The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-18

In January, 1888, the author Of this diary.
having been admitted to an interview with
the Chancellor. again inquired on what footing
the latter now stood with the Crown Prince.
The answer was: "Oh. quite satisfactory. and
for several months past. as also with her.
When the Emperor seemed to be drawing near
his latter end. he [the Crown Princel APP
preached me. as he saw that the time was at
hand when he must plunge into the water and
swim on his own account. Ever since, we have
been on good terms. He wishes to retain me.
and when he commands as King 1 must re-
main. although I am Ill and require rest; but
we must come to an understanding first, The
main point for him Is to get some one to con-
duct the foreign policy. Domestic affairs would
go on all right under Botticher. who manages
them quite we'll, except that he is rather too
vehement. 80 that water must sometimes be
poured into his wine" He then spoke against
the so-called " collegial system. - under which
Ministers are on a footing OF equality with each
other: he would only hear Of a homogeneous
administration In the course of the same in
terview Busch referred to the Irish crisis. then
imminent at Westminster and to the English
political parties. remarking that there one saw
plainly what Parliamentarism resulted in and
whittier It led a State. He added that Prussian
Liberals would have brought about a similar
state OF things in Posen and in Polish affairs
keueEdiy, Dul hdHplly ILey Hdu u VIZ Sdllo
influence in the Landtag as their congeners
had in the House OF Commons. Bismarck
said: "Parliamentarism only works where
there are merely two rival parties that come
to power alternately. and where the members
OF the Legislature are well Off and unselish
and do not find it necessary to struggle for
their personal advancement. l am no advo-
cate OF absolutism. Parliamentarism is good
even here as n veto upon the resolutions OF
unwise Governments and bad monarchs-for
purposes OF criticism. In England. up to the
present. there have been two great parties,
whose principles have ~latterly not differed very
widely. and both desired the welfare Of the
country and nothing for themselves. They
were the representatives OF q few hundred fam
lilies who we're well enough off not to want
more. and who could. therefore. study exclu-
sively the welfare OF the whole community
a remark which. at bottom. also applies to
Kings. who should be under no necessity to
think OF their own interests. The Irish are now
coming in as a third party. together with the
Radicals. who are still more dangerous. 1t is
worse here in Germany. We have eight or ten
parties. and the leaders are ~lacc-hunters. who
wantto improve their own position and become
Ministers. and who also put themselves at the
service OF the capitalists-not without a consid-
Grafton"
We have seen that Bismarck contemplated.
in certain contingencies. material changes in
the German Constitution, and even the aboli-
ton OF the Reichstag. or. at least. the suppress
sion OF universal suffrage. by which that assem-
bly, is elected. He required to this subject on
Jan. %. 1887: Things may again develop
into a conflict. II the three powers 1.-THE Kaiser.
the Bundesrath and the Reichstagl which have
equal authority cannot come to an understand
ing in the hour of danger. Our first and great
est necessity is a strong and steadfast army. as
that secures our external freedom. our irrational
existence. our possessions againstthe foes that
threaten us from without. OF course. we could
defend these without the present Constitution.
and could certainly do 30 moro successfully
without a Reichstag like the last one. which
was much less an expression OF our unity than
OF our divisions and particularlsm. and which
was little else than q hindrance In the defence
OF our most important interests. 1 could i'm
mediately secure the sanction OF the Emperor
to a change in this respect and that OF the fed
Grated Governments also. But that must wait
yet ~awhile-until we see how these and per-
haps the next elections turn out. II no better
Reichstag Is elected. when tho compromise. I.
o.. the septennate. has run out, the first thing
will be to put into force the provision which al
lows the Emperor to call out c~ontinRents pro-
portionAte TO the population. the only ~restrio-
ton arising from financial considerations He
lldD ~ . NV "a" Nv W AeApS 49, ANAhS "a
as he considers necessary. and Of course the
expense thus incurred must be voted"
On the same day. in reply to a question
touching his relations with the Emperor Will
helm l., the Chancellor said: Il have been on
the best OF terms with him for a long time
past. Apart from the question OF receiving a
Papal Nunclo at Berlin. to which he will not
listen. we are in perfect agreement upon all
points. The Crown Prince. too. Is at present
everything / could wish him to be: she 1.-THE
Crown P~rincessl is. likewise. thoroughly well
disposed toward me. In fact, they are both
now quite reasonable. They have no inten-
ton OF Introducing any change when the old
gentleman goes. and they have repeatedly told
me 80. They arc still afraid that 1 may not
remain. And. really. / often wish 1t were
otherwise. as l would rather go and
spend my last days at FREDERICKSBURG as a
mere spectator" A little later he added:
People deceive themselves greatly II they
imagine there will be any considerable
difficulty under the new King Emperor Fred
erIckl. But my position is difficult enough now
that / no longer have the strength to work con-
tinuously at all manner OF things, although
there is always 80 much to be done. All the
Ministers come to consult me upon subjects
which. properly speaking, do not concern me.
and make mo responsible for them, One must
do his duty. however. AS to what you say
about my work. 1t looks great, but. after all, 1t
Ia OF the earth. and transient. Besides. what Is
the meaning OF 'greRt?' Germany is great.
but the earth is greater, and how small Is the
earth In comparison with the solar system. to
say nothing Of the whole universal And how
long will 1t last" Busch. suggesting that
according to HeGel the earth was the
sole planet possessing intellectual life and
history. Bismarck answered; Yes. be-
cause 1t was upon the earth he philosophical.
Certainly there are worlds where things Of
much greater Importance are thought and
done. But that is the way Of these professors;
they speak a. II they knew everything. UA-