LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

VON MI:THUM.

[TO Tag EDITOR OF TRH "SPECTATOR:'}

Six,—Few political events in Germany since the conclusion of the late war have excited greater interest and, one may say, greater sur- prise than the dismissal from office of the late Prussian "Minister of Ecclesiastical and Educational Affairs," Von Miihler. The interest felt in the event is natural enough, for it is the final act of a long struggle between the two great religious and political parties in Prussia—the Conservative and Liberal—and the final and scarcely hoped-for triumph of the latter ; the surprise arises from the fact that this Minister was dismissed by a King who loved him and, in the main, approved of his policy, at the instigation of Prince Bismarck, many of whose most cherished religious and political opinions are in accordance with those of the man whom he has been instrumental in expelling from office. Von Miihler is allowed even by his opponents to be a man of learning and ability, of strong convictions, honest purposes, loyal, patriotic, and bent, according to his lights, on promoting the great cause of education and religion. In politics he is a sincere Conservative and a strong Royalist ; in religion, an orthodox Lutheran, but without any hostility to the Catholic party, towards which he has always acted with fairness and even indulgence, and by whom his fall is doubt- less deeply deplored.

In his administration of Church and School his principal object was to uphold the authority of clergy of the two great "confessions," and to give them a large share of influence in the education of the rising generation. Now much of what has been here said of Von Miihler might be applied without modification to Prince Bismarck. Of the loyalty of the latter we need hardly speak,—it is his very being. He is also the staunchest of Lutherans, yet tolerant and fair to men of other creeds ; and he is as thoroughly imbued as Von Miihler can be with the love of order and discipline in Church and State, and in the conviction that in a people without strong religious faith all good government is simply impossible. Were Von Miihler and Bismarck to compare their political and religious opinions, there is little doubt that they would find as many points of agreement as almost any two men in Prussia, and yet Bismarck has been trying for years to rid himself of his colleague, and has at last succeeded, to the delight of the whole Liberal party, and more especially of the Radicals and sceptics of the land.

What, then, has wrought this extraordinary change, not in the opinions and predilections, but in the policy and standing-point of this great statesman? Why is he, who once arbitrarily ruled the country in the name of the King, in defiance of a hostile majority in the Prussian Chamber and in the nation, who treated the Liberal chiefs with scorn, who at one time contemplated the possibility of impeachment, and used to say that he considered death upon the block iu defence of royal power by no means the least honourable way of ending life,— how comes it, I say, that he is now the great head and hope of the Liberal party in the German Empire, the " dunkler Mann," and the terror of the Junkers and the priests of both persuasions? The solution of this riddle may be best found by considering the chief features in the character of Bismarck himself. By birth, educa- tion, and taste he is a strong Conservative and Churchman, but be is above all things a practical statesman, lie has his inclina- tions and predilections like other men, but he never regards the world through their coloured haze. He has the rare and, for a politician, the invaluable gift of seeing things as they are, and not, like the rest of us, distorted by our wishes. Those who have bees wise enough to read his eminently instructive speeches will recog- nise this extraordinary faculty as existing in him in the highest degree. Such a man must necessarily be open to the logic of facts, and it is by this logic, especially by those two very import- ant facts—the war with Austria (18GG) and the war with France just concluded—that Bismarck has been apparently converted to Liberalism. Before the attainment of power it was Bismarck's greatest wish, and after its attainment his greatest effort, to unite and elevate the German nation. During his residence as a diplomatist at Frankfort he believed that this great object might be attained through the agency of Austria, and for some time he was a warm partisan of the pretensions of that , Empire to the hegemony of Germany. But he soon discovered that Austria, catholic and mediaeval, the patron and support of the countless little monarchs by whom the Fatherland was divided and weakened, was incapable of marching with the times, and of allowing to Germany the free growth and development which could alone prepare her for the tremendous task before her. He

then became a Prussian, because he saw that Prussia alone, though comparatively poor and weak, bad the mental and moral qualities essential to the prosecution of his object.

