8 NOVEMBER 1873, Page 2

Prince Bismarck appears to have recovered his full ascendancy in

the Prussian Cabinet, and though we are no admirers of his policy, we confess to a certain sense of satisfaction in seeing the true helmsman where he ought to be,—at the helm. He has come back, it is stated at Berlin, not merely as Prime Minister, but as a Prime Minister of the English kind; with the power really to exercise a general control over all the departments, and give to the policy of his colleagues the direction and bent he himself chooses. We suppose, as Berlin seems to suppose, that the change bodes no good to the Roman Catholics, who are now likely to be persecuted rather more strenuously than ever. Still, if that absurd and shortsighted policy is to be adopted because the majority of the nation like it, as they do, we are glad it is Prince Bismarck who is to have the full credit and discredit of it. He, at least, will make it a policy, and not a hesitating tentative at policy. We shall have the satisfaction of seeing a strong man trying the old pseudo-strong measures, and seeing

them fail conspicuously in his hands. By a weak minister, no policy can be fairly tried-; _no policy of such a Minister fairly succeeds, or fairly fails. We never have to complain of that with Prince Bismarck.