The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-23

atoms were brought to fulfillment by
Germany alone-and that at a moment
when the general European political
situation was less strained than in
1877-1878. In this case, nobody ex
cept Prince Bismarck could have
played the tremendous game to a sue
cessful end. And therein lies the weak
ness in the superiority of great men.
Had he also informed England of his
offer to the Gear? England must have
been opposed to it, as in 1873.
In any event, the Prince now adopt
ed the policy which l had already noted
when / realized the disillusion of the
Russians at having stood before the
gates of Constantantinople without be-
ing allowed to enter
Prophecy Of Russian Downfall.
At Brest-Litovsk, in the course of
the constant military preparations of
all kinds, / could easily Sc that the
conduct of the Russian officers toward
me was essentially cooler and haugh-
tier than on the occasion of my first
visit to ST. Petersburg. Only the small
group of old generals, especially those
at the Russian Court, who dated from
the days of Alexander H., and who
knew and esteemed Emperor William
the Great, still showed their reverence
for him and their friendly feeling to-
ward Germany. In the course of a
talk with one of them concerning the
relations between the two courts,
armies and countries, which l had
found undergoing change in compar-
ison with former times, the old gener-
! al said: "C'est &c villain congress de
Berlin. Une grave faute du Chaucelier.
/ II detruit Pancienns amitie
entire nous, plante la mefiance dams
les occurs de la Cour ct du gouverne-
ment, ct fourni lie sentiment dun grave
tort fat Parmee russ apres sa cam
payne sanglante de 1877, pour lequel
ellie cout sa revanche. Eft nous VOLTA
ensemble avec cette maudite Repub-
lique Franchise, pleins de haine contre
vous ct rempli didees subversives, qui
en- cas- de guerre avec vous, nous cou-
teront notre dynastic."%
sit is that COMPOUNDED Congress of
Berlin. A serious mistake on the part
Of the Chancellor; He has destroyed
| trust in the hearts of the Court and
| the Government, and engendered the
idea of a great injustice done the Rus
sian army after its bloody 1877 cam
/ paign, for which it wishes revenge. And
/ here we are by the side of that damned
French Republic, full of hate for you
and of subversive ideas, which, in case
of a war against you, will cost US our
| dynasty"
A prophetic foreshadowing of the
downfall of the reigning Russian dy
nasty!
From Brest l went to Strassburg
where my grandfather was attending
the imperial manoeuvres. In spite OF
the failure of my mission l found calm
judgments of the political situation
Ny grandfather was pleased at the
cordial greetings from the Car, which
in so far as the personal Relationship
of the two rulers was concerned, show
ed no change of heart. Also, to my
surprise, | received a letter from
Prince Bismarck wherein he expressed
gratitude and appreciation to me fol
my actions and my report. This mean
all the more since my statement:
could not have been agreeable to my
grandfather and the Chancellor. The
congress of Berlin had, especially il
Russian military circles, done ava!
with the remnants of the brotherhood
in arms still fostered among us anc
had engendered a hatred against ev
erything Prussian and German, stirred
up by association with French officers
which was increased by the French
until it developed into the desire o
vegeance by means of arms. That wa
the soil in which, later, the World wa
ambitions of our foes found nourish
ment. "Revanche pour Sedan" com
; bined with "Revanche pour San Ste
fano" The words of the old genera
at Brest have remained unforgettabl.
engraved upon my memory; they II
: duced me TO bring about my man
: meetings with Alexander III, and Mich
olas IL, at which my grandfather
: wish, impressed upon me on his death
bed, that l watch over our relation
: with Russia, has always been my guic
: ing motive.
: Relief at ChanceIIor's Dismissal.
In 1890, at the Narva manoeuvres,
= was obliged to describe infinitely to tn
i Car the retirement of Prince Bi,
I marck The Car listened very after
! lively. When l had finished, the usua
Z ly very cool and reserved sovereign
= who seldom spoke about politics, spoI
= taneously seized my hand, thanked N
! for this token of my confidence, +,
= GREETED that l had been brought int
! such a situation and added, in exactl
L these words: "Je comprends parfait
: ment Ia ligne d'action; lie Prince ave