The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-08

Bismarck did net long survive Glad stone The Grand Old Man who's stateSmanship WAS sn grca, fac:or il the progre ss of England i'll the lasi na. century closed his earthly career bU a few weeks before tbe death messep ger called from the scenes of his use fulness the author and maker Of Ger man unity. These two great men c; Europe were as much unlike in all theil characteristics as two men could wei be, yet each held a place iD the alice tions of his countrymen and in the esli- nation of the world uOt unlike that oi the other. Bismarck's character was rugged, his manner Lluff. He was a man of blood and iron, while Gladstone was a man of quite different manners and temperament yet one who inspired much the same sort of admiration rAich- Bismarck inspired The great German was a many sided man. He was grim, relentless and even stern. Tn diplomacy he was artful and auda- cious, and in guiding the destinies of q great empire as chancellor and adviser to the monarch he was full of deter imitation and bulldog pertinacity yet as husband and father he was kind and indulgent, and as a benefactOr of his people was regarded with a passionate devotion which it was beautiful to wit ness on the many occasions when his popularity was evidenced by some dem onstration in his honor. Prince Bis marck like Gladstone was most fOrtu- nate in his choice of a helpmeet, and like the Grand Old Man often bore tes- timOny to his wife's influence in mak- ing him what he was. His peaceful domestic life was in strong contrast to his stormy political career. He was devoted to his wife and children and his spouse watched over him with con- stant faithfulness to guard him from the i'll health his excessive labOrS might cause. As a student Bismarck was wild and uncomfortable, but his mar raige and domestic life seemed to com pletely sober him. From the stand point of democracy and republican in stitutiOns it is of course impossible to approve of many acts of Prince Bis marcks's career. But it is scarcely fair to judge him from this standpoint. Bis marck must of course be judged and the value of his achievements measured by standards different from those of re- publican countries where conditions ap- preaching democracy prevail. A man of his strong, determined, autocratic and even imperiOus disposition was needed to solve the problem of German unification. It is perhaps too soon to judge of the good or ill effects of many of his policies but of the value of his work in moulding into one great empire numerous separated although more or less related kingdoms and in thus strengthening the bonds of German unity, his work in preserving the peace of Europe through alliances and the in crease of the efficiency of the army there can be no doubt. Some of Bis marck's career. But it is scarcely fair defend. His character does indeed pre- sent some strange inconsistencies. His resignation of the chancellorship in a quarrel with the present Emperor was a remarkable episode in a remarkable career. The ceremonies attending the burial of this great German statesman were most imposing and significant. He was never more loved by the people of the Fatherland than at the time of his death and the mourning for him was deep and sincere.