New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-08-10
PEN PICTURE.
John Swinton Draws One of Germany's Great
Chancellor, the Man of Blood and Iron. #

The following character sketch Of the
late Bismarck, by John Swinton, is IN
teresting and worthy Of preservation !.
Among the names Of the European
statesmen Of the nineteenth century
whose achievements have illustrated the
history of their times there is not name
more renowned than that Of Bismarck.
He was the 'sstrong man" of his genera
ton. he possessed the genius of power.
He it was who laid the foundation and
crowned the edifce of the German EN-
pire. BE transformed the map Of Eu-.
1ope. He overthrew or Inundated the
potentates who stood in his way. He
gained the chief object Of his desire,
gained it through the ways and by the
methods OF a ,conqueror.
The purpose of his life was to unity
the detached states of Germany, binding
them together under the authority of the
imperial scepter, surmounted by the inn
perial eagle and defended by the sword,
and whatever means might De needed
for the carrying out of this purpose were
regarded by him as justifable. His ca
reer was tempestuous one. Long ago
he was described as the ssman of blood
and iron," and it was through these
agencies that he won the triumph with
which his name is associated.
Bismarck could aot be called ncrv-
Gus man as we ordinarily use the word,
but rather man of nerve. Such word
as intellectual or as philosophical is not
descriptive as applied to him: In short.
none of the words by which. We are apt
to characterize distinguished individuals
was applicable to him.. He was prodi-
gy. He was not to be classified; he was
a distinctive personality; he did not be-,
lorg to type. His mind was broad,
his reason was substantial, his will was
indomitable, his genius was practical,
his thought was solid. He had imagina-
ton, but only in the large sense of the
word-that kind which moves around
realism. Z.
Bismarck is not to be brought into
comparison with any other eminent man
of the century. His characteristics bore
no resemblance to those of Napoleon,
who was both stateman and conqueror,
and whose flashing career was so unlike
that of the German. It would require
the pen of Plutarch to draw a contrast
between Bismarck and Abraham Lincoln.
In truth, Bismarck was man who in the
history of his time must stand apart from
all other men, gloomy andlpeculiar.
The record of his life was one that
had no parallel in that of any of his con-
temporaries. He was a founder and
destroyer. revolutionlst and lord
paramount. He was legislator, diplo-
mat, ambassador and chancellor. He
was a master of statecraft and the archi-
tect of an empire. He raised his coun-
try to place IN the front rank of Euro.
pean nations. He was dictator in his
disposition though he always reverenced
the throne of the Hohenzollerns. He
was tor thirty years leader in ''large
politics." the author Of public policies
and controlling force in the diplomacy
of all the continental governments.
This is not the Language Of praise. II
is but part of the broad history Of our
creative age.
How Bismarck brought about German
unity and the obstacles that he encoun-
tered and overcame while he engaged in
that work need not here be described.
How he extended the boundaries Of
Prussia by anhexing to that kingdom the.
dominions of three dethroned German
princes; how he obtained possession Of
the duchy OF Schleswig- III Holstein; how he
seized Alsace and Lorraine as the prizes
Eof cong all may be learned from the.
historians. 5 ss .s5
How he brought Denmark to terms by
force of arms; how he humbled the Aus
=trian or Holy Roman empire in 1866; I
how lie overthrew the French empire
and dictated terms of peace to France in
1871, the reader can ascertain BY the.
perusal of historical works. There were
military commanders and ministers and
diplomatic agents who played their Fart
in the execution Of Bismarck's designs,
but it was Bismarck who served as the
ruling spirit in all the great events here
spoken of. Bismarck, the paramount
genius Of German unity, fell from power
soon after the young emperor who now
rules Germany ascended the throne in
1888, ten years ago. The young man
san6 efhe r,Id man enterfained different