Year: 1878

The EA-fREsIpENT INTERVIEW WITH PRINCE


BISMARCK.


The New York Herald of Saturday prints a
long letter from Berlin, giving an account of
Gen. Grant S interview with Prince Bismarck,
from which We take the following extract:


The Prince said that another reason why he
was sorry the Congress was in session was
that he could not take General Grant around
and show him Berlin. He said also that the
Emperor himself was disappointed in not
being able to see the General


His Majesty" said the Prince, has been
expecting you, and has the greatest interest in
your character and history and in your visit to
Germany. He commands me to say that
nothing but his doctors orders that he shall
see no one prevents his seeing you"


The General said, d" / am sorry that cannot
have that honor. but am far more sorry for
the cause and hope the Emperor is recovering"


All the indications are of the best" an
Swered the Prince, "for the Emperor has a
fine constitution and great courage and en-
durance, but you know he is very old man"
lhat, SAID the General, adds to the
horror one feels for the crime


I'd is so strange, So strange and so sad an
SWefed the prince, with marked feeling
Here is an old man-one of the kindeSt Oh
gentlemen in the World-and yet they must try
and shoot him. There never was a more sim
pie, more genuine, more-What shall say
more humane character than the Emperors
he is totally unlike men born in his station, or
many OF them at least. You know that men
who come into the world IN his rank born
princes, are apt TO think themselves of another
race and another world. They are apt TO take





others All their education tends to deIden
the human side. But this Emperor is so much
OF man in all things He never did any one
wrong in his life. He never wounded any
one SleenngS: never imposed hardship He
is the most genial and winning of men-think-
ing always, anxious always for the comfort
ana welfare of his people-Of those around
him. You cannot conceive a finer type of the
noble, courteous, charitable old gentleman,
with every high quality of a prince, us well as
every virtue OF a man. l should have sup
posed that the Emperor could have walked
alone all over the empire without harm, and
Yet they must try and shoot him."


Inc General said that it was horrible
tnlng, and referred TO LincOln-a man of the
SasSin.


I'm some respects" said the Prince con
tlnuing as if i'm half a revery, and as if speak
ing of subject upon which he had Oeen
thinking great deal. - In some respects the
Emperor resembles his ancestor, Frederick
William, the father Of Frederick the Great.
l he difference between the two is that the Old
king would be severe and harsh at times TO
those around him, while the Emperor is never
harsh to any one. But the old king had SO
much simplicity of character, lived an austere
home-l0Ving, domestic life; had all the repub-
llcan qualities. SO with this king: he is so
republican in all things that even the most eX-
ueme republican, if he did his character JUS
tCe would admire him.


which aimed at the EmperOrS life was an in
fuence that would destroy all government, all
order, all society, republics and empires.


In America" he said, some of cur peO-
pie are, as see from the papers, anxious
about it. There is only one way to deal with
1t, and that is by the SeVereSl methods |
don't see why man who commits a crime
like this, crime that not only aims at an old
mans life, rulers life, but shocks the world.
should not meet with the SevereSt punishment
In fact" continued the General, although at
home there is strong sentiment against the
death penalty, and IL Is sentiment which one
naturally respects, am not sure but il should
be made more severe rather than less severe
something Is due to the offended as well as the
offender, especially where the offender is
slain"


That" said the Prince, lis entirely my
view. My convictions are SO strong that |
resigned the government of AlSace because |
was required 10 commute sentences of capital
science. You see, this kind old gentleman,
that Emperor whom these very people have
tried to xiii, is 50 gentle that be will never
confirm death sentence. Can you think of
anything SO strange that sovereign whose
tenderness of heart has practically abolished
the death punishment should be the victim OF
assassination, or attempted assassination?
That is the fact. Well, have never agreed
with the Emperor on this point, and in AL
SAGE, when L found that as chancellor had TO
approve al communications of the death sen
OF the minister of justice. In AlSace it de-
volved upon me. / felt, as the French say.
that something was due to justice, and if
crimes like these are rampant they must be
severely punished


''All you can do with such people," said the
General quietly, lis to kill them


Precisely So" answered the Prince.