Year: 1870

THE RETURN OF COUNT BISMARCK TO BERLIN


PRUssIAN FINANCEs-CoNsOLIDATION


lFROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT


BERLIN Dec. 9.-Chief among the important events
of the last ten days is the return Of Count Bismarck
TO Berlin. In the last few years have been obliged
Count Bismarck and almost without exception they
represent him as a warm friend of absolutism, and
an enemy of liberal principles. have no hesitation
in saying that have enjoyed most unusual opportu-
mites of forming correct estimate of his character
and the result has been very different opinion
of it than popularity prevails. As the chief
Minister of King William he is the representative
of absolutsm but he has for at least years per-
ceived that the interests of Prussia only be sub
served by a liberal development Of its institutions
and has attempted TO reconcile in his administration
those principles with the conservative doctrines
which he is obliged to represent. The right which
the King regards personal with himself of appoint


ing his ministers of state without the interference of
his chief minister has been the greatest obstacle that
Count Bismarck has encountered in carrying out his
design. think it in the Autumn of 1868 that he
made his first unsuccessful proposition to the King
of liberal recOngtrucion of the ministry; after
length of time he succeeded in having the former
Minister of Justice, who had rendered himself so
odious by his prosecutions for political oifenses
replaced by one moro in harmony with his views
The eXpediency of the step he took in the Summer of


this year after his request for changes in the ministry
had been denied by the King Of temporarily rcth ing
from the head of affairs. may be questioned one
result, however has been accomplished-he has sue
ceeded in obtaining Liberal Minister of Finances.
When he retired to Varzn the exact time for his
turn was not defnitivey fixed but it was calculated
that the whole machinery Of the Government would
get out Of order, and about the end of November he


l.


Baron Won der Heydt, shrewdy concluding from the
enanglement produced by bls financial projects that
the scheme was likely to be accomplished fOrestaed
il in measure by Tesignlng his position.
1t then became apparent that the two other min.
listers, who, il was hoped, might be obliged 10
resign, were more firmly seated in their
places than was imagined, and il is a question
whether IT is possible 10 procure their removal The
one OF them whose position is the less is the
Minister of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs


During the last seven days the Chamber of Deputies
has been working itself into very fretful state and
badgerng hIm TO an almost unlimited extent in con-
sidefng the appropriation .oT his Ministry; one
member went so far in debate 10 call very passion
ately for his removal. He has brought in bill re-


latIng to the educational system against which the
Liberals will direct their main attack; it subjects
| the schools so much to ecclesiastical influence
that there is no probability whatever of its
becoming law, but it is still a matter of
dOubt if Count Bismarck can so avail him
sell OF the hostility Of the Liberals to that
Minister and his measures as 10 be able to bring
about his withdrawal from the Ministry. Count
Bismarcks return was IN the mean time successiyey
fixed for the early part of December the middle Of
the month and then Christmas IL has at last been
brought about by direction of tho King requiring
him 10 repair to Bonn. where his eldest son was rep


resented as being dangerously i'll from the effects of
a cut across the face in astudehtsduel On arriving
III Berlin, the advices received from his son were 80
favorable that he concluded not 10 continue his Jour-
ney and the Countess Bismarck went on without
him. The young man is pronounced out of
danger, but the Minister remains here, aud all
the appliances for supervising the foreign
policy of the Government which were
at his command at Varzin, have been
removed TO Berlin IL is certain however that he
will not for time at least. his position
as Chief Of the Ministry. Cabinet meetings have
been held just If he had not been here has he
visited any OF his colleagues. step that he has
recently taken Is worthy Of notice Tho president
OF the Federal Chaucery, Herr Debrick, has at his
request been made Minister of State viii the right
Of sitting IN the meetings of the Prnsian Cabinet
when affairs affecting the Confederation are The sub
ieCt Of consideration. Herr DelbTiick is Count Bis
Inarcks principal man Of business IN the C0nledera-
ton and the effect OF this will not only be 10 bring
about greater harmony between Prussia and North