Estimates of Bismarck.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3030, 24 January 1899, Page 7

Estimates of Bismarck.

The v 'rfOir&BTEBiiY Bbtieweb ' as ■■..■:,-. .><>.• -v .-•■ Apologist. Tne article on Biamarok .in . the. ' Quarterly ' is written by one who claims to have ' closely 'followed wth ever-increasing' iiltsereatiand Bympathy < the progress of (Germany for the lest thirty-eight years.' *He has had .the privilege of a and intimate acquaintance with most of her leading statesmen, men of letters, and trusted national -guides.' iHe 'has a lofty opinion of the deceased stateEman. He < declares that Dr Buech 'was quite unable to understand his hero/ and that his book is 'a perfect specimen of bad taste.* The writer compares Bismarck with [Napoleon, Frederic the Great, and Richelieu :— Bismarck was a true patriot, and he belongs in this respect to the same category of men as Chatham, Pitt, and Freiherr von Stein. He admired Lord Sfcrafford, but he was very like Cromwell. His religious views especially had a strong family likeness to thoße of the Protector. Bismarck is farther declared to be 'of an extremely sensitive disposition,' somewhat exclusive in his affections, but ( a true friend ' — ' a man of the fiueßt delicacy and perception.' WHO CAUSED THE FEANCO-GEEMAN "VTAE ? The reviewer is at pains to vindicate Bismarck fiom the charge of concocting or tampering with the telegram from Ems which had so famous a place in the outlreak of the Franco-Prussian War. The actual telegram which the Prussian King sent by Abeken from Ems to Bismarck and the telegram which Bismarck communicated to the press are printed in parallel columns. The comparison completely establishes Bismarck's veracity. He condensed but without twist or disingenuousness of any kiod the King's message. What produced the startling effect was the severe brevity of the statement, and, most of all, its publication. Bat the question of publication was expressly referred by the King in his telegram to the discretion of Bismarck. The reviewer maintains that ' the real responsibility for the war of 1870 rests with the French.' For four years tbeir authorised organs had been calling for it. Yet he does not deny ' Bismarck's conduct in forcing on war.' He says : — The moment was favorable for his countiy. Delay was highly dangerous. We know on the unimpeachable testimony of General Lebrun that an elaboiate plan for tbe combined invasion of Germany by Austria, Italy, and France had been carefully prepared. The treaties of alliance between these three powers were drawn up, and were ready for signature. Bismarck, in taking up with eagerness the gage of battle when he did, saved his country from this coalition. The charge made against him of falsifying official documents is untrue. HIS ' DEAL ' WITH THE BAVARIAN" KXKG. The way in which Bismarck 1 squared ' the King of Bavaria in 1871 is also defended by the reviewer. The King of Saxony and the Grand Duke of Baden had tried and failed to persuade the Bavarian monarch to propose that the Prussian King become German Emperor. To the surprise of everybody Bismarck succeeded : — King Louis wrote a letter, which was in reality drawn up by Bismarck, expressing his desire that King William of Prussia should assume the Imperial dignity. The King of Bavaria was arranged with for a sum of money, not very large, which was paid annually till his death. This money came from the sequestrated property of the King of Hanover. Only one or two persons knew of this annuity till it was discovered by Count Caprivi: Veiy few know about it now, and the true story in connection with it has not been published. Some will be shocked at the transaction. It appears to us that Bismarck, in inducing King Louis to act as he did, when the German Empire was about to be established, rendered service to the House of Wittelsbacb, and placed the foundations of the new Empire on the solid rock of tradition and respect instead of the candy basis of fleeting popular enthusiasm supported by military force. WHO WAS TO BLAME FOB THE FALK LAWS ? Of his Kultur.Kampf, the reviewer observes :— In criticising the ecclesiastical policy of the early days of the Empire it is only fair to add that Bismarck constantly contended he was not mainly responsible for it. The writer of this article is able in some degree to confirm this statement. The great Chancellor cannot, however, escape the censure of history for having contributed by illjudged repression to strengthen for a time the forces of obscurantism. THE HISTOBIAH" MOTLEY. In letters of Motley to and about B.wmarck, which Are aow published foe

ttiher^rsttime by Mr J. P. Grand in the * "North American Eeview,' some interesting passages -occur. Here ib obeina letter of Motley to his wife, written from Yarzin in 1872 :— Bismarck said he used when younger to think himself a clever fellow enough, but now he was convinced that nobody badl ' any// ootttifd^ J dve : r events — that nobody was really powerful or great, and it made him laugh when he heard himielf vcomplimented as wise, foreseeing, and exercising; great influence over the p A man in the situation in which he had been placed was foblijge.d, <$phen outsiders, for .example, were speculating; whether tomorrow it would be rain or sunshine, to decide promptly it will rain or it will be fair, and to act accordingly" with all the forces at his command. If he guessed right all the world said, ' What sagacity ; what foresight !' If wrong, ' all the old women would have beaten me with broomsticks.' 'If I have learned nothing else,' added the Prince, ' I have learned modesty.' In a letter to his daughter in 1866, Motley said of Bismarck : — Probably no man living knows him more intimately than I do. He, too, believes in his work as thoroughly as Mohammed or Charlemagne, or those types of tyranny, our Puritan forefathers, ever believed in theirs. He represents what ia the real interest of the whole Prussian People, from King William to the most pacific ' Spiessbuerger,' of Potsdam. They all want a great Prussia. They all want to Prussificiae Germany. Only they want to do it pacifically. God *aye the mark ! As if ie were possible to make an omelette without breakiug eggs ! Jn a letter to Lady William Russell a story is told of Bismarck's ' most undaunted courage ' : — Wben the Prussians entered Pari>*, Bismarck saw that when the men iv the mob recognised him they scowled at him furiously. He at once rode up to the wickedest looking one, asked him civilly for a light for his cigar, thanked him, and received a polite bow in return.