The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-01

newly invented and artificial parIia-
ment. The royal prerogative must
therefore be held intact. A free and
United Germany under the presidency
of the great German state, Prussia in
stead of the half alien and wholly an
OmaIous empire of Austria, was Bis
marck's ideal The feeble and cum
brous confederation was to be dis
solved, an end put to the constant in
reference of foreign states in German
affairs, and Germany was to be placed
in such a military and commercial po-
sition that it would be thoroughly in
dependent. Holding these opinions,
he was altogether opposed to the pro-
jects for reconstructing the German
constitution, brought forward in the
Frankfurt assembly of 1S49 and the So
called German" parliament of 1850,
seeing in them nothing but an attempt
to deprive Prussia of her rightful posi-
ton in the Germanic states.
In the second session of the Prussian
landtag CNovember 20, 1850-May 9,
1S5D he was recognized as the leader
of the Conservatives. At it's close he
was appointed Prussian minister plen-
fpotentiary in the Frankfurt diet Here
he showed himself the firm opponent
of Austrian pretensions. But a brief
experience at Frankfurt convinced him
that little was to be hoped for under
the existing conditions. Already he
perceived that the malady of his coun-
try could be healed only ''by fire and
sword" The tedium of his post at
Frankfurt was interrupted by diplO-
matte missions to Vienna and Pesth
6S52), to some OF the South German
courts, and, in 1856 to the Emperor Ma
poleon at Paris. In January, 1859, he
was appointed ambassador to st. Pc
tersburg. Here he remained three years
and ingratiated himself with many
leading persOnages in Russian society.
In May, 1862, he went to Paris as am
bassador, from which post he was re-
called in September to become Prus-
sia's minister-p president and chief ad-
wiser to King William I.
Foes Within and Without.
Both as regards domestic and foreign
affairs, his position a first was one Of ex-
self in constant conflict with the Liberal
majority of the landtag, bent as it was on
assuming control over the military budget,
which Bismarck was determined to re-
tain in the hands OF the crown. Abroad
he found himself menaced by Austria,
mony of Germany, and by the Emperor
Napoleon, whose eyes were fixed on Bel
diplomacy by which he averted the latter
dangers was unknown to the public: and
majority made him extremely unpopular
in Prussia. The tide began to turn when
ton QS6S-D to successful CONCLUSION: BY
extraordinary frmness and adrOit diplO-
curing the duchies for Germany. After
states he asserted that they must be an
neXed to Prussia, and refused to allow the
Kingdom. The dispute with Austria over
was plain it must eventually end in war.
Bismarck's greatest anxiety during this
France without buying it by the cession
of German territory In this he was
mistaken belief that the war would end
in the humiliation and defeat of Prussia.
Bismarck's life by a youth named Lionel
Cohen. who hoped to avert the coming
of the unpopular minister. Bismarck es-
capped with a trifing wound. On June IA
declared war against Prussia. Among the
states which supported Austria We're Han
few days the three states were overrun
and disarmed by Prussia. Before the end
into Bohemia, and on the Bird of the fol-
lowing month the Austrians were beaten
that of SadOwa, or Koeniggratz: Bis
fR a6Gk %aT the by gom b6Rs M its Close s the
resistance of Austria. was over; but all of
BsmaTeks fbiPlofmaiqc sk Was required aE
snatched from his grasp by the Emperor
NaP9lle9n After t PFol;9nged conferences fe
was concluded at Prague august, 1860.
eL's Tayb 'Ge ran nfedera4ja1 5
Hanover, SchlesWig-H oIstefn. Hesse and a
Prussia. The supremacy OF AUSTRIA IN
Prussia established.
FrancO=Prussian War.
The war of 1866 left Bismarck the most
popular man latter the king in Prussia.
He still had his difficulties with the par
Gals continued their efforts to establish a
constitutional regime on the English
mined not to weaken the position of the
crown or to resign his control over the
military Organiza ton. He knew well that
a conflict greater than that of 1866 lay be-
fore the country In 1867 he became chan
oil Of tIoa faf4 ion
For three years he was engaged in pre-
pairing for this. struggle with France,
Deeply mortified by the results of the
SadOwa campaign and the Nickolsburg
in France was becoming daily more I'M
certain, Napoleon was only waiting an
the assistance of Austria, or at least of
the south German states. After an in
attempt to make a casUs beli
of the Luxembourg question, and even that
of the st. Gothard railway, Louis Ma
Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern for the
throne of Spain. In Berlin there was lit
Prussia was infinitely better prepared than
France. but Bismarck's astute diplomacy
wrong. and compelled him to force on
hOstilities by a serious OF insults to the
Prussian nation and it's popular sover-
eign. The wanton and apparently unpro- !
vOked aggression of the French emperor
reused the spirit of the whole German
people, and Bavaria and Wurtemburg en- /
tered into the war with alacrity A mas
the sympathy of the neutral powers, and
especially that of o. England, from the
Times a draft treaty drawn up by the !
French ambassador, Benedetti, according 4,
range for the annexation of Belgium by
the latter power bismarck ma * had received
far Aback as 1867. but had adroitly con- |
trived to avoid committing himself to a
decisive reply The effect on European
and English public opinion was instan-
On July 10 Bismarck announced in the !
reichstag that France had declared war. |
On July 81 Bismarck left Berlin with the /
king and the headquarters staff of the |
German army. He present in the J
arIier hattIes of the eNentfnI camnaign |