bismarck's public life. NIKE
Cavour he had no enthusiasm for na'lona
unity or for popular liberty. \ man without
;doals and imagination he had practical IN
stinct in diplomacy and affairs a sense OF inc
admiration of means to ends and subtle com
prchcnsion Of what could and OF what cou'u
not be done In creating the strongest empire
of modern times, in uniting the discoruah'
German States distracted with internal )cai
ousics and feuds, in completing the untnishcd
work of Frederick the Great, avenglng anc"
the defeats of the Napolconic wars and max
ing Berlin the diplomatic centre OF the Con
tinent, Prince Bismarck sought to deal win
facts as they were and to make craftsmanship
thoroughly practical business NO othet
diplomatist of his time paid so little heed 70
sentiment and popular ideals. Ii he accepted
universal suffrage as a Frank fort tradition, he
lived 70 regret the concession as a political
bribc which. as he grimly said, had turned the
heads Of the democracy. Even when he was
at the height Of his power he was indifferent
to expressions of popular approval or disap
proyal. IL was his business to work Tor MS
KIM. lie was a secular Richelen devoted 10
the service of the State. Diplomacy was his
trade. public affairs were his raw material, and
the Cabinet was his workshop. With popular
sentiment be was not concerned
If the Emperor had imagined that Prince
bismarck would either say or do anything
during his journey TO denote resentment iof
his enforced retirement from public service he
impcrfoctly understood the old statesman
character. Whatever the great Minister ac'
complishcd during his ilustrious career was
done as a kings man. Loyalty to the throne
and the traditions of monarchy was his strong
est trait Ii was not n sentiment with MIN :
il was a working habit. From his first appear
ancc in public life when he denied that Prussia
had any right to a Constitution. he wore tue
uniform Of the King. Whether lie was IN
f,icuinc over Schcswig-llolstcn or fighting
with the great Powers of Europe, or Offering
resistance 10 the Vatican, or waclng uncoaSlng
warfare with Parliamentary factions, he was
serving his King. In that glorious past which
he declares 10 have been irrcvocably closed he
made "A religion of loyalty. In order to say or
do aucht that would cast dscrcdit upon the
Crown. Prince Bismarck would have 10 live his
life over and be something essentially different
from what he has ever been