The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-31
Who Did More for Germany Than Any of Its
Kingly Rulers or Noted Warriors.
Career of the Famous Chancellor, the "Man of Blood
and Tron Who Welded the FatFerIand Into an
Empire-Fis Traits and characteristics.

1915. After a turbulent life at the unver-
stiles of Goettingen and Griefswald he en-
tered the army, but soon settled down as a
country gentleman. His father was Prus-
sian farmer. His first official position was
that of referendary in the crown office at
Potsdam. In 1Si7 he was elected knight
deputy to the Diet of Prussian Saxony.
During 1S4S he rendered such signal service
to the Conservative cause that the King
appointed him Prussian representative at
Frankfort. This position he held until 1859,
when he was sent as ambassador to st.
Petersburg. In May 1862, he was appointed
Prussian ambassador at Paris, and in Sep
tember of the same year he became first
minister of the Prussian crown. During the
succeeding ten years he humbled the Aus
trian empire, destroyed the French empire
and created the German empire. In 1854 war
with Denmark broke out, and two years
later came the war with Austria. The North
German Bund was now formed and Bis
marck was created chancellor and president
of the Federal Council. The next great
event which held Bismarck's attention was
the Franco-German war. In 1878 he presided
at the congress of Berlin, in 1880, at the
Berlin conference, and in 1884 at the
Congo, or colonial conference. few weeks
Bismarck held an Interview with Signor
Crispi, the Italian premier, and thus, in the
opinion of Europe the triple alliance was
greatly strengthened. In 1891, following the
death of his old friend, Kaiser Wilhelm |.
and his son, Emperor Friedrich, his rela-
ton to the young Emperor William III was
far from agreeable, and he resigned his po-
sition as chancellor, which he had held for
nearly thirty years, and retired in 1880 TO
quiet life to his country seat at Friedrichs-
ruhe. presented him by William 1.
The publication of the late Emperor Fred
ericks diary in September, 1885, threw
new light on some of the imperial transac-
tions in which Prince Bismarck had been
engaged. Much sensation was created, both
in Germany and elsewhere, by the revela-
ton of the diary respecting the authorship
of the idea of German unity. The late En-
peror claimed to have proposed this policy
and to have experienced great difficulty in
persuading Prince Bismarck of its prac-
ticability.
The reported resignation of Prince Bis
marck as Prussian prime minister and chan
celor was announced in February, 1890, but
did not actually occur until March II of
that year, when Emergencies of opinion be-
tween him and the Emperor led to his re-
tirement. His departure from Berlin was
made the occasion Of a great popular DEM
onstration.
Since then Prince Bismarck remained at
his country seat, and as many of his ut
terances have hardly displayed that COM
mand over his feelings which might have
been expected, especially in the earlier
months after his retirement, considerable
friction existed between him and the EN-
peror, and after his visit to Vienna in June,
1892 on the occasion of Count Herbert Bis
marck's marriage with Countess Hoyes,
the Reichsanzeiger significantly published
the circular instructions sent to the inn
perial representatives abroad in May, 1880,
just after the prince had retired. This doca-
ment stated that his Majesty discriminates
between the Prince Bismarck OF former
times and of to-day" and deprecated the
attachment of "any practical importance 70
the press publications claiming to repro
duce Prince Bismarck's views"
In 1893, however, the prince fell seriously
i'll. and the Emperor sent him telegram of
sympathy and offered him the use Of one OF
his castles to assist his convalescence. This
offer the prince gratefully and respectfully
declined. but the exchange of courtesies be-
tween him and the Emperor served to make
very manifest the desire of the German peo-
pie for a reconciliation. The desire was
granted in 1885, The Emperor sent present
of wine to Friedrichsruhe and an auto
graph letter congratulating the prince on
his recovery from an attack OF influenza.
Prince Bismarck at once responded TO this
gracious advance by going to Berlin and
paying his first visit to the Emperor since
he had left Office. The Emperor afterwards
returned the visit at Friedrichsruhe.
Two attempts have been made on Prince
Bismarcks life the first by man named
Blind on May Z, 1885, at Berlin; the second
on July 13, 1874. by Kullman, at Kissingen.
A Bismarck museum, containing all sorts
of objects relative to the chancellor's ca
reer, has been founded at Berlin. Princess
Bismarck died at Barzin Nov q, 1894.