The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-11-03
P~UGNhClOUS
How He Almost Precipitated q Second
Conflict With France.

HOW he almost Precipttated q Second
Conflict With France.
The rapidity with which France was
repairing the disasters of the war and
the ease with which she met the finan-
cial obligations it imposed Oh her as
tonished Europe and perturbed the
statesmen at Berlin. Her military force
was being judiciously reconstructed,
and it seemed also as if the calculation
Of Prince Bismarck as regards the con-
stitution of her internal government
might be falsified. The German chan
cellor desired to see established what a
Russian diplomatist happily described
as q republiquc d~issolvante.
Notwithstanding his efforts to bring
this result about and the impracticable
character Of the Comte de Chambord,
which rendered the restoration Of mon
archy for a time impossible, there were
indications that a stable system Of gov
eminent would be founded which would
enable Franco to recover a strong posi-
ton in tho community of nations. Prince
Bismarck was resolved this should not
be, and suddenly, in May, 1875, Prince
Hohenlohe, the present chancellor Of
the German empire, who was then en-
bassador in Paris, appeared at the
French foreign office and asked for ex-
plantations regarding the scheme for the
reconstruction Of the French army. The
Duo de Broglie, in his interesting 40
count of the embassy Of M. de Gontaut-
Biron to Berlin, describes the consterna-
ton which followed this attempt to pro.
woke another quarrel with France. An
other war seemed inevitable. England
and Russia interfered to prevent it.
Prince Bismarck could easily have dis
regarded the remonstrances of both.
England would certainly not take up
arms If he paid no attention to her rep
reservations, and Russia would have
thought twice before mourning the hos
tility of Germany in view Of coming
vents i'll the Balkan peninsula.
The fact, though not generally known,
is that the greatest influence in prevent
ing var was that of the Grand Duke CT
Baden. While the relations with France
were becoming complicated the Emperor
William happened to be staying at the
MelnaC, the seat of the Grand Duke Of
Baden, on the Lake Of Constance. One
morning tie grand Duchess, who was
the c%mperCr's daughter, came into her
fathers study and showed him q nun
Der of extracts from the press. He per
ceived at nee bat the country was
drifting into war, and, after a c~onsulta-
ton with his sCn-in-law, who was
strongly opposed to provoking a war.
which, how c sucCCssful for the mo-
ment. would have been most disastrous
to the name and character of Germany,
the aged monarch went off that very
evening to Berlin, and Prince Bismarck
had to beat q retreat. -Quarterly Re-
view.
Iun over he Bread.
We hal 'nc gauntlet yet to run, as the
firing q the communists WAS still heavy
i'll the IGgLLurhood. The bullets were
whistling so angrily down one of the
streets which cut the Rue de la Bien-
.faisance at right angles that a number
OF servant girls who wished to 60 to q
bakers shop on the other side were
W NSAtoAS oNS&. 2nc ulllCullH
was turned in this way: There were
soldiers on one side of the dangerous
crossing and maidservants on the other.
The maidservants threw their money to
the soldiers, and the soldiers purchased
the bread and flung it across to the
maids.
This maneuver excited a good deal of
nerriment in spite Of the danger with
which it was attended. At times q girl
would throw a piece Of money short,
and a soldier would have to fish for it
with his bayonet, and even, amid peals
Of laughter, venture out to pick 1t up.
To see the men and womsn engaged in
this occupation one might easily have
thought they were indulging in some
harmless pastime like hunt the slipper.
-Recollections of Paris.