The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-02
MESSAGE FROM THE KAISER
POINTS FROM THE CAREER OF THE
oman OF BLOOD y IRON,
Medical Examination of Soldiers and
Women i'm India-TwO New French
ImmOrtals Created.

ical condition is not good, and few visitors
were admitted to his castle at Friedrichs-
ruhe. He received many congratulations
by letter and wire, among them "a message
from the Emperor.
Eighty-two years ago. says a writer in
the Chicago Times-Herald. on April /, was
born to August Friedrich Won Bismarck of
the Schoenhausen branch of the family a
son. Otto. who has fooled European di-
~plon,acy ever since he attained mans es-
tate, has made changes in the map of
central Europe so rapidly that the carto-
graphers could hardly keep up with his
progress. welded a new empire out of thir-
ty-six monarchies and principalities, scat
tered TO the winds the imperial glory of
another empire, and forced an ancient
monarchy into the modern form of a re-
public. To-day this giant among states
men of all ages sits grumbling at Fried
richsruhe in the Saxon forest and sees how
a stripping among emperors undoes his
work in European politics.
II would not sacrifice the bones of a sim
BILE Pomeranian grenadier for the mainte-
nance Of all Oriental empires" vas always
Bismarck's winged word.
The sovereignty of the Turk must be
maintained at all hazards, because mon
archy is the historical as well as the re-
ligious form of government" proclaims
William III.
One would think that Bismarck would en-
joy his life-work. Yet, speaking of the
politician in the nobler conception of the
word. he said a few weeks ago to the in
terviewer OF a Vienna paper: The poll
tician remains unfinished as long as he
lives; in the attainment of his goal he is
always too much dependent upon the CO.
labor of others. He has 10 count much with
accidental currents, just like the farmer
with the weather. in order TO. say with sale
ty. even after the most pronounced sue
cesses: Now this is attained; have nm
ished it. and can look upon my work with
satisfaction The judgment whether a real
and definite or only an apparent and tenn
porary success has been achieved becomes
clear only after decades. For the poll
tician himself there is no time at which
he can say that he has finished a good
work. OF course, some affairs may be real
" completed, but we cannot know how the
consequences of them will develop, and we
can judge nothing in politics with absolute
certainty. The recent publication OF the
correspondence between the old Emperor
William and myself and other historical
publications OF recent date prove conciu-
sively that there is never absolute certain
ty in politics"
In this same interview. published only
ten days ago, Bismarck said: My health
is recently very much impaired by the re-
currence of a pronounced facial neuralgia.
The pain becomes at times so unbearaDle
tndt L can ma relle1 OILY DN pTtSSlIlR lily
fingers upon my cheek bones at both sides
for minutes at a time. In that case speak
ing Is difficult. because can scarcely open
my mouth. There is poetlcal justice III tnlS,
for i have sinned in my life mostly with my
mouth-in eating. drinking and speaking
Alcoholic drinks bring relief. but this re-
lief is followed by a reaction, the rest is
insomnia and nervous bankruptcy
What a contrast between the present Bis
marck and that other grand old man of
European politics-Gladstone. the tree
chopper-the man who. in his eightieth
year, began the study of the Persian lam
guage to be able to read some theological
works in the original text. the man who
as latest advices say-successfully learns to
ride the bicycle. But, then. just imagine
Bismarck. the chief of the Halberstadt cut
rassier regiment. on a wheel! bismarck
has always c a striking inquire. both
physically and mentally. Unbending in
enthusiastic admiration and the most in
tense hatred that mortal can have. 1t can
be neither the place nor the space of a
outline OF his growth and development.
Not only books, whole libraries have been
NEW Mr1!' GERMANY nSTT; and 9nS It Ri Is a W question tEs't at that
whether they do justice 10 their subject.
But some incidents characterize the man.
OF all the decorations which have been
showered unon him. Bismarck most cher
ishes a plain gold medal which he received
for saving. at the risk of his own life, his
jockey from drowning. He has always
been careless, almost reckless of his life,
provided the stake was worth the risk.
Tall. almost to gigantic stature, he is
equally well proportional. He was i'm his
day the bravest rider among n family of
cavalrymen. this noblest branch Of military
service; the most indefatigable dancer in
the days when a dance lasted from dusk
to dawn; a fighter who fought twenty
seven duels, 'auf der Mensur' during the
first three semesters of his university
course in Goettingen; a great drinker when
drinking was famous among the German
students.
What would have been the result if
Prussia had lost this Narof RiGnnarck uoc
asked after the close of the Austrian cam
paign in 1866. oh he replied. noncha-
lantly. II suppose the Berliners would have
hanged me to 2 lamDDost, provided they
could have found one tall enough for the
purpose This shows the man.
Bismarck's one political idea and ideal
has always been a united Germany under
Prussia's leadership. To this end he con-
siddered no personnel sacrifice too great.
the Prussian Diet in one of his first
speeches as prime minister. the great
questions of the day are not solved by
speeches and by resolutions of a majority
this belief was an error in the years 1S4S
and ls49-they are solved by iron and by
blood!" Hence his later popular title as the
iron chancellor of the empire of his
making.
Blu what would become of Austria if
Prussia should have the leadership in Ger
many?" Count Karolyi. the Austrian pre-
mier, once asked Bismarck.
Austria must transfer its point of grav-
ity TO Buda-Pesth!' was the prompt
answer.
Count Benedict, the French ambassador.
had the very t.cklish duty to demand from
Bismarck after the Austrian war "a regu-
lation of the Rhine boundary in the interest
o. European eguipoise.' He spoke To deaf
ears until finally the French diplomat. ex-
asperated by the pressure from Paris. de-
manded:
"Mayence or war;"
We'll. then we choose war" was Bis
marck's reply. and later on he declared in
the Reichstag: Il have never admitted TO
Napoleon the possibility of the cession of n
village nor even OF a single meadow
Bismarck Is not a great orator. he was
not even great when In the zenith of his
power. but he is an impressive speaker.
There is something abrupt. almost discon-
neCted. i'm his speech. He has 10 wrestle
with "A plethora of thought. and this makes
the choice of expression difficult at the spur
of the moment. However. the effort TO
and therefore all his speeches are replete
with characteristic turns and winged
words" which soon find their way all over
the world.
Whoever had the good fortune to see him
I'm the moment of speech i'm the LandtaC
Zollparliament or Reichstag. tall. com
handing. clad in the tight-fitting uniform
of his favorite cuirassiers. the half-clinched
right hand resting on the desk. the high
brow turned toward the opponents. must
yield TO the impression of a mighty man
who is ready 10 stand with his person for
every word he says The knitted brows in
dicate the high determination. and from
powerful. fiery mind. And he is all that
he looks.
Bismarck has since shown how fully he
recognizes the power of the ncwspapar
press. though he may have no use for "A
certain kind of reptile organs. ,ro-5av
- a.