The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-08-03


in Bohemia.
Hanover and the South German states
were likewise vanQufshed and the war
which was over in seven weeks, led to the
treaty of Nikolsburg. by which Austria
was permanently excluded from the Ger.
man bund, and Hanover. Nassau. Hessecas-
sci and Frankfort, as we'll as Schleswig-
HOlstein and Lauenburg, were annexed to
Prussia, and the North German cOnfedera-
ton, with Prussia at it's head, was cstab-
lished in place Of the old bund, while with
the South German states an offensive and
defensive alliance was concluded giving the
king of Prussia supreme command Of all
their troops in time of war. OF the North
German bund, Count Bismarck was Gre
ated chancellor and prince of the federal
council.
A POPULAR MAN
In addition to these successes, Count
Bismarck obtained great popularity for
creating representative branch of the new
federal government on the basis of Inan-
hood suffrage. The diet, which first as
sembled in 1887, consisted of delegates rep
resenting a nation of 29OO0.OOO Germans.
Bismarck's next achievement was to pre-
vent the attempted annexation of LuXenl-
bourg by Napoleon III. In 1868 Bismarck
withdrew for some months from active
public life, but he was in power again he
fore the end of the year. Then came the
Franco-German war Of 1870, and after a
campaign consisting. of an unbroken series
Of victories, largely due to the strategic
genius Of Count Won Molke, King William
was able through his chancellor to dictate
terms of peace to his hapless assailant.
Of the events in Prince Bismarck's life
subsequent to the Franco-German war, it
may be mentioned that he presided at the
congress Of Berlin in 1878 and 1889, and
the Congo Colonial conference of 1884.
In his domestic legislation Prince Bis
marck has been far less fortunate than
in his diplomatic negotiations. In his
economical policy after beginning as a free
trader, he adopted a protectionist policy.
He first largely reduced the customs tariff
and 10 years later imposed heavier duties
than ever.
While he alienated the Liberals by his
many laws, which were afterwards re-
pealed, his interference with the religious
liberty of the Catholic priesthood led to a
long and bitter struggle with the Catholic
church, and made all its adherentS his bit
ter enemy. Equally severe was his policy
with regard to social democrats, his dras-
tic measures against whom produced the
profoundest discomfort among the working
classes in the large cities.
THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.
Prince Bismarck took a prominent part
in connection with the triple alliance be-
tween Germany, Austria and Italy, which
is understood to be directed against a pos
sible alliance between Russia and France
against the German powers.
The publication of the late Emperor Fred
ercks diary in September, 1883, threw a
new light upon some of the imperial trans
actions in which Prince Bismarck has been
engaged.
A great sensation was created both in
Germany and elsewhere by the revelation
of the diary respecting the. authorship Of
the idea OF -Gea man unity The late en-
peror claimed to have proposed this policy
and to have experienced great difficulty in
persuadng Prince Bismarck of it's prac-
ticablity.
The reported resignation of Prince Bis
marck as Prussian prime minister and
chancellor was announced in February, 1880
but did not actually occur until March II
Of that year, when Emergencies Of opinion
between him and the emperor led to his
retirement. His departure from Berlin was
made the occasion of great popular dem
onstration. :
HIS DECLINING YEARS.
Since then Prince Bismarck has remained
at his country seat and as many of his
utterances have hardly displayed that COM
mand Of his feelings which might have
been expected. especially in the earlier
months after his retirement, considera BILE
friction existed between him and the en-
peror; and after his visit to Vienna in
June, 1892, on the occasion of Count Her
bert Bismarcks marriage with Countess
Hoyes. the Reich AnZeiger significantly
published the circular instructions sent to-
the imperial representatives abroad in May,
1880, just after the prince had retired. This
document stated that his majesty discrim-
mates between the Prince Bismarck of for
mer times and of today" and deprecated
the attachment of 'any practical impor-
tance to the press publications claiming to
reproduce Prince Bismarck's views"
In 1893, however the prince fell seriously
i'll and the emperor sent him a telegram of
sympathy and offered him the use of one
Of his castles to assist his convalescence,
This offer the prince gratefully and grace
fully declined, but the exchange of cour-
teses between him and the emperor served
to make very manifest the desire of the
German people for reconciliation This
desire was granted in 1895. The emperor
sent present Of wine to Friederchsruhe
and an autograph letter congratulating the
prince on his recovery from an attack of
influenza. Prince Bismarck at once re-
sponded to this gracious advance by going
to Berlin and paying his first visit to the
emperor since he had left office. The en-
peror afterwards returned the visit at
Friederichruhe.
Two attempts have been made on Prince
Bismarcks life, the first by man named
Blind, May Z, 1866, at Berlin and on
July 13, 1874 by Kulmann at Kissngen.
A Bismarck museum containing all sorts
of objects relative to the chancellor's ca
reer has been founded at Berlin.