The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-30

vanquished, and one has ones foot on
his neck, he can be made to give what
ever one wants, but one must think
of the consequences of the victory as
we'll as the consequences of the defeat.
We should not be where we now are if.
in 1866. | had acted like Ignatieff, if |
had taken territory from Austria At
that time everyone was against me.
had said when we started: five should
be victorious l shall not annex any
Austrian territory, for we must not re-
main enemies forever. In ten or twelve
years time we must be able to come to
an understanding with her. When we
were victorious, every one wanted me
to take territory from her. held my
own, though, and since then / have
often had cause to congratulate myself
that / did So
..At these words could not help look
ing the prince in the face and he at once
read in my eyes the question that was
on my lips, for without fiinching he
said: ] know what you mean: you are
thinking about the last war But in 1871
I acted in the same way AT that time
France was in our hands. Paris was
conquered, the Commune was brewing,
everything was disorganized; and if /
had acted like Ignatieff l should have
demanded Picardy and Champagne.
Now this never occurred to any one;
and when l was urged to take Relfort
and Metz I refused. saying: No; Bel
! fort is in the hands of the French: it
must remain theirs. And even with reg
gard to Metz, on seeing the despair of
poor M. Theirs, I hesitated. But as you
/ know at the conclusion of campaign
such as that was, one has to take into
consideration the military element,
and was obliged to listen to Moltke,
who kept repeating to me at every hour
of the day: Metz in our hands, or in the
hands of the French. means differ
ence of 100000 men, more or less. in the
army. ! could not impose upon. my
country the burden of putting 100000
more men into active service at given
moment"
In treating of the evils of the French
princes in 1886. DeBlowitz quotes an ex-
tended statement made to the author at
the time by Count Departs. DeBlowitz
deplored the action of the government,
urging that exile placed the claimants
to the throne in the best position that
they could wish-that of being able to
conspire at their ease.
An intensely dramatic story is told
which relates the circumstances under
which Due de Cazes. minister of for
eign affairs. heard that Lord Derby had
bought 100000 shares of Suez stock
which gave England control of the
canal. 1t was in 1875 and De Blowitz
writes that he was at the house of the
minister watching him play a game of
billiards with a lady. Opening the
packet" records De Blowitz, the duke
began to read one of the kilograms
Suddenly ne became req. lnen pare. anu
wiped his temples. moist with sweat.
Then as if maddened. with an irresist-
ible movement. he took the billiard cue,
which he had put down. struck 1t on the
rim Of the table. broke it across his knee
and threw the bits into the fire. The
persons present. it may be imagined,
were in great state of mind. Suddenly
approaching me. his teeth set with
anger, he said: Do YOU know what
have lust heard? Derby has just
bought 900 Suez shares from Ismail
while every possible effort has been
made to conceal from US. not only the
negotiations but even Ismail's intention
of selling them. 1t is an infamy. 1t is
England putting her hand on the 18TH
mus of Suez, and my personal failure
has in no way retarded the act. 1 au-
thorize you to say what you have just
SEEN 1 even beg YOU to say it, and to
add that Lord Derby will have to pay
for that And he added half talking to
himself Yes. 1 swear that he shall pay
for it, "
De Blowitz sacrificed a great newspa-
per story to his patriotism. and the in
discreet minister. when they met. thank
ed him for his discretion and kindness.