New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-23
PRINCE BISMARCK.
~.
HIS RELATIONS WITH THE PRESENT EN-.
PEROR-THE GORLiTZ AFFAIR-THE
KINGLY OR IMPERIAL. IDEA

puDlic service Is Hnal. MY time Is over" he
said, with gesture which meant as much 10
the words And still more exprcssively: I shall
not go into action again.
Never once had he harsh, or even a hard, word
for the Emperor personally. What he said showed,
or implied, an odd mixture Of respect for tho
Emperor as Emperor, and of something that was
not exactly respect for his abilities or character.
His eyes shone more than once when he referred
TO the Empcrcrs speeches and his volunteered visits
to so many different courts. Perhaps the old Chan
cellor took humorous view Of what may seem
to him the rather boyIsh, and even schoolboyish,
exploits of his august master. But there was no
bitterness, no clearly expressed resentment at tho
Emperor's treatment of himself, and he gave no
such accounts of his dismissal as may be heard
in Berlin and elsewhere
Ono Of these is striking enough to be quoted,
coming it did from who knows both En-
per0r and Chancellor THE little Emperor said
this well informed person, got rid of Bismarck 10
cause he could not bear to feel himself in the
presence of superior intelligence With all his
quickness and energy, he is not well informed,
and lie has not thought seriously on the most
serious matters OF policy 1t was hateful 10 Linn
to have to listen to one vino had, and who, with
every Difference Of manner, nevertheless looked
him straight in the face while he pnt his own
views before him. Needless 10 say that Bis
marck's language was as decorous as it was
weighty. But there is nothing which an Emperor
who believes himself Emperor and King by Divine
Right can so i'll endure as to be made to feel
himself in the wrong and that his servant with
no Divine Right to back him, knows better than
he And that is why he got rid of Bismarck
But you would hear nothing Of that kind at
Fredrichsruh
The question of Prince BismarclS's relations
with tho Emperor came up in connection with
two separate matters. Prince Albrecht's letter,
and the ceremony at GGrlitz. On the first
prefer to say nothing and to quote nothing. The
second requires Jess discretion The facts arc
known A monument TO the late Emperor
William was to be unveiled at G6rlitz,-has since
been unveiled-with much. but not too much,
pomp and parade: the yourg Emperor duly
present and milking the inevitable speech. 1t
is however, a monument not TO the late En-
pcror alone but also to Count MoltlSe ard Prince
Bismarck The old Emrcror's statue is fanked
and supported by these two statues of his two
chief comrades: the two chief architects Of his
great fortune and of Germany's. The town Of
G;jrtz had asked Prince Bismarck to take part
in the ceremony He spoke in terms of deep
feeling of the honor done him by setting up his
statue ard by the invitation. But he could
not accept the invitation Of the town. 1t would
bring him into the presence OF tho Emperor, ana
as he had not been summoned by the Emperor, ne
could not 60 1t would be breach OF ell
ouette-of military etiquette above all. AGAIN
the soldier showed himself 81 am still a Gem
eral in the army, and a General cannot presch'
himself before the Emperor, who is his commanders
in-chief. without an order" Any WORD OF ihes-
sage from the Emperor signifying his desTe
that Prince Bismarck should he present nj Horiits
would have been equivalent to command nho
must have been obcyed. But it was very EVIL
dent that. while the Prince regretted on other
Grounds his absence and though he was per-
fac,lv sensible of the dscourtcsy shown HIM, lie
reioiced to escape the necessity oil hndihg hii"-
self in the Emperor's presence lie dh hoo
wish To 90 where he must. in some way or
other. come in contact with the present riie1
of Germany He did not wish for meeting
II would have put him in an awkward postion,-
il might have led to grave consequences ~
an officer. as a gentleman, | could not have re-
rnsod tho hand of reconciliation if held out to
me in such circumstances: and recohcpia.ioh'
or offer Of reconciliation Is "iia' ~ "o'iN N
seemed to the public.
Co far Prince Bismarck. But the Emperors
,o,drct in this matter concerns others than tho
x-C,hancellor concerns himself, first OF all anu
concerns Germany, and public opinion In germany
,,1 oI.axyhare The Prince uttered no complalnS'
~, why are not others 10 say what they thihk'
I'D who i there who can think the Emperors
,onduct magnanmous? Nobody knew oe.uI
han he that it impossible TOT rrihoc DID
narol 10 20 TO G0rlitz except upon MS SUMMONS.
He would rot suffer him 10 take part III "u a00
4 homage TO the King and Emperor WHOM :"
\ d soryel for thirty years; nor TO witness tho
Doror dane 70 himself 1t seems TO have peeh
.hrr[,b, in court circles that Prince Bismarck
.houid have asked permission. That Will 90 ioE
, oorrt view but Germany is no; peopled entrey
,.;,b oourtiers and even the courtier Ini9h'' u
- oo,l1 detach his mind sufficiently, oouo'
,,hor Primer Bismarck was quite the mau I"
.ue for leave 10 come into the presence Va VIZ
.overeiqn who had dismissed him with ihsui' gnu
rponinv from his counsels. Inc triiloe' Wv"
ME ;neradicable Prussian loyalty t. the Mig WIZ
mas never been loyal to him. may ma su0"
,u.es for Imperial incivility as nave sNcn
,hoye. The world is not all frusslah' anu '"'
al,e and express view of Its OWN.
Hut neither with reference 10 this or W ""'
,tber subject did Prince Bsmarcks iaheuaeo
,bout the Emperor pass the pouhus "''o"'
m old servant of the House oil iionen~o''r.",
VOC always imposed upon himself, Reconciliation
',r tho Throne and for him who sits on IL Is
h;rd Ear reconciliation | do not think frinoe
bismarck cares. and | am certain he VIII ho'
ake tina, first step to it which his enemies IN
he prcss and elsewhere are forever urging nun
- take The value of advice from his enemies
= thing he understands. / am expressing my
,,n onnion. | could not justify IT by single
,ord ubich fell from Prince Bisrnarck's lips IN
ny hearing. | have no authority to speak iot
i'm | am only recording an impression, derived
rom various sources. Any reconciliation '"a'
night take place would, l imagine, DC merely
ormal: save in one event only winch iln''I
bismarck il too good a German to wish lor'-i
an IN IN. event of a disaster, external OF
Internal. l.. II.
The Emperor's character is what 1t rs no
not make himself over. His confidence III MIN
elr is mistaken by long series of mistakes anu
ailures He at any rate j. not only ihiaiii''"