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About Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1896-1898 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 1898)
PRINCE BISMARCK IN THE CIRCLE OF HIS FAMILY AT FRIEDRICHSRUHE. via vzvmi TYRA? TXI 838 MAN WHO MADE GERMANY. Prince Otto Edward Leopold Von Bismarck Was the Great est Statesman of the Present Century. THE doath of Prince Bismarck Las removed the greatest personality that Europe has seen since the days of Napoleon I. Indeed, it may be doubt ed if even Napoleon was his equal, mens' uring the two men by their deeds; for the work achieved by Napoleon has crumbled away, while that of the unifier of the Ger man empire remains. , Prince Bismarck was one of the monu mental figures of the nineteenth century. Before his time Germany was merely a geographical nation, her unity consisting alone In her language and her literature. i BISMARCK IN 181)9. True, she had aspirations to political unity and others there were before Bis marck who saw In the Prussian stute the possible nucleus around which German unity might cry stall Ize. But it was Bis marck who passed from theory to action; who cut the Gordlan tangle of Prussian Austrian relations in the affairs of the German States; who so guided events that be destroyed the hegemony of Aus tria do the one hand and the grasping power and ambition of Napoleon on the other; who cemented the political unity of the various and hitherto discordant German states; fashioning the empire as It is to-day and crowning in the palace of Versailles the King of Prussia as the Emperor of a new Germany. Bismarck's name, naturally, Is synonymous with Ger man national unity the dream and hope of hundreds of years and, through, him, now the possession mid privilege of the people. Bismarck' Career, Otto Edward Leopold von Bismarck was born ot Schonhauseu April 1, 1815. Ills family was an Important one in the affairs of Prussia and its descent can be traced to medievul tlnu. When a year old Bismarck's parents moved to Pome routo, where they hud Inherited knightly estates, the leading one being Knlephof. Here Bismarck passed five years of his childhood, but on accouut of a somewhat mischievous disposition he whs sent at the age of 6 years to a boarding school In Berlin, tho principal of which had the reputation of being a strict disciplinarian. He proved an intelligent and earnest stu dent, and at the age of 17 was ready to enter a university. The wild student life of toe University of Heidelberg attracted him and he bogged to be allowed to enter that institution, but his mother refused, sending him Instead to Gottingen, whore she foolishly thonght he might not con tract the beer habit. At G,ttingen Bis marck led a wild and reckless Ufa, Already, before entering it, he hnd fought his first duel, and during his nnl vmrt life he fought twenty-eight more, belli wounded only otice. According to his own account he only attended lectures twice before he passed his examination. After leaving the university be held sub ordinate government offices, but growing weary of the dull routine of business he retired to the estate of Knlephof, where for a time he devoted himself to its care ful management. Then he plunged luto the excesses that had marked his student career. With gay companion! he gave himself to jolly carousals and In the old mansion none could vie with him in drink lug. Owing to his recklessness he became known as "msd Bismarck," and terrible tales were told of his mad adventurei. But he had periods of profound disgust with himself owing to those excesses, and often he retired Into the forest, with his dog, where he plunged Into meditation. Suddenly he gave up his wild courses nnd took up the study of history, theology and philosophy. Enters the PrnMlan THrt. After the death of his father, In 1845, the fumily estates were divided and Knlephof and Schonhuusen fell to the possession of Bismurck. Two years later Bismarck married Johanna von Putkam mer, and in the same year he appeared as delegate In the United Dirt, summoned by King Frederick William IV. The Primsian King was then at loeeor- beads with his subjects, the latter de manding greater rights and a coustltu tion. Bismarck opposed the granting of any concessions by the Jvlng and made bitter attack ou liberalism and democ racy. He was especially roused by a bill for the removal of the civil disabilities of the Jews and he characterized a constitu tion as a pajer government. His services to royalty during the revolution of 18-48 earned for him the position of a trusted adviser of King Frederick William. In 1851 Bismarck was appointed representa tive from the Prussian