The sun., 1903-10-18
SOME NEW BOOKS.
New Light on Bismarck.

Chancellor needed to be supplemented
with the letters, translations Of which are
.set forth In the two volumes entitled The
Correspondence Of Wiiiiam L. and Bismarck
(Stokes). Nothing could indicate SO dis
tinctly as do these letters the unique re-
lationship which existed between the great
eat German statesman OF our time and
the King he made an Emperor. In the
second OF these volumes will he found also
letters bet tween Bismarck and his con-
temporares on matters OF German and
Prussian politics which are Of more than
temporary interest. Only by few ex-
cerpts can we exemplify the value OF the
material here collected; but we have no
doubt that very large proportion OF the
correspondence will be recognized as OF
signal utility by the future historian Of the
events whereof central and western Europe
was the theatre in the last half Of the nine
teenth century.
Particularly interesting is q letter written
by William I. to his great Minister on
March 81, 1871, not long after he had been
acclaimed German Emperor by the Ger
man Princes in the Palace OF Versailles.
The letter begins with the assertion that
for long time Prussia's history had
pointed to an event at last accomplished
by ito sovereign being summoned to the
headship OF the newly created German
Empire 1t il a we'll founded conviction
that il expressed by William l :, the convic-
tion. namely, that Prussia owed her adj
vancement less to the extent OF her terri
tory and Of her power, though both had
been gradually increased. than to the de-
velopment of the national interests and to
the organization of her army. great
man had been needed, however, to profit
by great opportunities. This truth is rec
ognixed by Bismarck's sovereign when he
says that .the brilliant position now occu-
pied by my country has been attained
through an Unexpectedly rapid sequence OF
great events during the past six years.
Tho work to which called you ten years
aso falls within this time. How you have
Justified the confidence with which then
summoned you lies open to the world. 1t
b to your counsel. your circumspection.
your unwearying activity that Prussia and
Germany owe the world historical occur
renee which is embodied in my capital
to-day. Although the reward for such
deeds is felt within you, am. nevertheless,
urged and bound to express to you publicly
and permanently the thanks Of the Father
land and mine. l elevate you, therefore.
to the rank Of Prussian Prince (Fuerst),
which Ia to be inherited always by the
eldest male member OF your family The
sovereign adds: MAY you see in this dis
tinction the undying gratitude OF your En-
peror and King" On Christmas Day OF
the same year William I. wrote to Bis
marck: Il do not need many words to
recallto myself, and again to bring before
you, what I, Prussia and Germany owe
to your unceasing efforts in this glorious
time. The world appreciates your bless
ing-bringing labors for the reconstruc-
tion OF the European, l may say the
worlds, relations, and the world knows
that hope have been grateful. wish.
however, to set up in your house and in
your family visible sign Of this gratitude.
and I take the opportunity Of to-day's
festival to send you my bust in marble,
az this material is to come sztsnt able to
carry to posterity my sentiments toward
you" On March 2, 1872. Bismarck was re-
minded by his imperial master that we
ceisorhAe to-day the first anniversary Of
the glorious conclusion Of peace which
was attained by bravery and sacrifices
Of all kinds, but, through your circumspec-
tion and energy, led to results which never
had been dreamed Of. Irepeat to you again
to-day with grateful and affected heart
my Acknowledgements and my thanks, to
which / have given public expression in
Iron and in noble metdls One metal is
still lacking namely, bronze. I. there
fore. place at your disposal to-day a token
Of remembrance in this metal and in the
form which you silenced year ago. I
have given instructions for several capt
ured cannon, which you shall choose
yourself to be assigned to you, that you
may plant them in your possessions, as a
permanent memorial of the great services
you have rendered me and the Fatherland.
1t will be remembered that Count Harry
von Arnim. while German Ambass dor
ct Paris In 1929, gave great offence TO
Bismarck, and that not wit hstanding his
influence at the Court of Berlin, he was
dismissed from his post, dismissal which
caused great sensation. In letter from
Bismarck TO Emperor William, dated at
VarEin, April IA, 1873, we read: Your
Majesty will graciously remember that,
on the appointment of Coun, Arnim to his
present post, stated in n letter most re-
specfully addressed to your Majesty from
here that only the fullest reliance on your
Majesty's confidence in me could give me
courage to attempt polite work with an
Ambassador Of such an uncertain and un-
Trustworthy character. and, perhaps, 10
renew the conflict which for years had TO
maintain with Count Golz. This con-
fict began last autumn, when Count Arnim
advocated to your Ma jesty policy with
regard TO Theirs which was exactly op-
posed 70 mine and which attacked from
here in direct reports to your Majesty and
In letters. The result has, I believe. proved
me to be in the right. 1t is, however, never
possible in politics to give mathematical
proofs. Confidence in the judgment of
one or The other Of your Ma ajestys
advisers or correspondents must be
finally de erminative Elsewhere in the
same letter. Bismarck said: GLADLY as I
devote to pour Majesty's service what
remains of my powers. | cannot conceal
from myself the fact that this remnant
will very soon be consumed, if suffer under
the painful feeling that must strive wit h a
man like Count Arnim for your Majestys
confidence, after have possessed the same
in undiminished measure for 80 many years.
and never, to my knowledge, have bet rayed
II. have for years never concealed from
e.