The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-04-22
DIDN'T LIKE LoNo sPEzcHEs.
Sous of toe P-culiaritiss OF Prince
Bismarck

FAM, II brlit,nt rbhtOrician, but
even from priacipln sharply cou.
demDed Parliamentary volubil,'y.
ut il rot uy business to hold
speeches. be said in the Prussian
chamber of deputies. gu Feb 3, 1865,
a statement shich be fur, her px
planned when q murmur vas heard
from the left:
"You know, an no speaker.
privilege which gladly concede to
the speaker Of the house, Professor
Won Gneist. | have not the faculty
OF working on your feelings by word
play, which often tends To obscure
facts. l am TO render my speeches
simple and clear"
A second adverse criticism OF ora
torical toomfoolery was heard from
him at the time VI the sieve of Paris:
"The gift Of oratory has wrough,
much evil in the parlismsn, AIRY
world. Too much time is wasted be.
cause oil who believe they know
something feel prompted to have
their say, even when their remarks
contais nothing new. Much ia said
for effect. to gain the applause OF
the public 10 order to show how
smart We are. The time will come
when these long, tedious disputes
will be looked upon as a simple
nuisance"
Ten years later, on April 20, 1881,
he addressed similar app. al to the
reichstag, but preached 50 long that
he became the subject of much
witty ridicule On the part OF the
comic papers.
Bismarck's unrslen'ing com bstive.
ness and bitter sarcasm created
many enemies for him, but, on the
other hand, none understood better
how to gain and keep stanch friends.
He attained popularity and Insured
the intimate friendship OF many
statesmen OF influence At the famous
Informal parliamentary receptions
on Saturday nights, at the daily din
ners and a. the still mora exclusive
gatherings toward midnight which
he kept up almost uuinterruptedly
from 1862 to 1890.
Begun in true German fashion as
informal convivisli,ies with MAY
wine" and beer, they we're gradually
and perhaps intentionally trans
formed into a species Of parliament.
Ii might be likened to Legislative
kitchen in which all bills were first
we'll prepared, cooked aud baked
until in the reichstag the parlia.
mentary dishes were spread thor
oughly done aud garni.hed. Here
it wss that the chancellor proved
himself the efficient chef, where he
could test the statutory connections
before they were served to the pGb-
lie. NoIe but chronic malcontents
had TO be confronted in the reich
stag. To them Bismarck's vocabu-
larry never included the word fear"
He was master Of the situation.
At these parliamentary dinners
Bismarck was an exemplary host.
Immediately after the war of 1866 at
one OF these repasts there were
gathered General Won Moltke, the
Bavarian General Room, a number
OF prominent military men, Herr
Won Bennivsen, Her Won Torcken.
beck and several parliamentary cels-
brities. 1t was and is Bisniarck's
custom to pass the cigars around to
his guests with | is own hand. Hold.
iDg the open cigar box before Gen.
eral Won Woke over against him, he
said: ...
'Do you know, dear general, when
last you took a cigar from my
handY
~ cannot remember" answered
the veteran. ..
II shall never forget that mo-
ment," Bismarck replied. at was
at the battle OF Koniggrastz, during
an hour Of intense suspense-for me
at least" Won Moltke looked up in
surprise as II family trying to recall
the incident. ..
1.-THE battle was at a standstill,"
continued Bismarck. ave seemed
to be hem med in, unable to retreat
or advance. One adjutant after an.
other was dispatched whose return
was awaited in vain. We could
obtain no news Of the approach OF
the crown prince" ..... ..
Won Moltks looked knowingly as
one recalls a time and place.
81 was i'll at ease" explained the
host. MY eyes sought your excel
lency. finally espied you at dis
lance on horseback. To my astonish-
ment, when l drew near | found
you looking over the field with q
perfectly composed misn, carefully
smoking the little stub Of cigar"
"Well,' said l consolingIy to my
self, If Moltke can look on SO placid
ly it cannot be half as bad with us
as it appears rode up to you and
presented my cigar case. 1t held