"BISMARCK, THE DETHRONED CHANCELLOR."

North Otago Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 776, 19 July 1890, Page 3

"BISMARCK, THE DETHRONED CHANCELLOR."

This was fcho subject of a leoturo dolive'red by the Roy. W, G. Parsonson in Wesley Church on Thursday nighb. There was n good attendance, and Mr John Church occupied the chair. After the singing of a hymn by the choir, tho Rev. Mr Soth-Smith offered prayer, and the choir sting "Tho Watch on tho Rhine." The ohairman in his opening romarks expressed his plensuro at being prosanfc, and congratulated tho audience on their being able to have a lecture- by Mr Parsonson on a subject from which a groat deal of valuablo information might bo derived. Mr Parsonson said tho reason why ho had chosen '* Bianvwck, the dethroned Chancellor " as tho subject of his lecture was that Bismarck had boon a groat tiguro in European politics, and that from a word-portrait of the Chancellor— -one ot the great men of their century — much good might might be obtained. No man other than Bismarck had left a deoper mark upon Europe : but tho lecturer would not touch upon, save as little as possible, tho politics of tho time. Diplomacy had been defined as being " able to tell a lie without flinching ;" f>o that diplomacy and politics wore not subjects with which they need euro to havo much to do. Speaking of tho ancestry of his uubject, ho said Bismarck's forefathers were noted for their yeomanry and warlike pursuits, and Bismarck took very much after them. Otto Edward Leopold Schoehause Yon Bismarck was born in Saxony on tho Ist of April, 1815. At six Qtto was sent tp Berlin to begin his school lifo. ■ Ryo broad, coarse but wholesome, meat aa clastic and tough as gutta percha, and cold tubs was his faro at school, and plenty of cano and gymnastic exorcises to keep him warm in the winter. He was lazy at college, but clever at liquor drinking. Ho had drunk enough to float a man-of-war, and could drink aj pint of wina without taking a breath. * Ho* was a prodigious enter and an invotorato smoker, lie stood Cft 2in, and weighed 20 stono. He passed iv law by the skin of his teoth, and began lifo as i\ law roportor. His chief characteristics wore his fear of no man and tho consciousness of his own importance. Anecdotes of his portinacity and consummate coolness at this stage of his lifo wore aptly told. After eight yoars spent as a law reporter, ho retired to Ponierania, whore was his father's home, and ho spent several years in recklessness, which earned him tho title of " Mad iijsmarck." During tins time, however, ho read a great deal, and laid tho foundation of that knowledge of European countries which has in later times astonished tho most learned in European history. Bismarck was married on tho 38th July, 1847. Ho entered the "People's Parliament" a short time before, but although a democrat to start with he soon turned to tho Conservative side, and his first speech there was in favor of absolu'o monarchy. Ilia 'maiden upcech on that subjoct was hissed till he he had to leavo the Aasembly. Tho People's Parliament was dissolved ; and stormy months were in store for Gormany. Tho people clamored for representation, and Frederick William cajoled th,em ono day and bullied them tho next. Tho Constitution drawn up Bismarck hated, and ho refused to take a seat in tho Diet, because the deputies woro in a sense elective As a speaker Bismarck was no orator. He had an imposing appearance, and was courageous and plain. His watchword from tho iirst was " Loyalty to his King," and it was no matter for surpriso that this loyal deputy was appointed in 1851 the Emperor's Ambassador to tho Diet of which the j Austrian Deputy was tho first president. Bismarck and tho Austrian President had frecpuontly wordy wars. In tho Diet ho had to presorve tho honor of Prussia against tho encroachments of Austria ; aud during tho eight years ho was the Emporor'a Ambassador Prussia's position was vastly improved. In 1859 Bismarck wa« »ent to Russia for throo years ; in Juno, J BO2, he waa sent to Parin, and he y/asback again in Borlin tho following September. Tho reason of hifc speedy

ro-call \Vas that tho now Emperor William found hie Diet very much opposed to the mililury voto, and tho Kmporor guessed Bismarck was tho man to control tho liouso. Ho took his soat m War Minister — ft most difficult position. Tho King and Bismarck dosirod to unito tho 36 small Gorman states, and clip tho wings of tho Austrian onglo. For four yours ho rulod tho Diot without a budget. TJio manner in which Bismarck invoighod Austria into quarrelling with Denmark over Schleswig-'llolstoin, how ho hoodwinked tlio French Emperor, playod off .Russia, and ultimately overthrow A nutria, establishing tho greab work of tho unification of the German Statos, wero nil admirably treated by tho lecturer. At tho end of tho sovou weeks' war with Austria, which terminated with Sadowii, Bismarck was awarded LGG.OOO, created a Count, and decorated by tho Emporor ; while from tho bost-hatod man in Gormany Bismarck became tho most admired for nil his nstuto and patriotic dealings. Then ciuno tho Franco-Gorman war in 1870, and many of its thrilling ineidentn wero splendidly told. At tho conclusion of tho war Bismarck was raised to the rank of Princo, and received nn estate at Hamburg valued at L 150,000. Tho great work of "Bismarck's life wits tho uniting of tho Goiman states into a powerful nation — poworful ©noutth fo have tho respect of friends and foes alike. Germany wast raised to tho front of European nations by a man who allowed himself at all times oqual to tho greatest of occasions, Bismarck has but a small measure of compassion, and was always dorormiuod and peremptory when dealing with hisenomies. Tho lecturer showed how, during later years, Binmarck had not got all his own way, andthat tho great rock on which ho split wasSocialimn. The young Emporor, who showed himself afriondand wellwisher j of the working pooplo, was willing to meet his people's wishes openly and frnnkly, but Bismarck's policy was repressive of the rights of tho pooplo. Tho two poli cies jarred, tho Chancellor and the Emperor split, and it was not to bo surprised at that Bismavok resigned. Though dothroued to-day ho would still bo enthroned for all time in tho history of Gonmwy as tho Groat Chancollor and aa the freer, unitor, and up-buildor of tho Fatherland. A hearty vote of thanks to tho lecturer for his interesting and instructive lecture was passod by acclamation, and a similar compliment having boon paid to tho chairman, tho mooting closed. During an interval Mrs Olivor gavo an oxcollont rendering of tho appropriate song '• I am a Prussian ;" as also did Miss Greufoll in her singing of " What is tho Gorman Fatherland V