Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-08-05
A MAN OF BLOOD AND IRON.
she Career of bismarck, the Prime Minis
ter and Real Ruler of Europe.

kingdom, and the Liberals regarded his
appointment as direct menace to their
aims. People used to spit upon the ground
as he passed to show their dislike: he was
Kissed and hooted on the streets. But he
persevered in his stern policy and those
who hooted and Missed and spat in his
tracks were loudest in his praise when the
triumph of the Prussiau arms gave material
evidence Of his farseeing sagacity and gen
ius.
The Schleswig- Holstein war was the first
serious test of his policy. 1t was a six
months campaign undertaken by Austria
and Prussia to wrest the two duchies from
Denmark on the pretense of broken en-
gagements. Denmark WAS beaten easily
enough, and the allies were soon haggling
over the spoils. There was no alternative
but to fight one another, and then com
henced that fierce struggle, ending with
Sadowa on July ., 1866, which blotted out
the military glory of Austria and added i'm
perishabe fame to the Prussian eagles.
In his great plans for German unity Bis
marck haN "a strong coadjutor in Won
Moltke. Bismarck pulled the strings Of
continental politics, arranging the puppets
to suit his imperious fancy; Won Moltke
with the same stern eye TO Prussau az
grandizement, mapped out future cam
paigns and drilled and disciplined the army
until it was the most perfect death dealing
machine of the age. For several years Bis
marck devoted himself to the consolidation
of the North German confederation.
Napoleon looked on with jealous eye
The Austrian campaign had raised Prussia
to one of the mighty powers of Europe. He
had failed in his projected role of arbitrator
and was filled with anxiety as to the future
Not only was his personal pride hurt by
Bsmarck's refusal to let him in at the
death, but he persuaded himself that France
had been insulted and that her prestige
was threatened by Prussia's success His
modification spread to the people, and
bitter hatred sprang up between the ia
tions. The public journals gave voice to
his sentiment, and when the question of the
Spanish succession WAS cunningly contrived
by Bismarck to give mortal offenso to
France Napoleon had the nation at his
back, and the hasty declaration Of war was
greeted with wild acclaim
With the result Of the memorable con
flict between France and Prussia all The
world is familiar Paris was beseged and
fell after a prolonged struggle and the
German empire, Of which William Of p1Is
sa was declared emperor, was proclaimed
in the palace of Versailles The title Of
Prince Bismarck Schoenhausen chancellor
Of the German empire, WAS conferred upon
him at the close OF the Franco pruSsiau war
Bismarck's fame was now at its zenith.
Recognized everywhere rs the diplomatic
giant Of the century, he was really the
handspring and ruler Of united Germany
The emperor was as clay in his hands.
While protesting the utmost loyalty and
obedience, Bismarck coolly regulated vii
liams conduct in the affairs Of state for the
general good and consolidation of the EN-.
pire. 1t seemed meet that it should be so
With all his virtues, the kaiser's hand was
not steady enough nor his mind strong o.
broad enough to direct the ship OF state IN
safety through the political breakers. Bis
marck, who mapped out its course toward
unifcation. was needed to keep firm hold
on the helm and steer it amid the rocks and
shoals which at times threatened danger
and destruction.
For 20 years he ruled the empire with
rod OF iron. He was the same forceful char
acter that kept the Prussian parliament
in hot water when William assembled the
throne. He roared and bullied and blus
tered till the nation reverberated in sym
pathy. Now he was fighting the ultramon
tanes with all his noisy vigor; again he
would force rough measures down the
Threats Of ClamOrous socialists Amid all
the opposition at home he kept watChful
eye on the rest OF Europe, cementing the
various interests Of the new empire together
and developing the commercial and mill
tary resources Of the fatherland. His sec
ond great object was to preserve the peace
of Europe, which he did by increasing the
efficiency of the German army and forming
the famous triple alliance between Ger,
many, Austria and Italy as a safeguard
against French aggression and Russian en-
croachmeut
But as the years went by the despised
people began To make themselves felt The
excessive mlitarism which Bismarck's pol
icy rendered necessary laid immense bur
deus upon the workmen Socialism took a
trmer root among the disatfccted. mutter
ings of discomfort became prevalent, and
the Iron Chancellor found his power on the
wane He WAS loath to admit the fact and
preserved bold front The death of Kaiser
William brought him face to face with the
stern truth that unless something unusual
occurred his influence in the empire would
| speedily end
The measures he adopted to preserve his
authority were not such as to commend
! themselves to mankind. Crown Prince
| Frederick and Bismarck had been at
swords points for years. Bismarck had op
| posed Frederick 5 marriage to Victoria, cid
est daughter Of the queen Of England.
After the marriage he lost 10 opportunity
| to annoy the princess. lie seemed inspired
with unreasoning hatred toward her and
| he took an especial delight in turning the
| the triumphant cry OF the Iron Chancellor
as the marks Of arrangement between the
emperor and his mother became more and
more apparent. Bismarck foresaw new
| lease of power for himself. He believed he
! had the unnatural young kaiser completely
under his thumb, but he was destined TO be
rudely awakened from his fond dream.
For time everything seemed to favor
| him. The English government, cowed by
the overmastering influence of the domi-
neering prince, was afraid to resent the in.
suits to the daughter of the queen. Viii
liam himself was hated and despised by the
British public for his unnatural conduct,
! But the young man was not altogether bad,
Bismarcks methods and manner palled
upon him. He was as little inclined TO sub
NIT to dictation as the chancellor was to
forego it. The weight of the crown inflated
his self esteem He felt his own importance
as the ruler of the great German empire
and quietly intimated to Bismarck that