The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
Br RUpoLPH pE III.

By RUDOLPH DE ZAPP.
The days OF AIphonso Taft. father OF
the President. when he was United
States AfsAister In ST. Petersburg, are re-
called BY q gift which Mrs. TAFT has just
received from the Countess Bernstorn,
wife OF the German Ambassador in
Washington II Is an edition de luxe OF
the memoirs Of the elder Count Berns-
torn. father OF the present representative
Of the Kaiser. he was Bismaeck's first
ambassador in London after the petty
principalities around Prussia had been
welded into the German empire. and he
knew Alphonso Taft personally. and
made several complimentary illusions 70
him In his memoirs. Count AIbrecht Won
Bemstorn. the father OF Count Johann.
the Kaiser's clever representative here.
spent a useful life IN the service OF his
country, occupying several delicate and
important posts at a time when the cal
drOn OF European politics boiled merrily.
A record OF the counts life Is given in
The BernstOrn Papers by Dr. Karl
Ringhofser. lately published by Long
mans. Green & Co.
The counts family had been closely
identified with the history Of North Ger
many and Denmark. and he was destined
to the diplomatic career. entering IL un-
der AnciIion as attache 20 the Prussian
legation at Hamburg He served in the
same capacity al Ct Petersburg and
Paris. and was nominated counciior OF
legation IN 1SS7 After having been IN
trusted with 2 special mission 70 Naples
he was employed in Paris IN 1Sf2. and IN
ls45 was made minister plenipOJenuary at
Munich.
The count was promoted 70 the higher
embassy al Vienna ir ISIS remaining
there three years OF this interesting
period IL Is written: He saw with
prophetic spirit that Prussia was the
power Of the future for Germany. Then
fate threw him az Vienna. where the
horrors Of revolution affected him 50 pow
erfuily that for a short time be was al
most inclined 10 condemn even the strug-
gle FOR a restoration OF q united Ger
many, together with the revolutionary
movement OF the tine.
But his eyes were opened IN Vienna,
where he observed close az hand the
faults OF the victorious reaction, and
where he had 20 see Schwarzenberg put
the interests Of Germany in a secondary
place. while the struggle 10 defeat and
humilIate Prussia was the first cOnsidera-
ton. lie then learned 20 understand the
depth Of the German movement for
un.ty, and It's efforts 20 obtain a more
compact Germany. He cOmprehended the
necessity OF opposing the efforts OF Aus
tia 70 obtain the hegenony Of Germany
And he who originally rejected the policy
Of union. judged more favOrably It's ad-
VOcate, RadOWitz, his former opponent
Thus he tried. in negotiating with
Schwarzenberg. 20 save as much as pos
sible OF the union without. 20 his dis
tress. finding any support az home.
The efforts which ne made AZ the con
ventiOn OF September 80. IS49. 70 obtain
for Prussia al least the predominance in
North Germany and not 20 let the great
national movement end in failure, were
frustrated BY the Indifference OF the
Prussian government Bernstorn had 20
experience the day OF Olmuetz and see
with anxiety how Russian policy helped
SchwarZenberg 70 realize his state wis
dom From that day he had turned
away from Russia the land OF Conserva-
tive interests. as ne had once regarded
H. From this time forward he began 70
see IN the English commonwealth one Of
the bulwarks against the spread OF Rus
sian and French power. and 10 This he
remained hrm TN death.
Germany and Great Britain seemed 20
him the two powers OF the future called
upon 70 defend the freedom OF Europe
He had. however. 10 experience the OF
repeated refusal Of the English nation
10 ali advances from Germany.
In 1S2 Count BernstorI was appointed
70 the Neapolitan embassy. and in 1S54
he became minister plenipotentiary 20 the
Court Of ST. James. succeeding Chevalier
Won BUnsen. Among the first 20 greet
the new PrUssian minister were the
Queen and Prince Albert. who received
him with the greatest fr!endlness. HIS
first audience was a short one.
The Queen received my husband in
her travelling dress. as she was going TO
start on 4 Journey Immediately after the
audience" ne wrote. she was very
gracious. and quietly waited for him TO
get 20 the end OF his little speech before
among other expressions. OF the following.
I hope the moment has arrived for Prus-
Sia 10 join Us by which she means 20
say TO 5oin her She uttered these
words with a certain effort and when
she had done so she looked az Lord Car
endon with q smile Of satisfaction
Prince Albert. who had kept in the
background. then joined in the converse
ton without my husband having been
presented to him
Owing TO the Queens absence the