The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14
HE KNEW BISMARCK.
Mr. j. III. Kappes Enjoyed u Long
Friendship with the Prince.

Denver Republican.
Among the hundreds of native-born Ger
man people in Denver who regret the death
of Prince Bismarck, none is a more sincere
mour2er than Herr j. Fl. Kappes, professor
of German in the East Denver High School.
Fifty years ago Herr Kappes was on init
mate political, not to say social, terms with
Fifty-three years ago Professor Kappes
first met the great unifier of the German
states then representing Prussia in the
that time kappes was a student in the Uni
versity Of Heidelberg, the hotbed of the
revolutionary sentiment just beginning &C
lively to foment in the schools of the states
Ten years before-there is just that much
difference between the ages of Bismarck
sity of Gottingen, to which his mother
had sent him because she feared the ten
dency to revolutionary agitation which had
begun to manifest itself in Heidelberg.
Even at staider Gottingen, however. Bis
marck had had inculcated in his mind the
principles of reform and had allied himself
with the rising revolutionary society, called
the Allemania- The Allemania had before
this time taken firm and fast hold in Heidel-
berg University. where young Kappes was
later to become a student under his father,
one Of the leading professors of the institu-
ton. 1t was in the nature of the Greek
letter college fraternities of America to-
day, saving that 1t was political in its ma
ture formed for the propagation of high
tariff principles, for the freeing of Ger
many, the unification of the states, fol-
states rights. In time it became an over
whelming power in German politics. greater
than any OF the student organizations of
later days, perhaps.
The Ailemania grew so powerful and so
insistent in its clamor for national or in
terstate reforms that it finally brought on
the bloody revolution of 1S4S
To the Allemania, then, belonged at the
same time, Bismarck and Kappes,. the one
still a student, the. other already. entered
on the brilliant political that was
eventually to see him the. greatest states
man of the German empire or, as Prof.
KappeS would say, of all Europe.
Kappes met Bismarck at Frankfort in 1916.
Then and there began friendship that re-
manned intimate, one might say, until death
broke 1t last Saturday night. So greatly did
| Bismarck esteem young kappeS and so
highly did he regard his mentality that,
after their first meeting, he continued in
touch with him through correspondence,
sending his ideas on politics, consulting him
particularly with regard to the high-tarif
| idea
In 1S4S the revolution which had been en-
gendered by the Allemania broke out.
KappeS went from Heidelberg to the field of
battle He was made an officer in the army
| of the revolutioniStS, and, as such, was
thrice wounded and taken prisoner on the
| plains of Mannheim. For nine months he re-
manned a prisoner of war, but at the end of
that time he gained his liberty and fed the
country He carried letters of recommended
ton with him from educators of high de-
gree in Germany. One of them was to the
distinguished Crittendens of Kentucky.
This letter, after a brief season spent in
France, he presented it. 1t got him junior
| professorship in the college of Georgetown,
| XIV. Three years ago he came to Denver
because advancing age and the three
wounds of war had begun to undermine his
| health At present he is living at 1874
| Broadway, a maSsive-framed, gray-haired
| man of Seventy-four years, Well-Oeloved by
| his acquantances.
'Since the newspapers brought to my door
| Sunday morning the tidings of Prince Bis
sorely to think that my native country has
| lost her greatest benefactor. the one man
| more than all others who has made her
| truly democratic monarchy, second only
| in democracy to America. | counted him
not only my personal friend, but an inspira-
| ton TO all lovers of freedom.
His was a massive intellect. his will was
| indomitable, his honesty unspeakable.
/ knew him so well that / know 1t was not
| from mind and will alone, however that he
/ drew his impulses to do good and great
| things. His sense of intuition was greater
than a great wonan's even; 1t was equal to
his viii and his mind together. He knew
| intuitively what he should do in the pro-
| foundest emergency. and he was never
wrong. Other men have pondered long on
| momentuous matters of state: Bismarck
| was instantaneously determined what he
| should do.
HE was not a participant in the revolu-
| ton OF as, but he was fountain OF inspira-
/ ton to those who were. Even though he is
/ now dead his influence is still more potent
with the German people than that or any
other man. Reside Bismarck Emperor VIII
| liam is pigmy in mind mere fool whom
I the German people themselves do not take
seriously. 1T was the saddest mistake of
1 the young upstart's life to send Bismarck
| into retirement iron chancellor though ne
| was.
| conclusion that Prince Bismarck would
| ever have allowed the Suhig bay blunder TO
l happen. as the me,idler William did?"