The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-11-22
| CHAU7AUQUA. J: !:
THE IRON CHANCELLOR.
{ BY A MEMBER OF CLASS c.

ANY student of history who has endeavOred TO
make an analysis and comparison OF the leadhg
of the nations; that nave prayed
an important part in the progress OF the world;
cannot but have become impressed with the TACT,
that the characteristics of the Germans and the
ancient Greeks. as regards their political capac-
ity in a national sense, were almost ldentlcal.
Roth suffered from an absence of the spirit OF
nationality: and shared alike in their cardinal
weaknesses of envy and local jealousy lhey
groaned under great number OF separate des-
potisms, all organized to be veXatlOusly mcclure
some in proportion as they were ridiculously
small Their system of local self-governmehV
brought to high degree of perfection was at
once a blessing and Il curse, and while 1t caused
the death of Greece as an independent nation;
their modern prototype was saved through the
policy and actions of a mighty master spirit
Otto Won Bismarck.
Bismarck began his diplomatic career in 1851,
and after serving as ambassador at various
European capitOls in 1862 became prime mlhls-
ter of Prussia but it was not until 1864 tha' lie
| began to attract European attention, anu "ds
recognized coming man. throughout Tie
events which resulted in the humiliation OF Aus
tra in 1866 and the reorganization OF Germany
his was the guiding spirit, and by nm Simply
| regarded as one step toward the accomplishment
of his great AIM the unity Of Germany; winch
had been the utopian dream OF many since lhe
close of the thirty years war. in l64S. Inc next
move was the Franco-Prussian warm 1870 when
in a period of sixty days the government VI
France was changed from an empire TO rep"p-
iic and the unity of Germany into an empire ana
, an accomplished fact.
Since that period the history of the career OF
Bismarck is all epitome of the history of Ger
hn
energy on the internal organization OF the en-
nire and to insure it against external violence.
and when it is considered that neither diplomacy
= or oratOry are cOngenial to him, his success III
i both cannot but raise our estimation and adm-
ration for his policy in both internal and foreign
y affairs Under his guidance Germany has peen
y raised from the laughing stock of Europe TO an
> empire of the first class to the position OF the
arbiter of peace or in Europe. anu also 10
!, that of "a great coonizing power. Yet. hot"ith-
standing all that Germany owes to BISMARCK
Il there is no man so bitterly hated by the mass OF
~ the people as their former crown chancellor.
~ Roth at home and abroad the German who can
~ be found to speak we'll of him, is either Prus
y sian or Bavarian and even they are few in mum
~ ber While it is true that any man of unusua
. prominence must of Il necessity. create enemies
- by his policies measures. yet this does not OK
-, plain the extreme bitterness OF leollHS 81 uhi
~, vers;,lly entertained by the people; and we mus
y look to his personal characteristics for an ex
been said that the German
of ,ono pur not clear thinkers, and grea
o,- theorizers: and no doubt this Is true AL
ro consequently are apt to be self-oplnlonateo
no Bismarck has always manifested the "'hos
~, contempt for public opinion and therein lies Oh
~, O. the causes of his unpopularty. Monarchlci
~, nv nriucpe. and despotic by character con
no. bined with his great courage both physician
Nv and morally he has shrank at nothing conoucl'
NO | to his end Norman has been quicker TO StrlK
sol at the right moment; and man OF acClons' T
p.cally quick action, is detestableto the aVerae
,n+ German Yet in examining these characteristic
,.+ wa cannot but come to the conclusion that tne
,be were the very ones that were absolutely esse
mo tial TO the work he has done and made nm u
CHI most noWerful man in Europe and Judging py
md sults. the greatest statesman. perhaps. OF Z
mo- time. No man has ever been less understood
tho his people and even the fact that he first ga
+ho them a constitutional government based
u,v universal suffrage is not generally recognize
q s Harsh no doubt some of his measures nave zee
ny hit his one thought has been "Fatheflaho
ok and the greatest good for the greatest nt,mpe
we and whether the sentiment of the present gent
our alton changes OF not he VIII e'oi '0 '0''s'N
ire as a beacon light of history.