The Washington times., 1915-03-28
BISMARCK'S CENTENARY

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The appraisal of the great men of
the nineteenth century will perhaps
be a good deal revised in the light
Of some of the twentieth century de-
velopments; developments that are
right now in progress in the awful
spectacle that makes Europe a head.
quarters of barbarism. But no re-
appraisal will take away from Otto
Won Bismarck the recognition due to
one of the greatest personalities that
the last century produced.
The centennial anniversary of Bis.
marck's birth falls on Thursday,
April /, this year. 1t will be the
more an interesting occasion because
of the discussion, certain to be
evoked, as to the relationship of Bis
marck's career to Europe's tragedy
of today. He was an ardent reac-
zionist in his young manhood, and he
remained one to the finish, so far as
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He was the ideal apostle of divine
| right. He was the obvious precursor
of the philosophy of Bernhard and
all that school which make, the indi-
vidual a mere subordinate and Incl
dent to the state. But he was tre-
mendously able, forceful, dominAt.
ing. He had vision enough to make
the most of his opportunities; more
even than that, he had vision enough
to avoid mistakes that would have
been fatal. He knew how to toll
| Austria into war and crush her,
while keeping France from coming
to her rescue; and then, when he had
achieved the overthrow of the Haps-
burgs, he turned against the France
of the last Napoleon, and sent his
armies laundering to Paris, there to
proclaim the German empire on the
ruins Of the Napolconic dynasty.
Bismarck knew better than to Lp-
pose Germany to world in arms,
He was master of the strategy of
automatically dividing his enemies
and conquering them in detail. 1t is
inconceivable that he would have
made the awful mistake that Will
helm II has committed, of plunging
into vast war, imagining that Ger
many would have fhe support Of
countries that have proved utterly
without thought of supporting her
Bismarck indulged no vain imagin-
ings; his vision was never beclouded
by notions of partnership between
himself and destiny, between his ia
ton and providence. He played the
game to it's meaneSt detail, even
tricking Napoleon into the appear
ancc of forcing war upon Germany
when Germany in fact was exactly
ready for It and precisely determined
to have it.
The Kaiser of today could not
brook the authority of Bismarck, and
dismissed him. The misgivinga ere.
ated when that incident occurred
were proved not justified; Wilhelm
carried forward the great work of
empire building that Bismarck haa
begun, and for quarter of a CEN
tury he seemed determined, despite
much bluster and noise, to be man
of peace-and preparation. Then the
crash came; Wilhelm hurled Tho
thUnderbolt al the vc"j momen,
when he was being considered as a
candidate for the Nobel peace prize.
How much of Bismarck'S work
will remain when the present war is
over How far will Germany fol-
low his divine rights doctrine after
it sees to what thai doctrine can
lead? How long, indeed, will the in
stitution Of kingship survive after
the Continent gets I chance to sur
Vey the scene of ruin and suffering
that just now it is ST cnthu5aStic-
ally devising? And when the new
diSpenSation comes, the new era, the
new institutions, what will be the
estimate then to he placed upon the
work of Bismarck? Il is Il query to
which the answer will De written in
good many different volumes, in
the coming generation.