St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-08-10
BISMARCK.

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BISMARCK.
Otto Won Bismarck penned this gloomy
lament. 1t was not wrung from the bitter
ness of his later years. it came from him in
the prime of manhood when William of
Prussia, just called to the throne, invited
him to Berlin to become the head of the
ministry. This was supreme moment in
the history of Prussia, for Bismarck was to
usher in his famous policy Of blood and
iron and set the pegs for Germany's regen-
GRAFTON. Yet at the very threshold of this
great work he was filled with morbid ap-
prehension of the vanities and vexations OF
the world One can hardly imagine Bis
marck. whose daring craftsmanship was to
change the map of Europe and keep kings
and potentates in awe, pausng on the brink
of his wonderful achievements to lament
the folly of nations and of men,
But Bismarck had several sides to his
nature, In diplomacy artful and audar
cious, in battle grim and relentless, gruff
and stern in his treatment of political RI
walls, he had nevertheless softer moods,
in which humor, philosophy and religion
blended curiously to tighten up the general
sternness and determination of his charac-
| ter He was an affectionate, faithful hus-
band, a kind and indulgent father and a
generous neighbor and friend He could,
however brook no opposition to his ideas
of policy and resented the slightest interior
ence with his power in the empire, but his
deep, absorbing patriotism, his unbounded
faith in the glorious future of his country,
rs well as his profound reverence of it's past
covered a multitude of faults and toned
down the sharp. jutting edges of his unique
personality
Daredevil Student, Court Reporter, Legis-
lator, ambassador.
There was little promise of brilliant
career in the youth of Otto Won Bismarck.
BY strange irony of fate he was born on
April FOOLS day at Schoenhausen, the
home of his ancestors, in 1915. At the age
of he was sent to a boarding school at
Berlin, and when l2 years old he was re-
moved to the gymnasium, or public classical
school, and remained five years in such in
situations.
At Gottingen university, whittier he was
sent from the Berlin schools, young Bis.
marck was typical specimen of the reck-
less, daredevil student He was then a
tall, slim, pale faced youth, active and
healthy enough, but with little sign of the
broad shouldered, stalwart man he after
ward became
From Gottingen university Bismarck
went to the University of Berlin, where he
soon passed an examination in law and was
appointed auscultator, or official reporter,
at one of the courts A year of court re-
porting and law was enough for Bismarck.
He resigned his position, and after travel.
ing several months he settled down to the
life Of a practical farmer on the family es
tates.
In ls47 he was welded to the Fraulein
Johanna Frederick Charlotte Puttkamer
The marriage proved union without a
flaw 1t steadied the impetuous young
German, brought him for the first time face
to face with the serious business of life and
was the turning point of his great career.
Soon after his marriage Bismarck was
made member of the Frankfort diet AT
that time Germany was composed of loose
ly organized states and had little influence
In European affairs The revolution of lS4s
infused new hopes into the hearts of the
people Radical ideas were spreading and
the occupants of thrones trembled for their
safety 1t did not take Bismarck long to
decide which side he should take. He was
a firm believer in the divine right of kings
he inherited intense contempt for the peo-
pie as factor of governmental power.
The swift rising current of democracy
threatened to engulf his beloved Prussia.
Frederick William granted constitution,
and deputation from the new national
parliament offered him the imperial crown
of Germany. But with the traditional dis.
dain of his race the king was not disposed
to accept honor at the hands of the people.
Empire derived from that source was de
spised by man who claimed his authority
direct from God The offer was rejected,
and jealous hatred arose between Prussia
and Austria which was soon to ripen into q
war for the humiliation of the latter
Bismarck threw himself heart and soul
into the cause of the king as against the
people, He upheld the royal prerogatives,
fercely opposed anything in the nature OF
liberalism and gave way with bad grace to
the concessions which Frederick William
eventually deemed wise to grant to popular
|
sentiment.
AS u reward for his loyalty Bismarck was
appointed envoy to the diet Mt Frankfort in
1851 This body did not represent the peo-
Pile, but was in reality an assemblage of
princes and their proxies, who kept tight
hold on individual rights while resisting
solidIy everything like eneioachment on
the part of foreign powers.
From the bund Of Frankfort, where hi
had shown marked ability as diplomat
Bismarck was sent as ambassador to st
Petersburg, where he was retained unit
1861. Then William | succeeded to thu
throne of Prussia, and he returned to Der
lin as the head of the ministry, filled will
misgivings as to the vanities and vexation
of the world, with the great plan of Ger
man unification taking shape in his massiv
brain.
The Career of Bismarck, the Prime Minis
. ter and Real Ruler of Europe.
| It was In 1861 when William of Prussi'
recalled Otto Won Bismarck from the cour