The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-07-27
A STUDY OF BISMARCK.

Prince Bismarck is one of the monu'
mental figures of the nineteenth CEN
fury. 1t is scarcely too much to say that
only Napoleon played greater part.
Except Frederick, he is the most noble
individuality in the history of Prussia
Going back to 1861, when he first became
the counsellor of the king. compare his
accomplishment in Prussia with that Of
the other peoples of Europe. Russia
has increased only in Asia; Austria has
fallen from her high estate; Italy,
though united, has come to the very
verge of bankruptcy; Spain remains OF
no political value; France is rich and
powerful, but has been shorn of terri
tory and honor; England barely holds
her own by her insular position, her
wealth, and her colonies. OF all the
countries, Germany is the only one which
has markedly gained. Prussia in 1861
was a power of questionable strength
even within Teutonic territory; today
she holds the hegemony of all Germany,
|
the powers Of the earth; and it is solely
to the strength, wisdom, patience, sa-
gacity, and courage Of Otto Won Bis
marck that this is due. Generations to
come will point to him as the MeIrer
DIES ReichS.
Bismarck is too broad minded to be
always consistent. II am not one of
those who say they have nothing more
to learn. If anyone says to me that
twenty years ago was of his opinion,
which he has not since changed, and
that now / am no longer so, reply to
him: Yes, as wise as you are today was
twenty years ago; today am wiser; 1
have learned in the twenty years." Ilis
idea of government is: "There are times
when one should rule literally, times
when one should rule as dictator
Everything changes. Here is no etern-
ity." On Theirs urging him to raise
money in fashion not warranted by
Prussian law Bismarck said: LA patrie
veut etre servie, pas dominee 1.-THE coun-
try should be served, not ruled)," but
added on Theirs speaking of majority
vote: LA majorite nest pas la patrie
(the majority is not the country" Il
have never belonged to party since
became minister, neither liberal nor con-
servative. The king is my only associ-
ate, and my only effort is to defend the
kings power and to strengthen the Ger
man Reich" This was indeed his one
life work, and his proudest title to fame
is that he had increased the fatherland.
But his precept and practice alike must
be confessed to be dangerously akin to
absolutism. AS a despot his natural
feeling for justice would have made him
mild; still the motif of his character was
undeniably autocratic. One of the best
histories Of Bismarck's career and growth
in the affections of the German people
is to be found in the pages Kladderad-
atsch, the Berlin comic weekly. From
1862 on, the drawings and poems reflect
the man as seen from the familiar stand
point. Beginning with censure, the tone
gradually changes to admiration after
1866, and unbounded enthusiasm after
| 1870. He is the one of all the Germans,
not excepting the monarchs, who mon
opolized the weekly pages of this jour
nal.
There is no better instance of the
trenchant, if scarcely diplomatic, way
Bismarck had of cutting the knot of a
difficulty than his conversation with
Baron Prokesch, the Austrian plenipo-
Tertiary and president of the diet, in the
early days at Frankfort. The Austrians
were much in the habit of bullying, and
of assuming as basis of negotiation
things which were not facts. One even
ing, when at large social gathering.
Bismarck and Prokesch surrounded by
brilliant group of diplomats, were dis
cussing a protocol based on certain
equivocations, Prokesch said, looking
straight at Bismarck: "lf that were not
true, then l, in the name of my imperial
master, should have been guilty of ly-
Ing. ReIuTniDS HIS gaze WITHOUT
symptom of faltering, Precisely SO,
your excellency" slowly said Bismarck.
| The group, thunderstruck and embar-
raised, scarcely knew which way to turn.
Prokesch moved away; but later. at the
supper-table, he came over to Bismarck
with glass of champagne, and "Well,
| LET us make peace" "Assuredly" said
Bismarck, "but the protocol must be
altered" And it was.-Col T. A. Dodge.
IN the Forum.