The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-01
PRINCE BISMARCK
PASSES AWAY
THE GREAT GERMAN STATES
MAN JOINS SILENT HOSTS.
Surrounded by His Family the Iron
Prince Sinks to Rest in Peaceful
Slumber--Sketch of an Eventful
Career--Achievemen of Histori-
cal Interest.

Berlin, July s1.--Prince Bismarck died
shortly before II o'clock last night.
Prince Otto Eduard Leopold Bis
marck- -Schonhausen was born of an
old noble family of the "Msrk' (Bran-
deburg) at Schonhausen, April /, 1915.
He was created a count September IL,
1865. and Prince Won Bismarck in
March, 1871. He was educated at the
University of GottlnCen and Griefs-
valid. Brought up in the political faith
of the Junkers, or PrusSian Tory
Squirearchy, he became in 1876 a mem.
ber of the provincial diet Of .SaXony.
and of the Prussian diet, in which 10
first attracted attention by his fiery
speeches in defence of the old mon
archial party. During the revolution
ary period Of 1slS the services he rcnd-
cred in the public debates 20 the Con-
servative cause led TO his appointment
as the representative of Prussia in the
diet of the old German Bund at Frank
furt Austria was then all powerful in
the German Bund. From TIE time OF
Bismarcks appearance, however, the
voice Of Prussia began to have in
creasing weight The successful audac-
ity with which re chcckmated Austi ian
intrigue at Frankfort was the source
of constant irritation at Vienna, and
naturally tended to produce some es
arrangement between the Austrian and
Prussian courts Bismarck was sent
rs ambassador to st. Petersburg in
1850. and held that position until 1862.
In May of 1862 he became Prussian
ambassador at Paris. Five months
later he was made first minister of the
Prussian crown. Within the next ten
years he humbled the Austrian en-
pire, destroyed the French empire and
created the new German empire. He
remodelled the map of Europe, dis
membering Denmark and France. He
enlarged the frontiers of Prussia by
the annexation of various provinces, In
Guiding the dominions of three de-
throned German princes, and succeed
ed in placing Germany, which had pre-
viously been the weakest and least re-
spected of all the great powers, at the
head of all the states of Europe.
THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR.
In 1864 Bismarck withdrew for some
months from active public life. but he
was in power again before the end of
the year. Then came the Franco-Ger-
man war of 1870, and after a campaign
consisting of an unbroken series of
victories, largely due to the strategic
genius of Count Won Moltke, King Will
liam was able, through his chancellor,
to dictate terms of peace to his help
less assalant.
OF the events in Prince Bismarck S
life subsequent to the Franco German
war. it may be mentioned that he pre-
sided at the congress of Berlin in 1873
and 1880, and the colonial conference
of 1854.
In his domestic legislation Prince
Bismarck has been far less fortunate
than in his diplomatic negotiations. In
his economical policy, after beginning
as free trader. he adopted a protec-
zionist policy. He first largely reduced
the customs tariff, and ten years later
imposed heavier duties than ever
While he thus alienated the Liberals
his laws, which were afterwards re-
pealed, interfering with the religious
liberty of the Catholic priesthood. led
to long and bitter struggle with the
Catholic church, and made all it's ad-
herents his bitter enemies. Equally
severe was his policy with regard tc
Social Democrats. his draconic meas
ures against whom produced the pro.
foundest discomfort among the work.
ing classes in the large cities.
Prince Bismarck took a prominent
part in connection with the triple al.
lance between Germany. Austria ant
Italy, which is understood to be direct.
ed against possible alliance between
Russia and France against the Ger.
man powers.
RESIGNATION AS MINISTER.
The reported resignation of Bismarck
as Prussian prime minister and coun.
sellor was announced in February, 1890
but did not actually occur until Marcf
II of that year, when divergences ot
opinion between him and the empero,
led to his retirement. His departure
from Berlin was made the occasion o.
a great popular demonstration.
Since then Prince Bismarck has re-
sided at his country seat.
Two attempts have been made OF
Prince Rismarck's life, the first by {
lunatic named Blind, on May Z, 1866
at Berlin; the second on July l3, 1874
by kullman, at Kissing.