The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-11
PRINCE BTsMAKoK AGAIN SPEAKS

caEO doctrines
PRINCE BISMARCK AGAIN SPEAKS.
At very frequent intervals since the
Young Emperor OF Germany dismissed
Prince Bismarck from his councils. that
rugged old veteran has been making state
r,ents that showed that however retired
his life might be. his eye and mind were
SIN upon all the events that touched the
interests Of his country. For whenever
he has broken silence in his retirement.
this notable fact has been most in evil
dence. that his concern has been for
Germany and not for Bismarck.
The two men are as different in char
acter as two men could well be. but
there was this point Of resemblance be-
tween raneyrand and Bismarck that
each had his country's interest, sincerely
and deeply at heart whatever either may
have done that provoked the censure Of
the world. A nobler character than Bis
marcks n sincerity and patriotism are
TO be the tests, the world has never seen.
more desplicable or contemplate char
acter than Talleyrand's. II the qualities
esteemed by men in private life are TO be
the tests, never existed. But Talleyrand
never once, in his long and great career
lost sight Of the rights, the dignity and
the interests Of France.
lie did more for her than Napoleon
Louis the Fourteenth and Henry the
Fourth all combined, for, at the Con-
gress OF Vienna he saved her as one Of
tho independent Powers Of the earth
when the conclave OF soveregns assem-
bled there had resolved that she should
be parted, divided up and reduced to
position that would forever disable her
TO disturb the peace Of Europe again.
Nay. more. he not only did that, but he
played upon the contending rivalries
and iealousies OF the sovereiens there as
semblcd until he raised his PROSTATE
country from the dust and restored her
10 first class place Of adviser and arbi-
ter amongst the other Powers Of the
world. Contemplate. mean. avarcious,
sordid and cynical as he was. yet. in his
old age, when Ambassador 10 England
from France. the Duke Of Wellington re-
piled to his detractors in the House Of
Lords by saying that his public duties had
thrown him into intimate contact with
Prince Talleyrand in many cases involving
the peace and safety Of the world and that
he had never found him other than the
most capable and patriotic man he had
ever met The unsehsh patriotism Of
Bismarck and Talleyrand brings them in
TO close contact upon this one point
however widely they may be separated
upon all others.
Prince Bismarck has been moved TO a
new utterance within the past week In
which he admitted that the time was
propitious for the snatching OF Egypt
and The Suez Canal from England though
he did not believe that Frenchmen have
any passionate interests in that ques-
ton. He then added:
perhaps they are right TO wait for ms
Germans to become still more deeply in
volved in our foreign policy for now we
have neither leadership nor principles
nothing whatever Every one is cropping
about. and the treasures Of influence
I labored to accumulate are being profit
lessly sduandered."
We Americans are so fortunate I'm hav-
ing lived So far under the inspiration of
GeneraF' Washington's advice by keep
ing otaCelves out of "entangling anl-
ances" everywhere that we can hardly
appreciate the full importance Of this
statenNnt from Bismarck But If we
shoulSeGut ourselves in his place and
come III a full understanding and reali-
zatioH9f.what a point gained in European
diplora5Yy means for the country gain
ing itY%e should then see the full import
OF Blstaarcks bitter words. He spent a
long fftA in an unselGsh struggle 10
spread. Ae influence Of his country
amonMh the Powers Of the earth To in
crease5Sat influence and the power it
would Sling her, he devoted all the high
est faEeies Of his mighty mind for long
years %. reconciling the jealousies Of the
petty Nvereigns of Germany and to
bringing them together into the Bund
that now towers amongst the Powers OF
Europe as a colossus. Prince Bismarck
says he had accumulated for his
country store Of influence which, wisely
handled. would have made her the arbi-
ter Of European politics for ages 10 come.
But those stores have lately been fritz
tered away until Germany has her magni
ficent army. II Is true, but hardly foun-
dalton left upon which that army may
continue 10 rest, and otherwise her po-
tency amongst the nations is seriously
impaired.