New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-17

70 distrust his Chancellor's policy, they make u
clear that for Bismarck the man he had the
most whole souled admiration
Nor is il difficult 70 perceive why Wilhelm
hsd reason for being truly grateful 70 him
Wien Bismarck undertook the task OF upbuild-
Ing a united Germany he found himself con-
fronted with the necessity Of welding together
number of petty principaliries torn with jeaI-
ousy and conflicting interests. he saw opposed
70 him the professions of Austria; he was per
petually uenaced with the danger Of foreign
Interference before his plans were matured- But
he was the reconciliation OF self-confdence,
Gnd believed himself equal 10 the burden. His
to-y tells US how he succeed ID. first by cultivat
ing the friendship Of Russia. then by setting
Austria ny the ears and. finally through his
WIZ nursing Of the events that led TO the war
with France. The origin Of that war is still q
matter o. debate but We here find nothing
eucidatory save letter from Wilhelm which
shows that in February, 1870 four months be
fore The Official PrUssian story of disslulllar
purport was published. the Emperor had be
come cog1izant Of the Hohenzoliern candidacy
FOR the throne OF Spain But Of Information
concerning Bismarck's share in precipitating
the sangUiuary conflict We CLEAN nothing from
the correl pondence. one most interesting let
ter, revealing the subtle irony Of the Chanel
lor. does appear in connection. not with the
cause but with the conquest Writing 10 VII
helm report Of The negotiations for the capitu-
lation o. Sedan, he says.
With respect 70 The political situation. I my
SCI took 10 initiative. and the Emperor went no
further than 10 deplore the III fortune Of the
Nar, stating that ne himself had not wished Tor
var. but was driven into Il by the pressure OF
pubic opinion n France. ] did not regard il as
my Office &c point out at that moment that what
NE E.r7re~r~ rlara p~lZeT DuDlC opinion
was only the artificial product OF certain ambi-
nous coreries OF the French press. with very
harrow political horizon. 7 merely replied that
nobody IN Germany wished for the war. espe-
clal.y not your majesty. and that no German
government would have considered the Spanish
question OF SO much interest as 10 be worth
z way. continued that YOUR ma iesty's attitude
e"arc The Spanish succession question was
--naliv determined by the rlisElNlnE Whe-htf II
vas right, for personal and cynasuc conslaera-
ions, 10 mar the endeavor Of the Spanish ma
uon 10 re-estab lish by this selection OF KING
tltlr Internal organization on a peTIIlsIle4-
hasis. that your majesty, in view of the Fooa
.eiato0s existing for 50 many wears heiN-eh
-le princes of the Hohenzoilern house ana lfi-
emperor. had never entertained any doubi Dur
laai the Hereditary Prince would succeed IN ar
nFlng at satisfactory understanding with his
majesty the Emperor respecting the acceptance
ne Spanish election. that however, your
.leS-v ha6 regarded this. not German or
" russian. but as 4 Spanish AFFAIR
The reader need not expect TO be enlightened
-''i-tfilfR the aspirations OF bismarck aIlet
the treaty q Frankfort had been signed As
suredly and not without good cause. he deemed
himself the founder o. the Empire. and the idol
ization % the people must have aroused within
Mn thoughts that would make most interesting
reading. Whatever his dreams. these letters
'eA naught. Nor is there anything iIluminative
o. the celebrated scare" OF 1875. when il was
current talk In diplomatic circles that Germany
intended 70 force a with France that
~ollo utterly crush the weakened republic
N the hand. il asserted that Bis
"arck was in the plot with Moltke- on the
'ther hand. that Il was the hidden arm OF the
VhancellOr that blocked the ambition Of the
1eio marshal. True. there is a letter from VII
Aelm 70 Bismarck narrating the receipt OF a
message from Queen Victoria limiting a. the
existence OF the plot. but Bismarcks cautious
y "orded reply proves nothing one way the
oeher regarding his attitude toward France.
ron other sources. however. We have reason
!" believe that IL was nothing but the timely
-ANer'ention OF Bismarck that prevented what