The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-27
Bismarck and the Emperor.

AAAA&
One of the things which America
finds it hard to understand is the
value that attaches in the old coun-
tries of Europe to princely favor. The
spectacle of the greatest living states
man, in his old age, leaving a bed oil
illness and performing an arduous
railway journey for the mere purpose
of kissing the hand OF a youthful
gentleman, who treated him with
insolence and ingratitude only a couple
of years ago, is something to excite
the anazement of those unused to /
world ideas. 1t is Il strange thing
that the historic repute of unifying
Germany: the love and devotion OF
all who speak the German tongue, and
the admiration and respect of the
entire world are as nothing to the
greatest of living men in comparison
with that Intoxicating vapor which
emanates from the smiling %counten-
ance of a king. We do not make tins
reflection in a tone of ridicule or re-
proach, but simply, as it were. OF
wonder.
Because this way is not our way,
and these ideas are not our ideas 1t
does not follow that there is nothing
reasonable or beautiful in them. Some
of the finest episodes in the his
toric past have grown out Of this
sentiment of loyalty. 1t has been the
well of much that is fine and poetic in
the progress of the world, and, when
it has taken the form of devotion to
great leadership and commanding
genius. it has played no small part IN
what we are pleased to call the ad-
vancement of civilization.
Itmay almost be said that the idea
has its counterpart. right in our re-
publican midst. The patriotism. the
devotion which we lavish upon the
of our Constitution and
the preservation OF the national ex-
istenee is the same sentiment, slightly
modified by circumstances, which,
in Europe, takes the form OF
devotion to a royal house; and
the struggle of statesmen for
the tickle regard of the populace is
only different in appearance from the
desire of the maguates of a European
monarch to bask in the royal favor.
The quarrel between Bismarck and
%1o ~, E,npntnr hoa 01UoUQ hnpn
a thing to be regretted. and yet it was
almost a foregone conclusion from TIL 9
accession of William to the throne.
Aged statesmen are apt to view the
youthful sovereigns who grow up
under their tutelage very much as
some fathers are apt to look upon
their adolescent sons--they continue
to regard them as lads in leading
strings long after the young men
themselves have achieved an over
weening sense of their w manly
sufficiency.
Bismarck wanted to have things his
own way, and, of course, it vas hard
for him to understand why a mere boy
of an Emperor should not be content
to take his ideas from the iron hero
of the days of Sedan. On the other
hand, the young Emperor, with the
impetuosity of youth and much of the
glowing c~reativeness of the House OF
Hohenzollern in his blood, could not
long be expected to acknowledge any
master mind, and, least of all, to curb
his impulses by the old set ideas of
his grandfather's prime. And SO they
quarrelled.
1t can hardly be said that the
great Chancellor was at his best
under the shadow of adversely. His
spirit, accustomed to dominate the
politics of Europe, was sorely tried in
playing the role of spectator. At
times it almost looked as if the trial
was too great for the old mans de-
votion to the imperial standard which
he himself had set up in Germany.
He seemed to draw distinctions be-
tween the Emperor and the Imperial
office between the sacred majesty of
the purple and the somewhat rash
and premature, even though brilliant
Individual who was its wearer. This
was, of course, q departure from the
essence and soul of monarchical insti-
tutions as wide as the distance be-
tween the planets. 1t was a plunge
into the world of democracy at which
European pundits fairly stood aghast.
That it will enhance the historic re
putation of the great Imperialist car
hardly be believed. 1t was not an
evolution of mind due to natural
causes; the personal equation was
too marked an element in producing
the change; and the 9 position
threw too much reproach upon the
greatest periods OF the great mans life.
Far more beautiful is the spirit which
brought the old man to Berlin yester-
day, kissing, with serious face, the
hand of the young Emperor, and
solemnly rejoicing once again in the
favor of the master who holds sway
over Germany through the consistent
efforts of half a century Of his own
best work.
~ p - -