| Prince Otto
von Bismark, first Chancellor of the German Empire, was an architect of a united Germany
under Prussian auspices. A conservative Prussian aristocrat, he nevertheless adopted the
liberal goal of national unity, giving the German Empire a broad political base. He sought
to tie the emerging industrial working class to his state by supporting "state
socialism." Assess the validity of the following: Prince Otto von Bismark could be considered Machiavelli's model of the ideal ruler in that, he was feared by his people and he used any ends to justify the tatics he used in bringing about the unification of the German states. |
| ...Give the
working man the right to work as long as he is healthy; assure him care when he is sick;
assure him matinence when he is old. If you do that, and do not fear the sacrifice, or cry
out at State Socialism directly the words 'provision for the old age' are uttered,-if the
state will show a little more Christian solicitude for the working man, then I believe
that the gentleman of the Social Democratic program will sound their bird call in vain,
and that the thronging to them will cease as soon as working men see that the Government
and legislative bodies are earnestly concerned for their welfare. Yes, I acknowledge unconditionally a right to work, and I will stand up for it as long as I am in this place. But here I do not stand upon the ground of Socialism, which is said to have only begun with the Bismarck Ministry, but on that of the Prussian common law... Speeches on Pragmatism
and State Socialism |
| ...For the
worker it is always a fact that falling into poverty and onto poor relief in a great city
is synonymous with misery, and this insecurity makes him hostile and mistrustful of
society. That is humanly not unnatural, and as long as the state does not meet him
halfway, just as long will this trust in the state's honesty be taken away from
accusations against the government, which he will find where he wills; always running back
again to the socialist quacks...and with out great reflection, letting himself be promised
things, which will not be fulfilled... Promotion of the Workers' Welfare |
| After the
reports of the renunciation by the hereditary prince of Hohenzollern had been officially
transmitted by the Royal Government of Spain to the Imperial Government of France, the
French Ambassador presented to His Majesty the King at Ems he demand to authorize him to
telegraph to Paris that His Majesty the King would obligate himself for all future time
never again to give his approval to the candidacy of the Hohenzollerns should it be
renewed. His Majesty the King thereupon refused to receive the French envoy again and informed him through an adjutant that His Majesty had nothing further to say to the Ambassador. The Abeken Text, Ems, July 13, 1870 |
| In order
that German patriotism should be active and effective, it needs as a rule to hang on the
peg of dependence upon a dynasty; independent of dynasty it rarely comes to the rising
point, though in theory it daily does so, in parliament, in the press, in public meeting;
in practice the German needs either attachment to a dynasty or the goad of anger, hurrying
him into action: the latter phenomenon, however, by its own nature is not permanent. It is
as a Prussian, a Hanoverian, a Wutemberger, a Barvarian or a Hessian, rather than as a
German, that he is deposed to give unequivocal proof of patriotism…. Reflections and
Reminiscences |
Die
Internationale (1888) |
| Recruits of
my Guards Regiment! You are assembled here from all quarters of my realm in order to meet your military obligation and have in this holy place [1] sworn loyalty to your kaiser even unto your last breath. You are still too young to understand all of this, but little by little it will be made known to you. Do not bother yourselves too greatly about all this but trust in God, now and again say an "Our Father," which has many a time renewed a warrior's courage. Children of my Guards, from this day you are incorporated into my army. Now you stand under my command and have been permitted the privilege of wearing my uniform. Wear it with honor. Think on our fatherland's glorious history. Think also that the German army must be armed against the inner foe as well as the foreign. More than ever unbelief and discontent raise their head in the fatherland, and it may come about that you will have to shoot or bayonet your own relatives and brothers. Then seal your loyalty with the offering up of your heart's blood. Now, go home and fulfill your duty. Wilhelm II at the
Swearing-in of New Recruits |
| 1.Who is the greatest statesman of
the century?... 3.Whom would you name the greatest hero of the century?... 7.The greatest historical event...? 8.The most important battle?... 11.The unhappiest period? 12.Who were the two greatest Berliners? 1. Bismarck (Baron vom Stein got a few dozen votes; Gladstone mentioned)... 3. Wilhelm I (2400); Bismarck (1600): Stanley, Garibaldi mentioned; Dr. Mueller of Vienna nominated himself... 7. German unification (some say defeat of Napoleon; a few, the Revolution of 1848) 8. Battle of Leipzig (4300); Sedan (2000)... 11. 1806-1812; a few, 1815-1848; 1867-73; 1848, 1878-1890 12. Alexander von Humboldt (1500); Wilhelm I (1200); Wilhelm II mentioned. Opinion Poll, Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung, 1899 |