New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-23

cerman. Ministers are Judged by their p"oiic
onts Has Count Won Caprvi been slccesslui
NJ;r;stor2 Was the repeal of the law against 'Ne
Socialists viseS Have the Commercial lrea'ies
increased the prosperity of Germany "'' ~.
School bill a good measure-a Dill ior n'"Niis
the Government the arbter OF German ~ Nv
and turning the Emperor into Iop 40" '"'
enforced withdrawal of that DILL III ooeuiehcc
10 an overwhelming public opinloh' e"c"s''''l
the Ministry or the Emperor 'i"' "a. p'o'''V
chancellor shown himself master OF the art OF
p"s,;anort.r, Government? Has the Army bill
,,oon CARRIED And is it vndictive' TO be aware
-. ,,,s orrors and TO decline to identify yourself
..L o, or measures alike condemned by failure?
,yrhor 7 ord Salisbury turned out of Office
ala la fool himself obliged to approve everything
bis successor attempted? And why should there
~. loss freedom of opinion less freedom Of
o,,ro.ejor for Prince Bismarck than for Lori
Salisbury or for Mr.. Gladstone
7, will do no harm to remember that Prince
Bismarck with all his ambition, has throughout
his career kept his ambition strictly in service
% his country. 1t has not been selfish 1t has
NOT been personal. 1t is the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
Germany not the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Bismarck
which has been the aim and rule of his public
conduct. He has stood up for Germany, for the
true interests of Germany. against Emperor, against
herself No doubt he has ambition, and has
pride, and has his share of other human failings,
but they have not been suffered to turn him
aside from the one everything purpose OF his life,
10 do at each given moment what is best for his
country. There is the record of each crisis TO
prove IL
There is in Germany large party which goes
for the Government--any Government-just as
steadily as the Irshman goes agin it'-a2alnst
any Government. This party always has organs.
IL might he difficult to distinguish between Its
organs and the organs subsidized, whether WIN
money or news by the Government. Perhaps it
does not matter. This party and its organs in
the press have been industriosy engaged in prais-
ing Count Won Caprivi since he became Chance-
lor There is public III other parts of Europe
even IN England, which holds similar views
which is apt to regard Ministry that is in as
better than any Ministry that is out. When
Prince Bismarck was expelled by the Emperor
from the public service, the world held It's breath
for while. When things seemed to 20 on
much as before, people recovered the power oil
respiration and of speech and cried out, You
pee Prince Bismarcl's fall makes no difference
The Emperor steers the ship full steam ahead
Just as we'll without any pilot or with Count
Won Caprivi as pilot; which comes perhaps to
nearly the same thing.
What did these gentlemen expect? Did they
expect the German Empire would go to pieces
as soon as Prince Bismarck ceased to govern 1T ;
That might have been a testimony TO his per
sonal inheritance but would have been poor
proof of sacacity in laying its foundations, or
of the stability and solidity Of its construction
Mr. Irnnies mastery cartoon in Punch,
dropping the Pilot" made an impression on
the English mind. and on other minds There
was notion. rather widespread, that without
the Pilot who had weathcrcd the storm, the
shin must 20 on the rocks But if there are
no rocks and no storm, and an open sea and
plain sailing, the ship does very well for time
without any Pilot Such has been Germanys
good fortune for the last two years. at least so
far as foreign policy is concerned. But there
must come hour when 1t VIII be seen whether
Pilot is wanted or not.
This is no place TO consider the details Of
German politics. but you may find room for
one general reflection. Down TO the death Of
the old Emperor in March, 1883, and down TO
the discharge of Prince Bismarck in 1890, it
was still possible TO say that in the public life
of Germany the efficient principle was the
kingy principle. There were constitutions, there
We're Parliaments. there was a Press more or
less free there was universal suffrage Govern
ment had become as il is apt to become in these
DAYS of democracy, yelled or unveiled. very
complicated affair, but, on the whole, the King
was the real ruler of Prussia, and the King un-
der the name of Emperor the real ruler Of
Germany Why? Because Of tradition and be-
cause Prince Bismarck while framing consttu-
tons and putting the bauot into every man 8
hand. still kept the substance Of power in his
own, or in the Kings. For every open space
to which he gave the people access, he built a
new buttress to the Throne. He fostercd the
kincly idea He nourished the sentiment Of
loyalty, always very strong one, in every
Prussian breast. He left the House of Hohen-
zollern stronger than he found it. and the as
cendancy of Prussia. wherein lies the salvation
apd the hope of all Germany, undisputed and
indisputable.
But now? The headstrong caprices Of this
boy-Emperor have undone half the work. Rev
ercncc for the Throne is undermined. How can
you revere the author of the speeches Of William
the Second The Parliament, no longer guided,
no longer feeling that it has a master who
will bend it to his own uses, is getting out Of
hand. Parliamentary institutions are not founded
in the hearts of the German people, whatever
English enthusiasts may think. They play at
Paraments The supreme direction of affairs,
and the ultimate authority, rest with King and
Kaiser He can declare and make peace and
make treaties The word defensive is supposed
10 limit his right Of declaring war. but was
there ever a war which the aggrcssor might not
call defensive if ne liked {?
These immense powers remain. but they can
only be used effectively by sovereign who has
the confidence OF his people. If their confidence
in him is impaired. they turn elsewhither. The
Rechstag is gaining what the Emperor loses
Whether Germany will be better or worse of
under institutions which require generations for
their growth and development, may he an open
nrestion. But there can be question
OF the change that is going on; of the
decay Of the principles and methods Of political
actiop under which Prussia has grown to be
what she is. and by virtue of which the German
Empire was called into being. No question,