Evening star., 1898-09-17
Secret Pages Of History Soon to Be
Made Public.
MEMOIRS OF AN INTIMATE FRIEND
The Great ChanceIor's Part in the
Franco-Prussian War.
BREAK WITH THE EMPEROR

is certain to attract much attention on both
sides of the Atlantic and to give rise to a
great deal of criticism, both favorable and
adverse. The book is in two large volumes
of upward of 600 pages each, and is from
the pen of DR.. Moritz Busch. who from 1870
down to the time of Bismarck's s death en-
joyed the confidence of the great chancellor
to a remarkable degree. For many years
he leld a position of trust near Bismarck
and was with him almost constantly dur
| ing the Franco-Prussian war as well as
later. He seems to have had absolutely
free access to all of Bismarck's papers and
was trusted implicitly by him. His admira-
ton for 1.-The chief" as he usually calls
Bismarck, knew no bounds. AS, for in
stance, when he first saw Bismarck in his
office, in February, 1870, he says: 4 was
quite close to him this time. and felt as if
l stood before the altar" Again, he says:
He was my Master and my Messiah
"Blasphemy,'' said Bismarck. But you
have deserved my confidence
That Bismarck knew that Busch would
publish the memoirs is evident from num-
Der of remarks made by the former on off
ferent occasions, as when he said: Busch
will write the naked history when l am
dead
A Light on History.
These secret pages of the great chancel-
lor's history, written by Dr. Busch during
twenty-five years intercourse with him.
throw a flood of light on many vexed ques-
tons of European politics during the past
sixty years. Some years ago it was ruInor-
| ed that Bismarck had sent his personal
memoirs to England with the view to their
publication without restriction after his
death. 1t has been hinted, with some rea-
son, that Dr. BuSchs memoirs are those
to which this rumor referred 1t seems
that there may be some truth in the rumor,
II we may believe the statement hat great
excitement and cons formation has been
caused in high places in Germany by the
approaching publication in England and
America OF Dr. Buschs Memoir. Dr.
Busch's intimate relations with Bismarck
and the chancellors almost reckless free
dom Of speech have given US what are
among the most important secret political
memoirs of the century.
The book is for the most part in the form
OF a dlary. Or. Busch seems to have maze
IL d point always to put facts, conversa-
uons and impressions on paper with as lit
Tie delay as possible, ana as a chronicler
was slngularly careful to note everything
however trivial it might seem at the
hrst glance, if he thought 1t would he of
interest or tend to throw any fuller light
On the lie and character of the great man.
His admiration for Bismarck and his levo-
ton to him knew no bounds.
Bismarck's Press Agent
Dr. Busch first came to know Bismarck
IN lSiO. when he was attached to the chan
Gerry as a sort of medium between the
chancellor and the press. In this capacity
IL was ms DUTY to see that articles written
at the aactation of Bismarck, or in known
accord with his views, were published not
only in the Berlin and other German
papers but In the leading English dailies
ana also that articles that were published
4ntdgoniStiC to his interest We're contre-
dicted and refuted. 1t is extremely inter-
esung to note the extent as well as manner
IN WElch Bismarck used the press, as d
rule the oncial or Semi-official organs. to
advance his aims. Thus, the memoirs are
full of such items as this: July 10, 1870
Note: our newspapers to call attention to
the loyal attitude of Wurtemberg." And
again: In the evening the chancellor die
tated an article for the Kruezzeitung on
the confusion by the public between per
scnal and private proceedings of the king
and his official acts
That Bismarck was familiar with Jour-
nalistic methods which are not always re-
garded as the highest is shown by the fol-
lowing extract: Il wish you to write some
thing in the Kreuzzeitung against the
Hanoverian mobiles. 1t must come from
the provinces, from a nobleman living In
the country, and old Prussian-very blunt
somewhat in this style" and then Bis
marck goes on to dictate just what he
wants.
The FrancO-Prussian War;
The first volume of the memoirs carries
the reader up to the close of the Franco
Pruss1an war and the unrestricted manner
in which Bismarck discusses with his as
sociates all sorts Of affairs which bore
upon that momentous struggle makes of
the book a particularly valuable addition
to history. The second volume will be in
teresting to most readers mainly for what
bismarck took occasion to say to his in
Inmates of the incidents which led up to
the severing of the relations between him
sell and the young emperor. He spoke his
mind very freely indeed did the bluff old
German leader.
Speaking of Bismarck at Versailles dur
ing the early part of the war Dr. Busch
says: Throughout the whole war the
Chancellor wore uniform. 1t was generally
the well-known undress of the yellow regf-
meat OF Landwehr cavalry. During the
early months of the campaign he, as rule
only wore the commanders cross of the
Order of the Red Eagle, to which he after
ward added the iron Iron Cross. He was
very easy to please in the matter of his
quarters and was willing to put up with
the most modest shelter when better was
not to be had. Indeed, it once happened
that there was no bedstead and that his
bed had to be made upon the floor"
On october OF the same year, speaking
of General Won Moltke, the chancellor re-
marked how gallantly he had attacked the
punchbowl on a recent occasion, and in
what excellent spirits he was. Il have not
seen him looking SO well for a long time
past. That is the result of the war. 1t is
his trade. l remember, when the Spanish
question became acute, he looked ten years
younger Afterward, when 1 told him that
the HohenZollern had withdrawn, he sud
denly looked quite old and infirm. And
when the French showed their teeth again
'Molk' was once more fresh and young.
The matter finally ended in diner
trois'-Molk, Room and (which resulted
(here the chancellor smiled a cunning smile)
in the Ems telegram"
His Opinion of Diplomacy.
Speaking of one of his own experiences
in a drinking bout, Bismarck said: Such
tricks were formally an indispensable part
OF the diplomats trade. They drank the
weaker vessels under the table, wormed all
they wanted to know out of them, made
them agres to things which were contrary
to their Instructions, or for which, ct least.
they had no authority. Then they were
compelled to put their signatures at once,
and afterward, when they got sober, they
could not imagine how they had done it"
These are but a few extracts from the
book that go to show something of the
character of the chancellor. The book is SO
full of matter bearing upon tho inner poll
tics of Germany since 1870 that it is very
likely to be considered the book of the year.
1t Is published in England and the United
States, but not in Germany. 1t Is easy to
y-hy the German emDernr nraferred