The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-02
BISMARCK.
world.

pectediy, but he possessed such an iron
constitution that he might have lived
almost TO any age. His career had
ended. 1t was one that the most arnbi-
sious might have been conten,ed with,
and he accomplished more than any one
man OF his age and almost as much rs
any man In any age
Bismarck. like Gladstone. whom he
resenbled In many respects. was not
one who had risen from the ranks and
whose career was one Of remarkable
seif-advancement. He belonged 10 a
noble family and TO the governing class.
His triumphs were in the advancement
OF the interests OF a nation and a
dynasty: Giadstone's were In the inter
ests OF a nation and only incidentally.
a. the result OF his statesmanship, In
the interest Of reignlng family. Bis
marck was not o man Of the people.
He was a ruler, and firmly believed that
destiny intended few to rule and the
remainder to obey. BY organization
and the exercise Of commanding au-
thority he built UP a great empire out
Of a number OF petty rival states His
was not a fight for the right, but pro-
motion Of the conquests OF might
While, therefore. he was a great man.
he does not rank with those great men
who have done much to advance alb
siract principles. nor can it be said that
he left mankind better than he found It,
Such a man under other circumstances
would have become a tyrant. fostering
commerce. organizing armies, develop
ing navies. strengthening government,
but doing 1t from the throne and not
through the sovereignty Of the people.
Some men with far less ability have
done much more good to the world at
large and have stimulated the develop
ment Of grand movements. but Bis
masck has left no monument except an
empire which. without his personal in
iiuence. may within a period less than
the years he devoted to the public serv-
Ice fall to pieces. The German empire
Is not based, like the United States.
upon a principle which is born of right
and must continue. but is only one Of
the several great political structures
which have existed from the earliest
historical times. His success was not
due to the merits Of his cause. but 10
the force Of his own individuality The
people of Germany are not more free
than they were: their homogeneity is
due TO the autocratic authority of the
empero". Gladstone did not achieve
anything like the political triumphs of
bismarck. but he did far more To lead
the people of his country to a higher
plane OF citizenship. and even of man
hood. The whole history of Bismarck's
time Is record OF the dominating force
OF the man over the masses: if he did
not believe In the divine right Of kings,
he at least believed that the only safety
OF society was in an institution In which
the rulers kept the ruled in subsection
and made them subservient to the wis
dom and the guidance Of those placed
in authority.
The old German emperor who became
the instrument OF Bismarck's designs
recognized the superior statecraft of
the iron chancellor and followed his ad-
vice. The young emperor came into ii
power which the chancellor had created,
but he regarded the throne as the high.
er authority and Bismarck as only one
Of the factors in the state Institution.
bismarck could not tolerate the suhsi-
diary position in which he found him
self placed. and he withdrew entirely
from public life. In some respects this
was inevitable: conditions had changed
and Bismarck did not learn as he grew
older. He did not become broad In
views. and ii Is one az the signs Of his
failure 10 keep pace with the new order
Of things that he regarded the United
States OF today as OF as little conse-
duence as this country was when he
entered upon his career.
The future estimate Of Bismarck will
be that he vas "A very remarkable man.
and that his influence was very power
fui in the diplomacy IF Europe. but he
Viii not he placed among the great
leaders of the people or honored as A
conspicuous exponent OF doctrines that
must in the end prevail