court to the diet in Frankfort-on-the-Main, which met as the mouthpiece of the forty-odd states of the German confederation, and here he became intimate with the crown prince later King William of Prussia and the first Emperor of United Germany. Prus sia and Austria were then rivals In the affairs of Germany, Austria striving to retain her preponderance and Prussia en deavoring to destroy it and oust her from any position in the confederation. To this purpose Bismarck closely devoted himself. From Frankfort Bismarck was sent as ambassador to St Petersburg In 18T9, and here he remained three years. During this time occurred the Franco-Austrian war in Italy. The Prussian army was mobilized as a matter of defense, but took no part in the contest, yet its mobilisation was enough to check Napoleon. The mo bilization, also, revealed defects In the army, and these were consequently reme died. In 1802 William, who had succeed ed Frederick "William IV. In January, 1801, recalled Bismarck and sent him as minister to Paris. Bismarck had before this time become convinced that Prussia would have to fight with Austria for su premacy In Germany and with France for the ownership of the Khine, something to which Napoleon's wild ambition aspired, and In Faris Bismarck had opportunity to spy Into French affairs - Within a few months, however, he was recalled to take the position of premier and minister of foreign affairs, Bismarck at once got Into hot conflicts with the House of Dep uties, which had refused to vote an in creased military budget, and he carried everything with a high hand. His haughti- THE LATE PRINCE BISMARCK. Distinguished Statesman, Soldier, Diplomat and Unffler ot the German Empire. ness and contempt for the members was unbounded. "Constitutions," be once said, when taxed with governing without a constitution, "may be decided In other countries by a change of ministers, but this is not the custom in Prussia. With us, If two political bodies, which cannot go to law, are unable to agree, circum stances decido which of the two is the stronger." And circumstances did so de cide, nnd the Prussian chamber found that Bismarck was the stronger. In 1803, owing to reasons not necessary to discuss here, Austria and Prussia de cided on going to war with Denmark. The Prussian Parliament refused to vote a war credit, whereupon Bismarck bold ly replied: "If we find It necessary to go to war we shall do so, with your approval or without" And to war Prussia went Denmark speedily succumbed and part of her territory was transferred to Prussia and Austria. The war, pigmy as It was, was sufficient to enable Prussia to com plete her almost perfect army organiza tion and avail was almost immediately made ot the opportunity. But it did not remove the hatred which Bismarck's par liamentary course had engendered and an attempt was made to assassinate him. Bismarck was honored by having bestow ed upon him the order of the Black Eagle, and he was furthermore made a Prus sian count He Hnmbles Anstrla. . Meantime through Austrian stupidity and Bismarckian diplomacy Austria and Prussia were rapidly drifting into war. It was the opportunity that Bismarck had worked for and waited for, and when Austria ruptured the treaty of Gastein, entered into at the end of the Danish war, the order for the mobilization of the Prus sian troops was given. Gen. Moltke, Gen. Boon, Bismarck and King William work ed in entire accord, and so well hnd Bis marck done in his diplomatic work thnt Italy declared war against Austria at the same moment as Prussia. AVhile crushing the power of Austria Bismarck diplomatically played with Na poleon, who at first sought to extend the French frontier aa it was in 1814, offer ing for such consideration to let Prussia have her own way with Austria, and who then, when AtiBtrinn power was crushed on the field of Sadowa, sought to gain Prussian support for the seizure of Bel glum and Luxemburg. Napoleon gained neither of his objects, while he fatally allowed Austria to be crushed and Ger many to rise as a powerful and rapidly uniting nation. In February, 18C7, the North German Parliament opened in Berlin, with repre sentatives of twenty-two States north of the Main, and In April a constitution was agreed on and Bismarck waa made chan cellor of the confederation. The three years preceding 1870 were spent by Bis marck in consolidating the union of North and South Germany and by Napoleon in endeavoring to thwart him. And then came Napoleon's mad declaration of war. There Is no need to recapitulate the story of the terrible avalanche of blood and de struction that swept over France during the autumn of 1870. Napoleon surren