Year: 1874

yOnd the gossip more or less exact always in circu-
lation about heirs apparent but he popularity
believed to embody the spirit of reaction. Frederic
William Nv. was also reactionst. But he wasa
weak man, whereas his brother was known to have
resolution as strong as his monarchica prejudces.
Fortunately the foolish student missed his man.
and the King was preserved for history.


With the particulars of the first attempt on Bis
marck's life everybody is, / suppose. familiar. On
the receipt of the news from Kissngen last Monday
evening involuntarily strolled along Unter den
Linden, where in front of the Cutus Ministry, the
unlucky son-in-law of Carl Blind flashed his inac-
curate shot at the head of Bismarck. The Prince
had given oiensc TO the friends of free institutions
and parliamentary government. There are various
ways of yindicatng parliamentary government; (;
and In spite Of the fact that the Prince just back
from victorious Sadowa, this foolish youth chose the
method of assassination. The target stood hrm AS
the ball whistled by. Bismarck coolly swang his arm
around, grasped the boy by the collar, and quietly
gave him up to the next policeman. This occurred
nearly in front of the Cutus Ministry. The wife of
the Minister, Frau Won Mihler, the affair from
the window of the official residence; and, being a
rather demonstratve person, she rushed down. threw
her arms around Bsmarck's neck, and kissed him.


The Germania the Catholic daily here, had very
worthy article on the affair at Kissngen. 1t would





else. bnt the Germania is remarkably violent and
bloodthirsty sheet, and there some curiosity to
see how it would treat the matter. 1t is worth OBJ
serving, by the way, that the Catholic press in gen.
era is not noted for the Christian meekness of its
tone. 1t fights the battle of the SOUL of course, but
it fights with very carna weapons. Well. in regard
to the attempted assassination, the Catholic press,
and for that matter the Catholic pulpit compro-
missed not only bv general recklessness of language
but also by a series of vague but sufficiently direct
hints about the tenure Of Prince Bismarcks life
The Liberal press reproduced some of them yestcr-
day. They are chiefly arguments to prove that the
present movement against utTamOntanisn de-
pends entirely Bismarck, coupled with
pous observations about the mortality of man. One
bishop, believe went so far as to say that 1T was
possible that the Chancellor be snatched way sud
denly at any time. But this was properly taken at
the time as impotent bluster. Catholic fanaticism
has certainly created some rcgcides, and it seems
now to be producing ascandalous violence OF po-
lemic; but all Catholics in Germany are by no
means fanatics or assas3ins The Germania does not
conceal nor try to diminish the significance Of the
fact that the assassin is Catholic, and that reg
ious fanatcism probably drove him to the attempt
At one time wild rumors were circulated here about
the probable extent of the plot or conspiracy.


Berlin took the news quietly. Owing 10 the fail
of the evening papers to publish it, those worthy
burghers who remained at home during the evening
slept soundy all night without knowing how thin a
line separated them from serious political crisis.
But the Norddeatsche AUegemene Zetung printed the
first dispatch slips, so that the news was hawked
about the streets during the evening Lltte groups
of men gathered here and there, but there was
strange absence of excitement AT some sqHares, as
for instance D0rhofsplatz, there was cheering, and
in some Of the beer-hOuses and theaters the tele-
grams were publicly read amid general enthusiasm
but saw nothing like the agitation of great city
But then the court is away, and the weather Is hot.