BISMARCK AND WILLIAM II.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 50, 18 September 1891, Page 7

BISMARCK AND WILLIAM 11.

(New York Freeman's Journal.) A full and authentic account of the reasons for the dismissal of , Bismarck by the Emperor of Germany is given for the first time, in an article by Prof. F. Heinrich Geffcken, Privy Councillor, which appears in the July Forum. Geffcken explains also the inflnenoe of Bismarck as a member of the Reichstag, aad gives a review of the young Emperor's policy and an estimate of his character. The story of Bismarck's career as chancellor, its greatness and its corruption, and its abrupt termination is perhaps the most interesting one in politics and Geffcken has told it in a brief and interesting way. He speaks of the future of the Emperor and Bismarck very clearly, and we should judge quite correctly. William 11., says Councillor Geffcken, is undoubtedly the most remarkable sovereign of the present time. He is a modern man notwithstanding certain proclivities which still adhere to him, like pieces of the shell of an egg from which the bird has issued. With restless activity he siezts upon all questions which agitate our time, be they large or Bmall. To-day he speaks on great European affairs, opens new issues to German commerce, and proclaims social reform ; tomorrow he opens an art exhibition and takes a personal part in the performance of Wildenbruch's patriotic drama, " The New Lord." He presides over his Council and Bhows himself a ready debater, opens a scholastic conference, laying down his educational plans', and indefatigably travels over his country in order to see everything with his own eyes. Much in all this may be attributed to his active temper, but the moving principle is undoubtedly the high conception of his duty as " the first servant of the State." This conception is bound up with a strong consciousness of his eminent position ; he feels himself to be the pillar of the State, called to carry oat a great mission. As before the dismissal of Bismarck he said that be would crush anyone trying to obstruct his path, so he declared in his late speech at Dusseldorf ; " Only one is master in this country • I Bhall suffer no other." It would be unjust to see in such utterances, caused by a high consciousness of his power, absolutist tendencies on the part of the Emperor 1 He is a constitutional prince and has rigidly respected parliamentary rights, But in times when the principle of authority and order is undermined in many ways, the youthful sovereign feels that he is the centre of monarchial dicipline without which the State can neither exist nor progress, and he ia resolved to maintain his authority against Social Democrats as well as against interested coalitions of privileged classes and persons. • • * • * It is certainly to be desired that a man of Bismarck's importance should have a Beat in Parliament, and much better that he should have occasion to speak his mind publicly, than that he should exhale his wrath ia anonymous newspaper articles and conversations with reporters. But he will be very much mistaken if he expects to exercise great influence in the Reichstsg. Just as Antaeus derived his strength from contact with the earth, Bismarck was only allpowerful at the head of the enormous Government apparatus which he had built up, and by which he defied his sovereign as well as Parliament. But as a simple member he will be comparatively powerless. ... He mil stand alone; his speeches will be listened to attentively, but they will be answered respectfully yet conclusively by the Government and very broadly by the Liberal speakers such as Bichter, Bamberger and Bickert, whom the Chancellor formerly treated with contempt or as enemies of the Empire Besides, Bismarck is no orator ; his speeches are the product of much thought and full of incisive arguments as well as sophistical casuistry but they derived their real importance from the fact that they warn' uttered by the omnipotent minister. Bismarck's opposition, therefore, is not to be feared, and will only force the Government to take a more decisive position, — «««. w mkb