Having chosen his side, he by no means undervalued the diffi- culties and dangers with which he had to contend. He knew that he should have to face first the democracy of Prussia and then the power of Austria. He clearly saw that the only weapon which would serve his purpose was the royal authority, still predominant over all others, in monarchical Prussia. Happily for him, he succeeded where all other Ministers had failed, viz., in gaining a powerful and abiding influence over the King. He lost no time in pointing out to his Sovereign that a struggle with Austria was inevitable, and that they must immediately prepare for it.

The first step to be taken was the reorganizing the Army, and it was the Bill which he introduced for this purpose which brought him into collision with the Chamber, and exposed him to the dangers of impeachment and assassination. But, backed by the King, he carried his point ; he got his Army, and thereby saved Germany from Papal domination and Austrian misrule, and Europe from Cmsarism and Gallic supremacy.

Hitherto Bismarck had relied solely on the support of the King and the " Junker Partei " against the Commons ; but having defeated Austria and annexed Hanover and Hesse, he was forced

to change his policy, and look about for other friends. By dethroning Kings and Dukes " von Gottes Gnaden" he struck a

heavy blow at the doctrine of divine right and the principles of aristocracy, and took up the democratic ground that the most time-honoured and sacred rights must give way to the interests of the State, to the weal of the nation. In the newly annexed countries, the partisans of Prussia were the Liberals, her enemies the nobility, and especially the Catholic priests and the Protestant clergy, who were and are violently anti-Prussian and " particular- ist." Having formed the North-German Confederation, he had to consolidate it, and to do this he had to seek the help of his former enemies, the Liberals—to break the opposition of his former friends, the nobility and clergy.

Now it was he first came into collision with Von Miihler, who, as Minister of Religion and Education in the new provinces, was inclined to favour the Catholic priests and the Protestant ministers, i.e., the very men whom Bismarck recognised as the foes of German unity. All possibility of cordial co-operation between the two colleagues was now at an end, and there is no doubt that as early as 1867 Bismarck wished to get rid of Von Minder. But in this case the King was slow in yielding to his wishes, for his Majesty is very faithful in his attachments, and very averse to parting with those who have once served him. Von Mohler had also powerful friends in the Em- press and in his own wife, a clever, highly cultivated, and agree- able woman, who stands high in the favour of her sovereign. On one occasion his Majesty complained to her of the failure of his eyesight, which prevented his joining in the singing at church. " Oh !" she replied, " that must not be ; a king must set an ex- ample to his people even in such matters ; why does not your Majesty have a hymn-book printed in the largest type?" Nothing more was said, but a few days afterwards the King received a beautifully illuminated book, containing the hymns most in use, clearly written in large letters by the lady herself. The Empress too, a woman of strong religious convictions, naturally regarded the orthodox minister, the patron of the clergy, with peculiar ap- probation and favour. What wonder, then, that he maintained his ground for three years against the loud and often scurrilous attacks of the Liberal Press, and even the wishes of Bismarck himself. " Let him alone," the King would reply to those who urged his dismissal, " he does no harm ; if he is a little too gentle with our opponents in Hanover and Hesse, perhaps it is well to conciliate them." Bismarck, who has a habit of facing his enemies, thought differently, and every day that passes brings additional proofs that he was right. Von Mailer, however, continued to govern the Church, the Universities, and the Schools. Meanwhile the storm of opposition rose higher and higher, and some unlucky occurrences in connection with his administration of the fine arts brought ridicule upon him as well as hatred. It was loudly declared that, knowing nothing of art himself, he allowed his wife to usurp his functions. Every number of Kladderadatsch con- tained some caricature of " Adelheid," the "female minister." On one occasion, a picture of the Venus Anadyomene was hung at the Exhibition in Berlin in close proximity to a " Holy Family." Von Muller, or, as was said, his wife, ordered its removal to another part of the gallery, where it was placed in a worse light. This brought on him the enmity of the irritable race of artists, who avenged themselves by caricatures and squibs, and added additional

' venom to the opposition. The musicians, too, were arrayed against him, in consequence of the dismissal of one of their fraternity from the Conservatory of Music at Berlin. The celebrated Joachim, Director of this Academy, sent in his resignation and refusal to remain unless his subordinate colleague were recalled. The mat- ter was considered of sufficient importance to be referred to the Em- peror, who was then besieging Paris, and who replied that he was too much occupied to inquire into the merits of the case, and that

no changes were to be made in thepersonnel of the Conservatorium until his return to Berlin. This was the first indication of a turn in the tide of royal favour.

