The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-10-20
THEB LETTERS
Correspondence Between Iron
Chancellor and William /.
aL1MPsEs INTO HIDDEN HISTORY.
and His Royal Master Brought Out.
Neither Was Much Impressed by
the Capture of Mexico by the


An additional chapter in the history
Of the world was recently published in
New York and London by the Freder-
lex A. Stokes company. 1t consists OF
the correspondence between William l.
and Bismarck and other letters from
and to Prince Bismarck, which have
been translated from the German by
]. A. Ford, says the New York Times.
These letters, it is stated, are pub
lished by the late Prince Bismarck's
express desire, as he considered they
would show better than can be done IL
any other way ''the unique relationship
which existed between him and his au-
gust MASTER" The prince also desired
that certain Of his personal political
letters, exchanged with his contempt
raries, should be made public. as they
were to serve to authenticate and sup
plement his biography. The prince
himself selected these letters, which
were found after his death carefully
arranged in portfolios.
The capture of the City Of Mexico by
the French troops in 1868 did not ap-
parently impress either William or Bis
marck very forcibly, to Judge from the
marginal notes they made on receipt of
the news. Bismarck on July II, 1869.
wrote as follows:
Your Majesty-I have the honor mosS
respectfully to submit a communication. !
ave just received from Rouher respect
ing the taking Of Mexico and a report
from Rothschild. v. BISMARCK
Remark in the kings handwriting:
He Is fortunate!
That William l. had a firm hold Of
the helm of state may be judged from
a letter which he sent to Bismarck Jan.
q, 1868, reading:
want to remind you. in connection
with today's battle. that today is the
birthday Of my grandson, my second sue.
cessor, II God SO Wills. which might per-
haps be mentioned in q patriotic sentence.
II 1t could be made convenient.
Good luck to you! Make it very cleal
that the second Oower) house is abusing
It's rights and is working the ruin Of the
country; that the upper house has also
used its rights and has placed itself on
the side of the government: defect in the
constitutions; that here also the king has
Olly " COASuAI Hi AOydA 0uIy dAA0 Wa
the machine without a budget until the
account Is subsequently laid before the
second chamber and voted.
WILHELM.
How we'll Bismarck carried out his
masters will and introduced the pa
triotic sentence" can be seen in the fol-
lowing extract from a speech whichfahe
made the same day, Jan. q, 1868. in
the landstag. He said:
1t is a remarkable coincidence that the
discussion OF this manifesto which Is to
be presented to our royal master takes
place OF the birthday of the youngest
presumptive heir to the throne. In this
coincidence, gentlemen, we see a re-
| doubled call to enter the lists boldly for
the kingly rights, boldly for the rights of
his majesty's SUCCESSORS. The Prussian
kingly Office has not yet fulfilled it's mis-
sion. 1t is not yet ready to become a
purely ornamental decoration of your
constitution or to be dovetailed like q
dead piece of machinery into the mechan-
ism of the parliamentary regimen.
On Jan. 10. 1870. William l. wrote
the following to Bismarck:
Unfortunately 1 have always forgotten
to give you the Victory medal, which
should properly have been in your hands
first, SO I Send 1t you now as the seal OF
your world historical achievements. Your
WILHELM.
Bismarck's reply shows that he was
very grateful. He wrote:
Most Ii!ustrious King, Most Gracious
Master-I thank your majesty most re-
| spectfully and most sincerely for gracious
ly bestowing on me the Victory medal and
for the honorable place your majesty has
been pleased to assign to me on this his
torical monument. The recollections which
this impressed document will perpetuate
among posterity acquire their especial Inn
portance for me and mine through the
gracious words with which your majesty
has been pleased to accompany the pres
entation.
While my self confidence experiences
great satisfaction in the fact that it is
permitted to me to see my name carried
down to posterity under the wings of the
royal eagle. which points out to Germany
the paths she must tread. my heart Is
still more gratihed by the feeling that I
am serving, with Gods visible blessing.
a hereditary master to whom I am at
tached with a full n personal love and
to gain whose satisfaction Is the reward
I covet most in this life. With the ex-
preston of most respectful and unwaver-
ing fidelity. your majesty's most obedient
servant till death. v. BISMARCK.
That William l. was also grateful to
Bismarck for the latter's services Is