dered his sword on the battlefield of Se dan and his dynasty was forever ended. On March 1, 1871, the German army en tered Paris and the war was over, Ger man unity was an accomplished fact and King William L waa the crowned Em peror of the new German empire. Bis marck received the title of prince and be came chancellor. , -But Bismarck's wo"rfc -waa not ended. He had to conserve what he had establish ed and bulwark Germany against a French war of revenge. The effect of this policy Is found In the triple alliance of Germany, Austria and Italy as it exists to-lay. Bismarck's astonishing success in the Franco-Prussian war did not relieve him of political difficulties at home, and in 1877, wearied by parliamentary difficul ties and ill health, be tendered his resiir nation. Germany protested against this act and the Emperor refused to accept his resignation and Bismarck remained chan cellor. In 1878 two attempts were made by the socialists to assassinate the Em peror and this led to the enactment of harsh laws against that society. The laws were remorselessly administered and the result was extremely trying to Bismarck. He Realms Hi. Office. in 1883 Emperor William died and Frederick William, between whom and Bismarck there was not much admira tion, came to the throne. But he lived as ruler only a brief time and then Wil liam IL became Emperor. It was then almost an article of German faith that the Iron Chancellor, as Bismarck was called, would continue to steer the ship of state. It seemed Impossible to conceive of a fresh hand at the rudder. But although between Bismarck and the youthful Kais er there was a bond of admiration and although the latter, at the beginning, learned to lean upon the unifier of the German nation, differences sprang up be tween them. William issued an order that ministers were to report to him di rectly instead as heretofore to the chan cellor. This was taking power out of the hands of Bismarck and naturally the latter rebelled against the edict and ten dered his resignation as chancellor. He had done this so often, when in serious po litical crises, only to have his resignation rejected by his sovereign, that doubtless THE KEW PBIXCE TtlSMAHCK. To Herbert, the son of the late Prince, has de tended the title of his Illustrious father sad estate ut Frledrlchsruhe. Bismarck thought that William would not suffer him to sever his connection with the Government of the nation which he more than any other had builded. But William accepted the resignation and in May, 1890, Bismarck luld down the cares of state and retired to his estate of Fred richsruhe. He was followed to bis retreat by the sympathy of the German people and the admiration of Europe. But It took years to heal the breach botwoen him and Wil liam, and it was not until 1894 that the Kaiser and his great subject became rec onciled. Bismarck- from his Fredrichs ruhe retreat had Inspired bitter attacks on the Government policy and to the thousands of people from all parts of the empire who visited him had delivered speeches that enkindled political rancor. It was therefore good politics for the Kaiser to seek a reconciliation and, in 1893, he took the first step, when he of fered one of his castles to the aged states man that he might regnin his strength, which had been materially Impaired. Bis marck gracefully declined the offer. In January, 1894, William Invited Bismarck to visit him In Berlin. The visit was paid In January and Bismarck's reception by the people along his way was such as sel dom has been accorded to ruler or sub ject The Kaiser's greeting was cordial in the extreme and the following month the Emperor paid a return visit to his great and distinguished subject The en tire empire celebrated the reconciliation as an important historical event. His Domestic Sorroic Soon afterward a crushing blow fell on Bismarck a blow that made all his sub sequent years full of loneljuess. In No vember, 1894, his beloved wife died. She was nine years younger than her hus band and had ever been to him since their marriage day In 1847 a faithful and de voted helpmate. In his private life Bis marck was happy and was devoted to his home. Over him the princess, in purely domestic affairs, had a great Influence, but this did not extend to his political life. Bismarck was fond of nature and music and as a musician his wife was accomplished. During his entire life Bis marck was a lover of horses and seldom BI9MABCK LKAV1XO EMPEROR'S PALACE AFTEB RESIOXI.NO. since his school days in Berlin was he unaccompanied by one or more large dogs, such as mastiffs or great danes. He was a lover, of good eating and drinking aud was a heavy smoker until a