Some curious opinions uttered by Prince Bismarck in 1868, after
Germany had been, in fact, made, but not tested by the fight with France, have been published in the memoirs of Pro- fessor Bluntschli. He said even then that he did not fear France, that Austria would remain neutral, and that Germany was the strongest military power in the world. The deep strain of Slavonic blood in Germany made the Germans obedient, imparting to them the Slavonic nature, which is essentially feminine. Without this they would be ungovern- able. He believed that Germany could be well governed by absolutism, but held it absurd to adopt that system unless it were permanently and consistently maintained. It could not be so maintained in Germany, because the Crown Prince was unalterably opposed to it. We recommend that statement to the attention of those who think it possible to try absolutism as a policy in Ireland. How long would the English people adhere to that scheme P Perhaps two years ; yet an ingrained absolutist like Prince Bismarck admits that, to be of the slightest use, it must be carried out through two lives. The Prince, we notice, admits entirely the theory of historians, that the success of Prussia has been due to the Hohenzollerns, and especially to their resolute hold of the bridle on the aristocracy.
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