The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-08-03
BISMARCK.

Prince Karl Otto Won Dismarck-Schoen-
hansen was born at Schoenhausen April !,
1915, studied at Gottengen, Berlin and Griefs-
wod entered the army and subsequently be-
came lieutenant in the landwehr,
Entering the diplomatic service in 1851 he
was placed in charge of the legation at Frank.
fort, and in the following year was transferred
to Vienna because of his rigorous jealousy OF
phlet, Prussia and the Italian Question" as
cribed TO Bismarck, excited widespread atten-
ton. 1t urged a tribe alliance between
France, Prussia and Russia as a check to al
legged aggressions OF Austria. After serving as
ambassador at St. Petersburg and Paris, he
was called home in 1862, TO become minister
of foreign affairs. Then began his phenom'
enal career as director Of the affairs of Prussia
in the name OF the king. His career as SOL
dier and diplomat, with his intense loyalty to
prince and fatherland, eminently fitted him for
the role he had now assumed, Rightly did he
bear the name Of the Iron Chancellor" for
he knew no law but that OF the king and his
enemies were made to tremble before him.
Scarcely had he assumed the duties of his sta
ton when he dissolved the chamber OF denutes
because it had rejected the budget, and those
newspapers which protested against the act, as
well as number of officials who showed hos
tility to the government were vigorously pros
ecuted. When in the following January the
deputies in an address to the king charged him
with having violated the constitution, he pro-
tested against this accusation with eXtraordi-
and the subordination OF the popular will to
the monarchs authority.
Bismarck thought he saw an opportunity for
German unity. when he formed an alliance with
Italy and made war against Austria. After the
victory over the latter country, with utter dis
regard of the rights Of 'te smaller provinces
and kingdoms, he began to annex them to
| Prussia, Frankfort, free city, being the first
| to feel the strength OF his invincbe arm.
| Hanover was completely absorbed, its auton.
omy being destroyed and by the end of 1865,
| or less than six months after the conclusion OF
the treaty of peace with Austria, Bavaria,
| Baden and Wurtemberg had come into the
| confederation, which in, 1861 was fully organ
lied, with % states and 29,0O0,O00 inhabitants,
| Prussia being in effect the supreme head as
| Bismarck had all along determined it should
| be. He had been MADE count in 1865, and as
a reward for his magnificent services in form
| ing the North German confederation he was
| made its chancellor and president of the federal
council.
The squabble over the proposed cession of
Luxembourg to France afforded Bismarck an
excellent excuse for strengthening his armies
in preparation for the rrepressible conflict with
| France, which came in 1870, and enabled him
| to witness the fulhlment OF his lifelong hope,
when William was crowned emperor OF Ger.
many in the palace of :he French kings at
Versailles 1t was Bismarck who dictated the
terms OF peace to the utterly vanquished
| Franks, as It was also he who bore promi-
| nent part with his king in the campaign thar
| January, 1871, he was made chancellor OF the
| newly made empire, and in the following
| March his grateful master created him a
prince.
Thenceforward until he was retired by the
present emperor in March, 1890, he was virtual
| controller of the affairs of the great empire,
| although he aominally retired from the presi.
| dency OF the state ministry in December, 1872.
to resume the Office again in the following
| October.
The old king died and the new king, who
/ forgot if he was not envious Of the immortal
| service rendered bv the great chancellor sent
| him off to Friedrichsruhe in disgrace, with the
| added title of duke OF Lauenburg In calm
dignity the proud old man endured his sen.
tence, making no complaint. The people diu
not forget, were they wanting in gratitude
| to the man their old king loved and trusted.
| They, too. waited in silence, bidng the good
| time OF his vindication, which came like In.
| rush of mountain torrent ADril /, 1895, the
| eightieth anniversary of Bismarck. Then the
king and princes, and rulers, citizens and the
army We'd with each other in seeking to do
| honor to the man who had placed Germany
| foremost among the nations OF Europe. Never
before had the world seen such honors heaped
| upon a private citizen and never before was
| there private citizen who more richly merited
| the distinction.