New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-31


wealth. by the cadets of the house, in
stead Of by its chief through primogen-
iture.
The KaiSer's scheme goes far 10 solve
this problem and get over this difficulty
by reserying to the crown in the heredi-
fairy honors now conferred the preroga-
tive Of selecting the heir to the dignity.
The Emperor in short, bestows the
bonors lad personam." Sometimes the
Fmperor does not continue the title at
all in any member Of the family. either
on account Of personal prejudice or be-
cause il is glaringly evident that there IS
no one or The family worthy to inherit
the honor
EXPERIENCE WITH BISMARCK.
1t seems that the Emperor first oh
tainod the idea Of conferTing titles lad
pcrsonam" 10y his experience with Prince
Bismarck. when the latter was forced to
retire from the office of Chancellor of the
German Empire. ON that occasion Will
lam bestowed upon the prince the title
of Duke OF Lauenburg, but not the
archv Now throughout the latter part
Of the reign Of the late Emperor Will
lam. Bismarck had endeavOred TO induce
him 10 secure the consent Of the other
soycrcigus Of the confederation of states
constituting the German Empire 10 the
restoration Of the old Duchy of Lauen
burg 90 its onetime status OF a petty
sovereignty and either to vest the latter
IN himsclf-that is. in Prince Bismarck
or else 70 make II the occasion Of raising
him and his family to the condition of
one OF the mediatized or formerly petty
Fe,Gring houses of Germany. which fig
ire i'm Part II Of the "Almanach de
Gotho' and which have the right of
marrying on q footing Of equality into
the royal dysasties Of Europe.
Bismarck took the ground that the old
Kaiser and the other German sovereigns
might we'll agree TO this, by way OF re-
ward for his great services 10 them all in
the Organization Of the German Empire.
Tho old Emperor, however. was very
mIcl Of a conservative, and while he
PRICED Bismarck as valuable and
trusted servant. did not at all relish the
idea Of putting him on a footing of semi
equality 10y investing him with sovereign
q mediatized dignity. He was likewise
vel aware that Bavaria and several
other Of the score of states comprised in
the empire would offer strenuous OBJ
jections 10 the proposal. Moreover, IT is
known that he did not care very much
for Herbert Bismarck. The consequence
was that he turned a persistently deaf
ear 10 the ChancellOr's appeals with re-
gard to the Duchy of Lauenburg, thus
Disappointing the great ambition Of Bis
marck's later life.
When The present Kaiser bestowed
upon Bismarck at the time of HIS dis
missal the empty title of Duke Of Lauen-
burg. as a mere nobiliary Prussian dig
nifty, without any sovereign or media
uzed prerOgativcs I'm connection there
with, the statesman saw in the gift in
suit added 10 injury. Bismarck, indeed.
received the honor with the most pub
hcly expressed contempt for it, and was
wont 10 remark that about the only use
he could make Of il was in travelling. as
an incognitO Moreover he absolutely
refused 10 pay the customary fees and
10 fulfil the other legal requirements of
Me Department Of Heraldry at Berlin
u connection with the dukedom. Owing
" this, tho Emperor decided that IT.
mould hs considered ~ having lapsed
WIN his demise. and IL was not con-
qnued In The person Of the late Prince
Herbert Bismarck nor IN the lsttcr's hoy,
me present chief Of the Bismarck family.
TITLES AID PERsoNAM.
IN nearly al Of the titles Of nobility
Which the Emperor has conferred since
Inc patent has borne The words either
40 persoram" or else right reserved to
ue crown of designating the successor"
mus, when he advanced the late Prince
conn Of Pless TO the rank of duke, some
dgnt or nine years ago, he particularly
Stipulated that the dukedOm should be
az pcrsouam. and although the duke
ued in 1907, the Kaiser has not seen fit
f" continue the title 10 his eldest son,
Nho, married TO the beautiful daughter
VI Colonel CORVALLIS West Of Rlthin
'astle (sister Of the Duchess Of West
Mihster), has had to remain content with
Vie rank OF prince
IN The first year Of the present century
Emperor conferred upon Count
1eofse Munster. his ambassador at
sfis, and his chief representative At
=" htst peace congress at The Hague
e ute Of prince, the patent OF the
Nehlty containing the then altogether
UNUSUAL intimatiOn that the crown re-
rived 10 itself the right of designating
W. successor The reason for this was
wal The eldest son Of the old statesman.
NVOnl Ernest Munster was snend-