The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-20
WHO WAS BISMARCK?

He blandly admitted that what he
was doing was unconstitutional" but
that was Of little concern. "Neces-
sity" demanded 1t. Which reminds
us Of certain brazen acts upon the
part of Germany during the present
war. The kaiser is certainly an apt
pupil of the blood and iron" doc
trine. The whole nation was now
tremendously aroused, and Bismarck
was a mighty unpopular man; but he
didn't care what the people thought
of him. he had the power and was
determined to use 1t. The press
criticized him mercilessly. SO he
promptly muzzled 1t. He was con-
temptuous and tyrannical, and pro-
ceeded to prepare for . war of con-
quest, in the face Of the peoples de-
mand for peace. justice and democ-
racy. Said Bismarck, Nothing can
solve the question but blood and
iron"
AS Frederick had stolen Silesia, so
Bismarck now deliberately stole the
Danish province Of Schleswig- Hol-
stein, with the aid of Austria whom
Bismarck had cultivated and per-
suaded to enter into the alliance.
Afterward Austria and Prussia quar-
relied over the division Of the spoil,
which was an event anticipated and
hoped for by the scheming Bismarck
who had designs upon Austria and
had planned to inveigle her into war.
beat her soundly. and reduce her to
a second-rate. power. Pretending
friendship for Austria, Bismarck was
secretly her enemy. He had but one
thing in mind, and that was the
aggrandizment Of Prussia. He was
an Empire builder"
War with Austria soon followed.
Bismarck was ready for it and he
had arranged all the details. Aus
trials defeat in 1867 was accomplish
ed per schedule. aided by the mill.
tary tactics of Won Moltke. This
war destroyed forever the prestige of
Austria. and enhanced the power Of
Prussia and added large territory
to the country. and increased her
population by four and a half mil
lions of people. Prussia was thus
lifted into the class Of the great
military states of the world.
At last Bismarck was popular
man among his people. His schem-
ing had led to big military victories
and the acquisition of vast terri
SOA L uSSlct llOW appreciated lCl
heretofore despised statesman. He
was a thief like Frederick, a tyrant
and autocrat like Metternich, but he
was building an empire, which was
sufficient justification of his bastard
ly policies. Efficiency is still the
popular thing in Germany, and the
means are always made subservient
to the end. Autocracy never has had.
and never can have, one grain of
honor, ethics or justice. 1t means
tyranny and piracy.
Bismarck, the popular dictator,
now grew little concilatory, and
broadened out somewhat. He granted
the people constitution, though not
as liberal as that of England. All
real power was still conferred in the
crown; even education was in the
control of the king, and the univer-
stiles were closely watched.
The Franco-Prussian war was the
next big show staged dramatically by
Bismarck and the weak Napoleon.
Both were anxious for the combat
Superior military preparation and
tactics won the day for Prussia. and
Alsace and Lorraine were added to
German territory. Then occurred the
proclamation OF King William of
Prussia as emperor or Germany at
Versailles. Bismarck had attained
his life ambition-he had built an
empire.
Surely one cannot read the story
of the life achievements Of Bismarck
without marveling at his acumen, his
force of will, his genius. But never
theless, one feels that his methods
were despicable and belong to an
other day. From the viewpoint Of
autocracy, Bismarck was a hero; but
from the viewpoint OF democracy
and the modern conscience he was
ruthless tyrant and the prosecutor Of
a blood and iron" policy that must
be overcome and destroyed forever,
if progress is to come in the future.
This is the issue Of the present war
the autocracy Of Bismarck or the
democracy Of Lincoln-which?