The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-21
VIII Bismarck Return to Public Life ?

The return visit made on Monday by
Kaiser WILLIAM III. to BISMARCK at Fried
richsruh. will deepen the public satisfac-
ton at the reconciliation Of the Emperor
and the greatest German statesman, and
will, no doubt, revive the rumor that the
latter will shortly be invited TO give his
sovereign the benefit Of his advice in some
public capacity. Such q summons would
be the logical outcome OF the situation. and
it seems unlikely that BISMARCK would re-
ject ii. now that. according to his physi-
clan. he has materially improved in health.
and may reasonably look forward to some
ten years OF usefulness. Besides. from the
viewpoint Of hygiene. it would probably
be better for q man who has devoted the
greater part Of his life to public business
to resume in some degree his former occu-
patton. than to fret his heart out In exclu-
sion from the work he knows himself best
qualified to do.
1t is true that. for the present, there is no
decent pretext for the dismissal Of Gen. voS
CAPRIvI from the post Of Chancellor. The
commercial treaty which he has succeeded
in negotiating with Russia embodies con-
cessions so favorable to Germany that even
the Agrarians despair of defeating it In the
Reichstag The effect which this treaty Is
expected 70 have upon the political rela-
tons Of Germany and Russia. viewed In
connection with the previous enactment OF
the law increasing the standing army.
makes up a record OF service which neither
the sovereign nor the nation will be dis
posed to undervslue. II is. nevertheless,
true that CAPRIvI is. by profession. SOL
der. not a statesman: and it is no dispar-
agement TO say that neither in Germany
nor In Europe generally do his opinions
carry the weight which would attach to
BIsMARCK's. There are others in military
and civil life who would probably have done
as well as CAPRIvI. had they been support
ed In an equally Jealous and outspoken way
by the Emperor. But there Is only one
German living whose installment in place
OF commanding influence at Berlin would
forthwith have the double result of
Strengthening the Triple Alliance. and Of
arresting the tendency Of Russia to cooper
ate with France. There is no doubt that
the return OF BISMARCK TO public life would
cause a sensation OF relief and reinsurance
In Germany. and would be regarded by all
Europe as a guarantee Of peace.
1t Is difficult to see. however. what office
other than that Of Chancellor could be &C
cepted by BISMARCK without some loss Of
dignity. He might be placed at the head Of
the Prussian delegation to the Bundesrath.
and thus under the German Constitution
be enabled TO speak. when he chose. In the
Reiehstag as well as In the Federal Council.
But the post would be subordinate one.
for he would be expected TO carry out q
programme which he might have had no
share in framing. An attempt to arrange
for consultations between him and the
Chancellor would be likely to fail. owing to
his lifelong habits OF aseendancy and in
grained impotence OF contradiction.
Where BISMARCK sat would be the head OF
the table. or else his seat would be unoccu-
pied. II Kaiser WILLIAM wishes TO regain
the assistance OF BISMARCK in public affairs.
and he must see that. unless an effort TO
regain II Is made. the German people will
regard the reconciliation as a farce. the
sole feasible method seemingly would be
to assign. after decent interval. Gen. VOC
CAPRIyI TO high military command, and
to reinstate his predecessor in the post Of
Chancellor.