few years ago, when he began to suffer from its effects. . A sketch of the great life closed would I 'll w if f n ji (, i t be incomplete without some reference to the honors heaped upon him by his coun trymen. . When Bismarck began his po litical career he was by no means a rich man. He possessed gome patrimonial es tates, but the domain of Schonhausen, where he was born, had passed out of his control. In 1800, after the successful wur wiui ausuui, ue purcuuseu me v ar zin estate, near Berlin, with the donation that had been accorded him by Prussia in recompense for his diplomatic skill, lu I 1871 Emperor William presented him with $300,000 of the indemnity paid by France and with this he purchased the estate of Friedrichsruhe, near Hamburg. It consists of 20,000 acres. Then in 1885, on the occasion of his seventieth birthday, the nation bought back by public sub scription the old family domain of Schon hauseu and presented it to the prince and princess and their children forever. On his eightieth birthday celebration, in 1895, in which the entire nation took part, he was the recipient of great and resplendent honors. Nor would a sketch of Bismarck be complete without reference to his colonial policy. Under him Germany branched out as a colonial rival to Great Britain, and where formerly she did not have an acre of soil outside the fatherland, she now ranks as one of the great colonial powers of the world. Her flag floats from the great lakes at the head waters of the Nile to the shores of the Indian ocean. Vast areas In southwestern Af rica and back of the Gulf of Guinea ac knowledge her sovereignty. She is firmly established on the great island of Papua and has possession of many of the impor tant groups that stretch across the South Pacific ocean. Snmmnry of Bit Character. But whatever the success of Bismarck's political life there is much in it that Anglo-Saxon civilization will not approve. As a statesman Bismarck was arbitrary, self-willed, imperious and unscrupulous. His political ideas were those of a born feudalist He governed with the strnno hand of absolute power and crushed out every attempt to assert the political free- aom or the individual or the masses. He was an absolute believer in the "divine right" of kings and the throne and the army were regarded by him as the onlv foundation of the state. Sound In his for eign political relations, he made blunders in domestic affairs, cheating the people with a semblance of liberty and self-government Viewed in the light of history, when time shall have furnished a truer perspective, Bismarck will stand forth as a man who was eminently fitted to re alize the ideal hopes and aspirations of the German people, but as a man with many human failings. It remains to be seen how long Germany shall endure along the lines which he established. ., A HISTORIC HORN. enmmoaed Blares to Labor and Pre , togoa the Death of Revenues." There ts an old battered tin horn tn the possession of an ancient colored man at Dalton, Go around which are associated memories of many deeds of violence. In ante-bellum days the bom was the property of CoL "Ben" Loughrldge, a weaitny planter of Murray County. It was originally used to summon his many slaves to work and to meals, and lta welcome note at sunset was the signal for them to rest from the day's labors. After the war the born became sep arated from the Loughrldge family, and from that time until a few months ago was the period of Its stirring his. tory. Murray County has for years been a stronghold of the "lnoon shiners." Time after time tho revenue officers made desperate raids on the Illicit distilleries, killing and being killed, yet never entirely subduing the stubborn mountaineers. The mellow note of the old tin horn would always warn the whisky rebels of , the approach of their enemies, and many a good man's death has It presaged, The moonshiners would station a lusty-lunged sentinel ou some promin ent mountain rock which commanded a view of the valley below, and the slightest suspicious symptom in the lower defiles was sufficient to send the baas echoes of the old horn flying, and the moonshiners themselves scurrylug to their improvised fortresses, armed to the teeth and ready to take and risk life for what they considered their rights and In the defense of their hearthstones. To the "revenues" It al ways bore the dismal Information that from the next crag or bramble they might expect a slaying volley from their bidden foes. The venerable horn ts a special re minder of a notorious gang which ter rorized the country up to within a year ago. It was used to rally the forces ,ot this gang and was often the preface to a bloody conflict between them and the law's representatives. When the gang was Anally disposed of the horn passed Into the possession of old "Uncle" Isaac, a typical "beio de war", negro, and the old man often brings It out and recounts its Interest ing history. Baltimore Sun First Standing Army. The first standing army of which there Is any record waa organized by King Saul, 1093 B. a The army of Xer xes, In Invading Greece, numbered 1,700,000 foot and 80,000 horses, 4S0 B. C. The first standing army of mod ern times was maintained In France by Charles VII., 1443. Standing armies were first established In England by Charles 1-. 