Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01

of 1862, but was suddenly recalled in the
autumn to help his master in serious trou-
Die Bismarck was summoned home and
made minister of foreign affairs and invest
ed with the high Office of president of the
cabinet, next to the throne in administra-
tive power. He saw the danger of war,
ultimately arising with Austria on the
Schieswig-Ho question. In any event
he was fixed in his design of humbiing the
ancient Austrian pride and power and COM
Dining Germany in Imperialism under Prus-
STA. Bismarck in the name of the king
dissolved the chambers in October 1862
Four successive chambers were dissolved
ana preparations for war continued. Mean
Whlle Prussia seemed nearing the verge OF
bloody revolution.
SchIeSwiE-H Olstefn
bismarck at this point showed himself a
diplomat. The King of Denmark died in
November. 1863, reopening the old oues-.
ton as to the rightful ruler over the partly
Danish, partly German province of Schles-
wig and over the German province of Hol-
STEM Bismarck persuaded Austria to ioin
with Prussia in asserting the German claim
and an Austro-Prussiar army marched
into the province in 1854 and wrested
them from Denmark. Bismarck intrigued
so that Austria adopted a resolution to
proceed against Prussia as a public enemy
June A. 1896.
Count Won Moltke's three great armies
we're instantly on the move, converging
toward the enemy. The main Austrian
army was met with at Sadowa Koniggratz
and utterly crushed The whole war was
ended in seven weeks.
The first point in Bismarck's great plan
vas achieved. Austria was humbled Prus-
STA held the headship of Germany and
took Its place in the first rank Of military
nations. It's territory was increased by
one-1ourth OF its former area, and its
4
and secret preparations were revealed in
blaze of glory.
The king made him count in the preced-
ing year; now the nation added honors
and rewards. A sum amounting to nearly
S3OO,0OO was granted to him, which he used
In buying the estate of Varzin.
The great victory was followed in 1867
by the ruling out Of Austria of the Ger
man states and by the forming of the
North German confederation, with the
Prussian king as its civil and military head
under a liberal constitution granted by Bis
marck, who was made chancellor.
William Proclaimed Emperor.
The war with France was declared by
that nation July 10, 1870, on a mere pre-
text. Paris was invested by nearly half a
million German soldiers September 10, and
after siege of more than four months
capitulated, according to terms which. with
those of the treaty of peace, were dictated
ny DiSHidiCh, WHO ndU ACCOMPANIED his
sovereign to the field. January 1S, 1871
in the cOncOurse of princes and generals
In the splendid palace of the French kings,
at Versailles, ling William l of Prussia
was formally proclaimed by Bismarck
German emperor, pursuant to a vote of the
North German confederation
Blsmarcks task which he had set HIM
self twenty years before was finished. He
was created a prince of the empire and
was also made chancellor, with the powers
almost of dictator. AS chancellor of the
empire he made it his task to consolidate
1t with authoritative and stable institutions
within, while forming alliances and politi-
cal combinations which would secure it
against attack from without.
War With the Vatican.
Fearing the influence of the church of
Rome, as rivaling the power Of the state,
with its doctrine of papal infallibility, he
was led into the long and bitter struggle
with the Vatican. Under his head the
May laws were passed by parliament be-
ginning in 1873. By this many hundred
Jesuits were banished and several Roman
Catholic bishops were imprisoned for re-
fusal of obedience. In December 1898, the
anti-Jesuit decree of July 1873 was for
mally stricken from the statute books In
1856 the pope conferred on the chancellor
the decoration of the Order of Christ.
One OF the most prominent points in
Bismarck's policy was that Germany
as a military power. For this purpose he
made constant and unyielding demands for
increase of the army on the peace estab-
lishment. His theory was. "as we shall
attack nobody, We shall have peace If we
show ourselves so strong that nobody will
attack u.s." In 1888 he delivered in the
reichstag his memorable speech in support
of the measure for adding 10000 to the
war strength of the empire.
Annoyance at the baking of his plans at
certain points assisted with his hercuIean
labors and vast responsibilities and with
the burden of advancing years served to
reduce his strength, though he had retained
vigor scarcely impaired until he had
passed his SEVENTEEN year. The emperor
William l died March 8. 1855, at the age
of ninety-one years. Three months later
his son and successor. Frederick William
died, leaving the throne June 15 1855 to
his son. William III, twenty-nine years of
age. The prince chancellor at the age of
seventy-three found himself tknfror,i ed
with a new obstacle.
Prince Bismarck's son, Count Herbert
Won Bismarck Schenhausen. was born in
Berlin. December %. 1S49. He is a maio
in the German army and has served the
empire in various diplomatic offices. He
was secretary of the embassy at Lon
don and minister at The Hague He was
appointed head of the foreign office in
1885 and retired with his father In 1Ssn