The San Francisco call., 1898-08-07
Copyrighted. 1898, by the Associated Press.

Copyrighted, 1898, by the Associated Press BERLIN, Aug. 6.-The death of Prince Bismarck has, of course, en- grossed public attention throughout the week. While it cannot be truthful1y be said that the oppression created by | the sudden death of the great Chan l cellor was as deep as would have been | expected and while there was nothing | like general mourning visible In Der lin, yet there were unmistakable evi- dences of widespread sympathy. | The publications and revelations which so quickly followed the death of the Prince have naturally created a l sensation and deep anger in Govern 1 ment circles, and there is still greater surprise and resentment at the atti- tude of the Bismarck family. The Elm peror left nothing undone that could testify to his personal grief or the sense of greatness of the loss to Ger | many. His proclamation addressed to l the Imperial Chancellor, Prince Hohen- | lohe, has given high satisfaction l throughout the country, and 1t is gener- ally admitted magnanimity was required to enable his Majesty to preserve such unruff1ed serenity in the face of the eVl- dent sullenness of the family. He de- vised most splendid public honors Tor the deceased statesman, and when ms efforts to place the latters remains be- side his grandfather's were refused the 1 Emperor carried out what was posslple in the shape of a public funeral, re- l gardless of the absence of any or the Bismarcks On the whole Emperor 1 William has shown great tact Tn the | face of open rebuffS.
 The Vossische Zeitung, referring to the matter, says: "We do not wish to pass judgment and only chronicle facts. The notice of the death addressed to the | Emperor did not bear the signature of the son, but of the doctor. The Elm | peror commanded Professor BegaS to take a cast of the features, but the | emissary of the sculptor was obliged to leave F'riedrichsruhe without fulfill ing his mission. The Emperor desired to see the body, but the coffin was closed before he could do so, although, according to the testimony of Professor Lenbach, neither were the features of Prince Bismarck diSfigured nor were there any signs of decomposition. When the monarch arrived at Friedrichsruhe the ex-Minister of State, Prince Her bert, did not appear in uniform or wear his decorations, but appeared only as a private gentleman. It cannot be but that the nation will have drawn defi-
 
 But 1t was not against the Emperor alone that Prince Bismarcks family acted. The reigning German Princes, the peers and the nation were prevent ed from taking any part in the funeral, l To the Grand Duke of Saxe- Weimar Oldenburg Prince Herbert wired to remain away. Even Prince Hohenlohe, 1 although personal friend of the de- ceased. and whose coming had been ! hn~o tod iy1 not oI1 fa see the body. The coffin was soldered down fifteen minutes before his ar- rival, to the intense sorrow of the aged l Chancellor.
 1 Persons who were present in the house at the time affirm that Prince Herbert issued orders to solder the coffin down as soon as the telegram from the Emperor arrived announcing his Majesty's coming to Friedrichsruhe.
 A number of German papers affirm that the causes for all this strange be- l havior are partly because Prince Her i bert is seriously unwell and partly be- l cause there were about the house a large number of highly important and sensational papers, mostly letters to Prince Bismarck. and that there was fear that these would be stolen in the | hustle and turmoil occaSioned by the crowds of visitors.
 The order countermanding the public obsequies was received here with con- sternation.
 The Bismarck family, on their part, gave out that the peculiar method of l conducting the arrangements for Prince Bismarcks temporary interment were wholly in conformity with his wishes adding that the deceased lad remarked that he wanted rest, at least after death"
 The correspondent here of the Asso- ciated Press had an interview with the ion ardi line al these matters, and the following state ment was made to him: "As to the Emperor countermanding his first or der regarding the public obSequies, there was no specific reason for it. As to the epitaph, it is known that it was Prince Bismarck's wish to have it so l worded and we cannot hinder 1t. As l to the memoirs, there is no anticipation upon the part of the Government that any unpleasantness will result from their publication, and there is no inten- 1 tion to stop them."
 Among the public testimonials will be a gigantic demonstration at Nieder- wald, arranged by number of Rhen- ish cities, and large memorial meet ing takes place at Stuttgart and an- other at Hamburg, where a public sub- scription has been opened for the erec- tion of gigantic monument to Prince Bismarck at Sachsenwald.
 There will be similar ceremonies at Breslau. Dresden, Leipsig, Leibnitz, Augsburg, Munich, Carlsruhe, koe- nigsberg and many other cities.
 From the Germans in Austria many | signs of sympathy have come. in Up per Austria at a large representative meeting in Vols, resolution was pass | ed to wear black corn flowers until 1 Sunday.
 The passive assistance" of a Catho- | lie priest at the recent wedding of | princeGS DOrOtha3 Marie HAOriotta