The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-14

intrusion. although he was there practically
AS the kaiser's representative. Indeed. the
reception accorded even to the Kaiser
himself is said To have been OF the
coolest. Prince Herbert making no response
whatever TO his Majesty's somewhat ELUSIVE
greeting. The offer Of a public funeral was put
aside with hardly a word Of thanks; so was the
suggestion that the old Chancellor should be
taken TO Berlin to lie in state. When the Kaiser
announced his intention Of placing a sarcoph-
agus in memor Of Bismarck IN the new
cathedral Prince Herbert's only reply was to
beg that he would do nothing Of the kind when
Herr Mcneil arrived at Friedrichsruh. by i'm
perial command. to take a cast Of the dead
mans face he was refused admittance. Then
the fact that in his letter OF thanks for the sym
patty he has received Prince Herbert units all
mention of the kaiser's name is regarded popu-
larry as something very like an insult 10 his
Majesty. and every one agrees that in allowing
the publication OF the famous resignation mem
orandum on the morrow Of his fathers death
and allow it he undoubtedly did-he can have
been actuated only by the desire to cause an
noyance in high quarters.
Much curiosity is felt. ot course. by all
classes as 90 the why's and wherefores of this
display OF had manners: for those who know
Prince Herbert Bismarck well maintain that
he Is not the man TO risk offending the Kaiser.
$500 'F 60 NAh "' N'uAA VN'Nl' ~ AAAH
some sure advantage. As to what this advan-
tage may be the oldest rumors are anoat: the
general idea. however, seems to be that il Is
connected in some way with the sale of the
great Chancellors memoirs. Perhaps Prince
Herbert thinks that having kept the Kaiser at
arms length now.i II may be more easy for him
later 10 refuse to surrender the said memoirs
to his Majesty's safe keeping"
There is no end or measure Of the matter
which the press OF Europe is producing from
day 10 day about this political master spirit OF
the age. Incidents old and new. true and false.
are given without number. II would be an inn
possible task even to read them "a fast as they
appear. and l shall not attempt to make selec-
tions from them. interesting though most OF
them are. Fresh revelations regarding the
origin Of the Pranco-PrussiAn war will perhaps
attract the most attention. The cleverness
viii which Bismarck forced or melted Ma
poleon into acting the part Of the aGEressor has
been a matter Of fairly authentic history for
some years. but the great Chancellor's policy
has been made perfectly clear by the disclosures
which are being given 70 the public now that
he is gone.
First, it is made abundantly evident that
Bismarck endeavored in every possible way to
keep peace with France until he became con-
WINGED hat wal was inevitable. When this
point had been reachedh he endeavored to hasten
the crisis. Here. for instance. are two wonder
fully pertinent extracts from a letter written
by Mr.. Beatty-Kingston to the editor Of the
London Daily Telegraph In September. 1887
now published for the first timel. In which q
long conversation with Bismarck was outlined
for the private information OF that journal.
Bismarck said then. nearly three years before
the war:
- 49,
endeavored 70 prove 20 me. by all sorts Of argu-
ments. that we must beat the Fpenehif we went
TO war then: If you can make ii as clear to
me as that God be verbatim. K.l that we can
crush France and occupy Paris, ! will still do
all / can TO prevent war for you must remem-
Der. gentlemen. q war between such near neigh
bors and old enemies as France and Prussia.
however it may turn out, Ia only the first OF at
least six and supposing We gained all six. what
should we have succeeded in doing? Why. in
running France. certainly. and most likely our
selves into the bargain. Do you think a poor.
bankrupt. starving. ragged neighbor is as de-
sirable as q wealthy. solvent. fat. well-clothed
one? France buys largely of us. and sells us a
great many things we want. Is it in our il
terest to ruin her completely? / strove for
peace then. andI will do So as long as maybe:
only, remember, German susceptibilities must
be respected oil / cannot answer for the people
not even for the King! The French. l am
quite aware. are buying horses and provisions.
That does not Brighten me. Their harvest is q
bad one and they are quite right to take pre-
cautions against distress. They cannot want
provisions for q war with us. for in such a war
they must be the agRressors: and If they invade
Germany they will find food and provender
enough for ten French armies. Their prepa-
rations do not disquiet me in the least. We are
always ready"
The same letter contains this word about
Russia. which. in the light Of present day de-
velopments. is not less than prophetic:
Russia is Hike a strong and healthy man who
is attacked by an illness. II he will only take
advice and stop at home for two or three days
| he will get well Immediately. and be as strong
as ever; but IL he will insist upon going out.
walking about, and transacting business abroad
as II he were well. then his malady will lay
firm hold upon him. and perhaps he will
die. Two or three days in the life OF
q man mean ten. twenty. or thirty years
In the life OF a nation. Russia must stop at
home She has got a great future. her highest
mobiles are intelligent and honorable. her peas
ants are the best fellows in the world: IL is in
the middle that she is rotten-the oficial no.
bility. or Tchin. is a yirulent ulcer. eating
away her bowels"
Russia has stopped at home" the two OF
three days" the twenty or thirty years. and
now she is working out her great future with a
yigor and swift development surprising even
Bismarck's pre- vision.
But to return 10 Bismarck plan for inducing
France TO declare war in 1870. His friend. DIR.
Busch. In an article In the Times upon the sub
ject. thus justihes the Chancellor's policy:
The real statesman will, as long as possible.
avoid war, which is the violent solution OF po-
litical questions. for war is and in AL circnm,
reouJn can no longer he avoided without danger
or neglect of duty. II war has become necessary
for the sake of higher ends. then he hastens its
outbreak while his prospects OF victory are
more favorable than they seem likely 10 be;
come In the immediate future. Reason and
duty bid him do so. His conduct deserves no
blame. but hig renown and thanks Of, patriot
hearts. An occasion OF this kind had arisen
when GeTmany's deyelonment toward complete
unity had begun after the war OF lSoo. The
anger OF the French after Sadowa was unparal-
leled and all their passions were unclaimed
Not only was their pride hurt and their envy in
famed. but they pretended that their interests
were imperilled and their safety menaccd by
~ : nHt1at, ont Of fha palg fsnRraF on THAR