The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-29

Copyright, 1885, by S. S. Mcclure, Linn
On Wednesday next. the 1st day of
April, the family, friends, tenants,
neighbors, and, indeed, the whole of
Germany will celebrate the eighty-first
birthday of Prince Otto Won Bismarck,
the unifier of the faderland. This griz-
zled veteran of craftsmanship, diplo-
macy and war, though forced into re-
tirement six years ago by a mead
strong sovereign, whose very throne
was in a great measure of Bismarck's
making, continues to be, and will con-
tinue to be, so long as the lives, the
most interesting figure in Germany.
For that matter he is the most power
full and interesting figure in German
history, Notwithstanding the interven-
ing kings and emperors, since Freder
lex the Great. So large have been the
achievements of this man that the in
terest in him is confined not to Ger
many alone, even in this time of his
old age and retirement. In, America
this interest is particularly keen by
reason of our great German population
and on account of Bismarck's services
to US in our time of civil strife, and his
warm friendship for several eminent
Americans
As a Prussian, Bismarck was any
d
lleVed with unWavering f1rmneSS in the
divine right of the Hohenzollerns to
rule in that land; but he acknowledged
that constitutional and limited mon
archy, where the sovereign was but as
the cuDola of a house, was the best
government for England, and that a
pure democracy was the best kind of
government for the United States.
When, therefore, most of the mobiles
. =
Tor the overthrow of the American re-
public Bismarck exerted quietly but
powerfully, his great influence in ia
Vor OF non-intervention, which was in
erect a declaration in favor of the
Union.
Even European statesmen of high 20
sltlon thirty-five years ago had but a
limited understanding of the nature of
our government and of its suitableness
Tor the American people. But Bismarck
mad had the advantage of a close inter
course and warm friendship with one
Oh the. most accomplished men this
country has produced. 1t was at the
University of Gottfngen that Otto Won
bismarck and John Lothrop Motley
met, and there as youths they CON
tracted friendship which lasted
through life. From Motley's letters we
get some of the most intimate elimnses
from MIN. too, no doubt, that Bismarck
Ilau Introduction to American litera-
lure This introduction made the great
German acquainted with two writers
VINO nave always remained favorites
with him-Whittier and Falmes He
hked Writers war poems: he eniov-
ca the 'Autocrat of the Breakfast ia
PIE ana esteemed it a masterpiece of
hunor and kindly wisdom.
TIERS POEMS.
1t will strike most persons M doubt
as curious that this unbending man Of
blood and IRON should care % ,,1i,o ~
LOT une gentle Whittier and 7 am ma
ore 10 account for 1t save on the nv
polLesls that IN his religion Bismarck
- more near-y a Quaker than anything
eise ana IN the summons to arms nv
aITother quaker he found solace for an
apparent inconsistency. Bismarck has
Always been religious man of deep
1Seilngs, and this idea that his th,ao-
foglcaI theories approach more nearly
TO Seuakerlsm than anything else is not
mime out mas been expressed by those
VINO nave studied his life very closely
ana nave examined his expressions of
Iaith with minute care. 1t is undoubt
edly true, however, that in the mo-
menus OF depression, which have now
and again come on this robust man.
moments In which the hatred of his
enemies appeared exaggerated in inn
portance and when the sufferings
caused by the wars for the unification
and preservation of Germany seemed