The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-10-04
tOfficial. city. state and County Newspaper
SLrescmann

D.. Gustas strescllaan vas tatcd 70 die az a time when
his statocrait vas the surest guarantee OF Gernauy.s con-
tinued stability. Germany has had but two cnaace.lors
since the days OF 1870 who were constructive statesmen
ana worthy Of being noted. Bismarck rode into power
OIL the high tide OF iayoring fortune. Stresenann, who
was the ether commanding figure Of Wihclmstrasse and
revealed something OF the same gifts tina, made Bismarck
q dominant world figure, had to work with chaos to re-
store what his illustrious predecessor had created out OF
materials waiting shaped and ready al hand. IN doprcs-
sion and in storm Stresenann also wrought a miracle as
we'll as Bismarck. but he wrought it tortuously out OF
prostration and with infinite patience guided It out Of the
dark days into the light Of success. Guidance such as his
still is needed by the German republic, SO his death is a
stroke Of evil fate to his country and a gap in the CO.
operation CT Europes craftsmanship that was bringing
that war smitten continent to a sense OF its interdcpend-
ence and to some basis OF stabilized recovery.
1t was the province of Bismarck to play a great role in
the period and events that led UP to the Franco-Prussian
war and to hold that role through that brief conflict and
through and following the unification Of Germany into
the reich under the grandfather and father Of Kaiser
Wilhelm.
Bismarck had a monopoly upon German craftsmanship
in all the events OF the creation of the German empire
and its transmission TO the wrocking crew which succeed
ed his administrator in Wilhclnstrassc in later years.
His role was essentially that of creator and prcserver, and
II he now I'D then INDUCED IN weighty cultural conflicts
these we're the clashes OF a politician and they never took
the form Of a peril to the federation Of the German
states.
Thus Bismarck became a towering figure III European
craftsmanship and its international politics. a man al
ways consulted in the councils OF the powers. In this
realm he played the game Of German unity just as he did
i'll the domestic politics OF the reich.
The history OF Germany after the Iron Chancellor was
dropped became the ~yainglory of the restless upstart
scion of the old Wilhelm whose empire Bismarck had
consolidated. Wilhelm the Second, from that time on
until his flight into Holland with the collapse OF the
German cause in the World war, filled tie spotlight of
German existence. He chose chancellors who for the
most part we're. amiable old sec5nd-ratcrs, colorless
.uncles' and "papas' not calculated to cast their shadow
across that Of the All-Highest. Count Won Buelow came
nearest to the stature Of an international statesman, but
Wilhelm promptly dispensed with this ambitious and
clever fellow and SO, eventually. Germany came to the
chancellorship Of that rather inconscQuentia! jun.:cr. DR..
von Bethnlann- Holweg.
The history of these fieuretead chancollors, Of Won
Caprivi and Hohenlohe and their kind. might be con-
signed to the ash can without desogation to the political
prestige Of the German empire in the old days OF Elropes
balance Of power. Only what Bismarck accomplished
by his iron fist and Wha. Strcscnlann salvaged by hard
headed sagacity counts in the record of modern Ger
many's political achievements. These men were empire
builders.
Monuments to the statecraft Of this greatest postwar
statesman Of Germany are to be found il the general pol
icy of reconciliation with the reich.s enemies, which he
SO successfully established that it brought about the Lo-
carno security pact to d!sabuse the suspicious OF France
and made Germany a member OF the League Of Nations.
Ee also inspired confidence in - France by the renun-
CATION of Asace and Lorraine, helped in the adoption of
TIE Dawes plan and was the neediul hand to guide the
situation created by the Young plan. Gisp!acing the
Ca.c5 scheme as an adjustment Of the German repair
atlens.
S-rese;nann YVES a man of vision, a sort Of German
Eriaad. and had he Lived he mus. have contributed mas
tc-fully to tie .noldirg OF the new Europe which dreams
50 near to unity that i. sometimes THINKS there can be
established a United Stases Of its own. DR. S.rcsemaan
l,-ncd as one Of the builders Of a Europe lis.ea cut CT
tie despair CT var ard eager to establish the Europe OF
l2-tirg psace. Pcr.lap5 he has If. thct aspiration as a
he-it1se Which his country and his International assoc
cites OF the o.lc: powers OF Europ. may crap and con-
yer. into a tangible dream. another posshu-.ous monu-
men. to his pace in the sun.