_PUCK, March 30th, 1887._
“The anarchists and socialists, and the turbulent and vicious among
our German-American fellow-citizens, were more or less miserable over
the celebration of Kaiser Wilhelm’s ninetieth birthday, last week; but
decent Americans of German origin or free-born may well have taken
pleasure in drinking the old gentleman’s health. No earnest republican
can unreservedly admire even the best of emperors--or, indeed, wholly
understand the imperial idea. But, since there are emperors, it is
desirable that they should be good of their kind; and there is no
kingly ruler in the world to-day who is a better man, after his own
pattern, than the white-haired old soldier who has just ended his
ninetieth year.
“And even the Anarchist who would not drink the old Kaiser’s health
ought to reflect--if an Anarchist can reflect--that he has little
right to complain of the good old Kaiser when he cries out against the
government of Germany. Wilhelm is Emperor, in truth; but in Germany
there is to-day a higher than the Emperor--the Emperor’s humble
servant, the Chancellor of the Empire, a stern, shrewd, stubborn,
overbearing, foxy, sinister, loyal, fearless old man, named Bismarck,
who holds the government of Germany in the hollow of his hand, and is
the one arbiter of peace and war in all Europe. It is this original
and powerful man who practically stands for Germany in her dealings
with other nations; and it is he who to-day holds the balance of power
in Continental Europe. His fame will outlive that of the honest old
Emperor. Kaiser Wilhelm will figure in the school text-books with Henry
the Fourth of France and Elizabeth of England; but Bismarck’s name will
live forever in the literature of politics; and even in fiction as a
type more strong, deep and subtle than any in the annals of statecraft.
We use the name of Machiavelli in familiar comparison--but whom shall
we ever compare with Bismarck?”--PUCK, _March 30th, 1887_.
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