Previous to these events, Prince Bismarck's attention had been accidentally directed to the state and government of the Prussian Universities, in which he found cause for fresh dissatisfaction with Von Muhler's administration. In 1869 the great Chancellor's two sons were pursuing their studies at Bonn. One of them received a dangerous wound in the head in a student's duel, and it was thought necessary to summon the father. For the first time, pro- bably, Bismarck was brought into close contact with the profes- sorial body, and had leisure to inquire into the question of Uni- versity education, and the degree in which his children were pro- fiting by it. The results of his investigations were not favourable especially as regarded his own sons. Not that he was altogether averse to duelling or beer, of which he certainly took his full share in his youth ; but he complained that they had become an occupa- tion instead of a recreation—that there was little else in his sons' life—no " geistige Anregung," that the whole system was rotten, that everything must be changed, that the example of the English Universities must be followed, discipline introduced, to teach these young men that the boasted Lernfreiheit of Germany does not mean liberty to learn nothing.

No doubt he subsequently saw reason to modify his opinions, as no change has been attempted ; but it is certain that he left Bonn as dissatisfied with Von Miihler's administration of the Universi- ties as he had previously been by the favour he showed to the Ultramontanists and the Clerical party in general. In the follow- ing year the war with France began, which ended in the consum- mation of all Prince Bismarck's cherished wishes, the re-establish- ment of the German Empire, with the Prussian Sovereign at its head. This event, even more than the expulsion of Austria from Germany, separated him from his former friends, and threw him on the support of the Liberal party. The gulf between the Chancellor and Von Miihler became wider and wider. The favour shown by the latter to the clergy, which was mischievous in Hanover and Hesse, was fatal when extended to the priests of Alsace. Prince Bismarck saw then what he has lately openly declared,—that the Ultramontanists are the irreconcilable enemies of the German Empire. We know what that means in his mouth. The moment he sees his enemies he attacks them, and woe to those whom he assails ! He, poor man, has not yet learned the new lesson of English foreign policy, that the best way to meet your enemies is to show them your ba.ck.

Still, however, the Minister held on like a wounded rook to the last twig, and that was the favour of the King, and his amiable dis- inclination to part with a servant who had served him long. The last shot, it is said, which brought him down was discharged by the powerful hand of one who, as is also said, is seldom found in alliance with Prince Bismarck, viz., the Crown Prince of Prussia. The relation between his Imperial Highness and Von Mahler will be made clear by mentioning some occurrences at Bonn in the year 1868, at the fifty years' jubilee of the University. The late Head of Church and School affairs in Prussia—the grave and pious leader of the religious party—seems in his youth to have been a Votter Bursche' (a jovial student), and some verses which be wrote at college are, as they deserve to be, amongst the best known and most popular in the collection of Bacchanalian songs called the Commers-Buch.' The nature of this first effort of Von Miihler's muse may be gathered from the following stanzas

Clerad' aus dem Wirthshaus aunt komm' ich heraus, Strasse ! wie siehst da mir wuderlich ans; Rechter Hand, linker Hand, Allos vertausoht Strasse, ich glaube wohl, da bist berauscht.

Was fiir ein schief' Gesicht, Mend! machst denn da ! Ein Auge hat er auf, das Andere zu, Du wirst betrunken sem das ich hell, Schame dicb, sobiime dich, alter Gesell '!"