1038. Remarkable Irrigation. No fewer than 12,000,000 acres of land have been made fruitful in the Sa hara desert an enterprise representing perhaps the most remarkable example of irrigation by means of artesian wells which can anywhere be found. Light tn the Eark Continent, The lamp mostly used In Africa Is a simple contrivance. In a cocoanut shell filled with palm oil, a bit of rag is placed to serve as a wick, and this gives all the light that the natives re quire. Too many people are looking for a chance to sit down. If yon get along, you must keep on your feet We greatly admire a man who has sense enough not to be a thoroughbred SAWED OFF HIS OWN LEO, , Wonderful Nerve of a Pioneer Gold Prospector. Few old miners have not heard of the Pegleg mine, located In the vicinity of Death Valley, which has been a legend in mining circles for nearly fifty years. Numerous expeditions have been or ganized for the rediscovery of this fa mous lost mine. The originator of tho story of a marvelously rich mine locat edinthe terra incognito of which Death Valley is the central point was Pegleg Smith, a famous pioneer long before the discovery of gold In California. In his earlier career bis operations were confined mainly to the overland trail on which he was employed as a freight er and guide. The circumstances which gave rise to the sobriquet by which he was univer sally known was, a most thrilling epi sode. While hauling a load of freight between the widely separated posts of that early day he was jolted from his wagon, and falling under Its wheels had his leg so badly crushed that it was evident that his only hope of life lay In amputation. But he was alone on the trail In tho heart of the mountains, and the nearest surgeon was at the military post of Fort Laramie, hundreds of miles away. He was a man of iron nerve, however, and did not hesitate an Instant after he had learned the extent of his Injuries. With his jackknlfe and saw be per formed the amputation himself, ban daged the stump as best he could, and in his crippled condition built himself a shelter and subsisted on the provi sions in his wagon until he was found currnro off his own leg. by some friendly Indians and taken to a surgeon. The operation was a suc cess, and In a few months he resumed his old calling. When the late Gov ernor Gilpin visited Oregon in 1840-'43 Smith was employed to guide him, and the Governor In his narrative records the Incident After tho discovery of gold In the mountains of California, Pegleg turned prospector and traveled through the mountains from Oregon to Arizona until he became noted as the most daring and most thoroughly post ed prospector and guide. NEW BOTTLE FOR POISONS. Prevent People from Taking a Fatal Doee by Mistake. A New York City man has succeeded in producing a bottle from which poi son cannot easily be taken by mistake. Its distinctive fea ture is the anchor safety stopper, which is now in use In many hos pitals, and which the accompanying Illustration renre- sents. The anchor Inside the bottle Is of heavy glass and is attached to the cork by an asbestos cork which neither affects nor Is affected by acids or chem icals used In medicine. When the cork is withdrawn the anchor catches, and another warning is given by the rattle of the anchor striking the neck of the bottle. The contents of the bottle may be easily poured or dropped out by holding the cork at the side with the finger, as the anchor does not impede the flow. A Pnzzle Picture. Find the other hunter. Rain Signs. Tulips and dandelions close up before rain. If it rains when the sun shines it wUl rain the next day. A piece of sea weed hung up will become damp pre vious to rain. When the walls are more than usually damp rain may be expected. Unusual clearness In the atmosphere, objects being seen verv distinctly, indicates rain. When the sun appears of a light pale color, or goes down In a bank of clouds, it indi cates the approach or continuance of bad weather. But few men are wise enough to ren der one word sufficient. I HI I 1 ft