Year: 1874




HoURs-REIATIONs BETWEEN THE EMPEROR AND


PRINCE BIsMARCK-A CONSERVATIVE GOVERN


MENT IMPOSSIBLE


fFROM rHE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIDUNEI


BERLIN, Nov. 12-Somo weeks ago people discussed
the possibility of Count Harry Won Arnims becoming
Chancellor of the German Empire The legality OF
his arrest was doubted from its suddenncss. The
sanity of Prince Bismarck was also questioned. The
Liberals shook their heads anxousy and the Con-
seryatiyes were secretly exultant behind their in
dignation The Empress and the Camarilla wero
active partisans Of the Embassador; the Crown
Prince was flippantly placed in tho same category
At that crisis all seemed to de2end on the Emperor
and il was amazing to 500 the number OF plcbeians
who were keepers of his conscience 1t was gener-
ally assumed that he would support bismarck
through and through. so long as he gave any sup
port at all but that when his confidence once be-
gan to waver the Princes fall would be rapid. The
question then arose: Is the Emperor heartily with
his minister in the movement against Count Won
Arnimf For number Of days the answer hung In
suspense and during this period 1t was felt that
trIle might revolutionizs the administration OF tho
Empire 1t was then that people discussed the pos
sibility of new Chancellor in the person of Count
Won Arnim. But there was second question:
natural issue from the first, which people did not
discuss-the possibility Of his remaining Chancellor
even if once appointed.


In nv Judgment, Count Won Arnim could not hold
the Office twentyfour hours. This opinion has moth
ing to do with his personal abilities, which put
entirely out Of the question. No ono Will pretend.
indeed that he has shown uninterrupted good ]udg-
ment throughout his career, and believe the
Foreign Onico charges him with many minor faults
in business management but he is, perhaps, as well
qualified by intellect and experience as any other
German statesman to succeed Prince Bismarck. The
obstacles to his refer rather to his political
views and his relations to existing political parties
What these arc is no secret. In referring to the
views of the Count, so far as is necessary for my
purpose shall guard against calling him friend of
Ultramontanism. His own published memoranda
rcfute such charge. Bat his opposition TO Rome is
different in intensity and still more in character
from that of Prince Bismarck and the Liberals of
GERMANY Count Won Arnim abhors Roman Catho-
lie doctrine in the spirit of Prussan Protestant
Prince Bismarck abhors the Roman Catholic Church
in the spirit of freethinking. German politician
Count Won Arnim would tolerate the Church In the
interests of the throne and nobility II she did not
teach too much falso doctrine. Prince Bismarck
cares nothing about her dogmas and decrees but
great deal about her power as social and politlca
factor in Germany. And tho lack OF harmony be-
tween the two at Rome arose just out Of this initial
difference in political methods. Count Won Arnim
wished the State to interfere in tho Council in order
to save the Church from theological calamity
while Bismarck wished the dogma 20 bo rejected in
the interest of the State and society. From that
time on, the gulf between the two wdened day by
day. Count Won Arnlm went to Paris, where he was


attered bv the Catholics and he saw or fancied he
saw that an original movement against Ultramon-


~
to all Christian authority IN the State. 1t is
easy to sec what changes of opinion such occur
rences would induce. About this timo the
celebrated memoranda appeared in the press and
there is no reflection Count Won Arnim in
saving that those papers if they earnestly expressed
bis views showed profound hostility to the clerical
policy of Bismarck. and proposed very different
policy.


It's not within my province to say anything
about the merits of Count Won Arnim's rival
policy But it is not the feeling Of the Liberal ma
jority either in Prussia or throughout the whole
Empire. This fact alone would render the authority
and tenure of such man very uncertain. Hostility
to Rome, and not mere doctrinal hostility, but
positive aggressive measures and substantial
fidelity to the policy now pursued will be demanded
of any person who aspres to fill the place OF Prince
Bismarck. No foreign observer can Afford to mis-
understand the earnestness of German Liberals in
this matter 1t is not Bismarck who speaks through
the Falk legislation. 1t is not DR.. D0liinger, as
Archbishop Manning pretends. 1t is rather COM
prehensive public sentiment stretching between the
WIDEST extremes of German society and binding
together men whom all other ties Of station and
opinion do not touch. This league does not include
the MOBILES or the soldiers the clergy. But Ii does
include the body of the scholars and thinkers the
professional men of all classes, the juristS. the
physicians tho teachers and tho great middle class,
which is daily growing in bOldneSs and importance.
These men send up the majOrities to Parliament and
one of the objects for which that majority Is sent is
to reduce the Roman Catholic Church TO loyalty and
obedience. This majority does not care so much for
all the petty details of the business as for tho
rance that the general Of operation will be
faithfully maintained This assurance they have in
the person of Prince Bismarck. Because they have
it, and because the Church question il of such i'm
portance. the Liberals swallow many bitter doses of
legislation in order to save Bismarck from the
geance of the Count. But what success would prob
ably DO enjoyed by q statesman who should offer
policy of pure reaction without the palliative of
sound ecclesiastical pOlicyf


The more the situation OF parties in the Reichstag
is considered the less is the prospect of working
jory for Count Won Arnim any other Conservative
politician. mean, of course, majority patched up
among the various factions since any other is quite
out of the question. Would he begin with the score
or more of respectable old gentlemen who, in con-
stitutonal parliam ent, represent the pre-consti-
tutlonal agef The Arnms were never accepted
by the Junkers Would he pay court to the Moder-
ate Conservatives, the Deutsche Rechspareii Their
adhesion would depend good deal on the apparent
warmth of the Emperor's support, and the probable
duration of his own power. Would he throw him
self into the arms of the Center and make the rct
cent Windthorst and tho vivacious Rcichensperger
his friendsf lie is no Ultramontane, and has writ
ten memoranda in heretical spirit. The National
Liberals would of course demand o vigorous anti