In the sequel, the hero of the song, amazed and alarmed at finding the street, the houses, the pump, and even the moon itself in a state of uproarious intoxication, considers it dangerous for a sober man to venture further, and returns to the shelter of his " Wirths- haus."

'The festival above mentioned was attended by all the alumni, old and young, of this celebrated seat of learning, by the most cele- bated statesmen and men of science, and by the Princeps juven- tutis' himself, the Crown Prince, Friedrich Wilhelm. A banquet of 2,000 covers was held in the grand court of the Poppelsdorfer Schloss, at which the jovial spirit of the German student reigned supreme. Among the toasts was one, of course, to the great head of the Educational Department, the Minister von Miihler, who acknowledged it in a long and unctuous speech, in which he urged upon his youthful friends the duties of industry, temperance, and obedience. Meanwhile, a message was sent from the upper table to the splendid band, which never fails on such occasions in Ger- many. No sooner had Von Miihler sat down than high and loud rose the jovial melody of Von Muliler's, " G'rad' aus dem Wirths- baus." Two thousand voices joined in the familiar song, which was sung throughout with enthusiastic gusto, and followed by repeated peals of laughter. The Crown Prince raised his glass, and bowing to the astonished Minister said, "This, I believe, is a compliment to you." Von Miihler was not equal to the occasion, but looked crushed and angry, believing that the Prince himself had brought him into this somewhat painful and ridiculous posi- tion.. This was a joke, what followed was of a more serious character. Among the notable men present at the commemora- tion was Lipsius of Kiel. When he was presented to the Crown Prince by the Rector of the University, his Highness asked, " To what faculty do you belong, Herr Professor ?"—" Theology, your Royal Highness." And to what school?" continued the Prince.— Schleiermacher's, linke Seite " (i.e., to the most advanced sec- tion of the most Liberal theological party), was the reply."—" I am glad of that," said the Prince ; " so do I." Von Miihler was standing by !

At a later period a theologian named Sydow, or Liscow (I am not sure which), was called to account by the Consistorium in Ber- lin for some opinions considered by Von Miihler and the orthodox party as heretical. The Crown Prince sent for Sydow and asked 'him if it were true that proceedings had been taken against him for such and such opinions, and on hearing it was so, said :— 4' Then they must excommunicate me too, for I agree with you entirely." The proceedings were dropped.

All this was mere skirmishing, but it made, no doubt, an un- pleasant impression on Von Miihler's mind, and in November last the two came into more serious collision. Prince Friedrich Wil- helm was made Protector of the School of Art at Berlin, and in this capacity he asked Von Miihler to appoint an art councillor to assist him in his functions, at the same time expressing a wish that this assistant should be independent of the Minister, and respon- sible to the " Protector" alone. Von Mulder asked his Imperial Highness whether he had fixed on any particular person, and on hearing the name of the Professor selected for the post he refused to appoint him. The Prince then asked the Minister to choose any whom he pleased, with the exception of A and B. Not very Bong afterwards these very men, to whom the Prince objected, were appointed, and it was this affront to his son which is said i(with what truth I do not know) to have determined the Emperor to yield at last to the general wish, and to dismiss the servant whom he had so long upheld against the world in arms.

Von Miihler has been succeeded by Falk, and the results of the -change are sufficiently well known. It has been made a penal -offence for the Catholic priests to use their pulpits for electioneer- ing purposes, or for inciting the people against the Government or individual opponents. The " Old Catholics" (Dollinger's party) have received countenance and support ; and by the new Schulaufsichtsgesetz"—which was carried by Bismarck against 'the united forces of the Ultramontanists and Protestant "Junkers" —the clergy are deprived of their exclusive right to inspect the schools. Many similar measures are contemplated, of which we may say generally, that they aim at introducing a greater amount of lay influence and agency into both school and Church. Of the vast importance of the change to Prussia and to Europe there can be no doubt ; whether it is altogether desirable is another ques- tion; and men in England, as in Germany, will rejoice or grieve at it, according to their political and religious views.—I am,