首页 >出版文学> Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White>第44章
  CHAPTERXLII
  AMERICA,GERMANY,ANDTHECHINESEWAR——1899—1902
  AninterestingeventofthisperiodwastheappearanceinBerlinofex—PresidentandMrs。Harrison。ThePresidenthadbutrecentlyfinishedhislongandwearisomeworkbeforetheVenezuelaArbitrationTribunalatParis,andwasveryhappyintheconsciousnessofdutyaccomplishedandlibertyobtained。Marksofhighdistinctionwereshownthem。ThesovereignsinvitedthemtoattendthefestivitiesatPotsdaminhonoroftheQueenandQueenMotherofHolland,whowerethenstayingthere,andtreatedthemnotonlywithrespect,butwithcordiality。TheEmperorconversedlongwiththePresidentonvariousmattersofpublicinterest:onnotedAmericanswhomhehadmet,onthegrowthofourfleet,onrecenteventsinourhistory,andthelike,characteristicallyendingwithadiscussionofthesuperbmusicwhichwehadbeenhearing;andatthesupperwhichfollowedinsistedthatMrs。
  Harrisonshouldsitathisside,theEmpressgivingasimilarinvitationtoMr。Harrison。Atalaterperiodadinnerwasgiventotheex—Presidentbythechancelloroftheempire,PrinceHohenlohe,atwhichanumberoftheleadingpersonagesintheempirewerepresent;anditwasapleasuretoshowmyownrespectfortheformerchiefmagistratebyareceptionwhichwasattendedbyabouttwohundredofourAmericancolony,andadinneratwhichheandMrs。HarrisonmadetheacquaintanceofleadingrepresentativeGermansinvariousfields。
  InanotherchapterofthesememoirsIhavespokenofPresidentHarrisonasofcoldand,attimes,abruptmanners;buttheabsenceofthesecharacteristicsduringhisstayinBerlin,andafterwardinNewYork,madeitcleartomethatthecoldexteriorwhichIhadnotedinhimatWashington,especiallywhenMr。
  Roosevelt,Mr。Lodge,andsundryothersofusurgeduponhimanextensionoftheclassifiedcivilservice,wasadoptedasameansofpreventingencroachmentsuponthetimenecessaryforhisdailyduties。Henowappearedinaverydifferentlight,hisdiscussionofmenandeventsshowingnotonlyearnestthoughtanddeeppenetration,butarichveinofhumor;hiswholebearingbeingsimple,kindly,anddignified。
  Duringthewinterof1899—1900cameanadditiontomyexperiencesofwhatAmericanrepresentativesabroadhavetoexpectunderourpresenthappy—go—luckyprovisionforthediplomaticservice。Asalreadystated,onarrivinginBerlin,Ihadgreatdifficultyinobtaininganyfittingquarters,butatlastsecuredalargeandsuitableapartmentinanexcellentpartofthecity,itsonlydisadvantagebeingthatmyguestshadtoplodupseventy—fivestepsinordertoreachit。Havingbeenobligedtomakelargeoutlaysforsuitablefittings,extensiverepairs,andfurniturethroughout,Ifoundthatmorethantheentiresalaryofmyfirstyearhadbeenthussunk;butIcongratulatedmyselfthatIhadatleastobtainedaresidencegood,comfortable,andsuitable。Tobesure,itwasinferiortothatofanyotherambassador,butIhadfitteditupsothatitwasconsideredcreditable。Suddenly,abouttwoyearsafterward,withoutawordofwarning,camenoticefromtheproprietorthatmyleasewasvoid——thathehadsoldthehouse,andthatImustleaveit;sothatitlookedasiftheAmericanEmbassywould,atanearlyday,beturnedintothestreet。Thiswastryingindeed。Itwasatthebeginningofthesocialseason,andinterferedgreatlywithmydutiesofeverysort。Andtherecroppedoutafeeling,amongallconversantwiththecase,whichIcannotsaywasconducivetorespectforthewisdomofthosewhogivelawstoourcountry。
  But,happily,Ihadinsistedoninsertingintheleaseaclausewhichseemedtomakeitdoubtfulwhethertheproprietorcouldturnmeoutsoeasilyandspeedily。UnderGermanlawitwasaveryprecariousreliance,butonthisItookmystand,andatlast,thanksmainlytothekindnessofmycolleaguewhosucceededmeasatenant,madeacompromiseunderwhichIwasenabledtoretaintheapartmentforsomethingoverayearlonger。
  ItmaybeinterestingforanAmericanwhohasaproperfeelingregardingthepositionofhiscountryabroadtoknowthatthepurchaseroftheentirehouse——notonlyofthefloorwhichIhadoccupied,butofthesimilarapartmentbeneath,aswellasthatonthegroundfloor——wasthelittleGrandDuchyofBaden,whichinthiswayprovidedforitsminister,secretaries,andothersconnectedwithitslegationintheGermancapital。
  Onthetheoryoflineuponlineandpreceptuponprecept,Iagaincallattention,NOTtothewrongdoneMEbythisAmericanpolicy,orratherwantofpolicy,——forIknewincomingwhatIhadtoexpect,——buttotheinjurythusdonetothePROPERSTANDINGOF
  OURCOUNTRYBEFORETHEOTHERNATIONSOFTHEWORLD。AgainIinsistthat,initsowninterest,agovernmentlikeoursought,ineverycapitalwhereitisrepresented,topossessortoholdonlongleaseahouseorapartmentsuitabletoitsrepresentativeandcreditabletoitself。
  Earlyinthespringof1900cameaneventofsomehistoricalinterest。Onthe19thofMarchandthetwodaysfollowingwascelebratedthetwo—hundredthanniversaryofthefoundingoftheRoyalAcademyofSciences。TheEmperor,aswellastheAcademy,haddeterminedtomakeitagreatoccasion,andtheresultwasaseriesofverybrilliantpageants。Thesebeganbyasolemnreceptionofthedelegatesfromallpartsoftheworldinthegreathallofthepalace,mydutybeingtorepresenttheSmithsonianInstitutionatWashington,andmycolleaguesbeingProfessorsWhiteandWolfofHarvard,whohadbeensentbytheAmericanAcademyofSciences。Thescenewasverystriking,allthedelegates,exceptthosefromAmericaandSwitzerland,beinginthecostumesoftheorganizationstheyrepresented;mostwerepicturesque,andsomehadaverymediaevalappearance;thosefromtheancientuniversitiesofWurzburgandPrague,especially,lookingasiftheyhadjuststeppedoutofanilluminatedmanuscriptofthefourteenthcentury。AtthetimenamedforthebeginningofthefestivaltheEmperorentered,announcedbytheblareoftrumpets,precededbyministersbearingthesword,standard,andgreatseal,andbygeneralsbearingthecrown,scepter,andorb。Hewassurroundedbythehighestofficialsofthekingdomandempire,andhavingtakenhisseatonthethrone,therecamemajesticmusicpreludingsundryorationsandlistsofhonorsconferredoneminentmenofscienceinallpartsoftheworld,amongwhomIwasgladtonoteProfessorsGibbsofYale,JamesofHarvard,andRowlandofJohnsHopkins。
  TheEmperor’sspeechwascharacteristic。Itshowedthathisheartwasinthematter;thathefeltajustprideintheachievementsofGermanscience,andwasdeterminedthatnoeffortsofhisshouldbewantingtoincreaseandextendthem。Afterthecloseofthefunction,whichwasmadeinthesamestatelywayasitsbeginning,mycolleaguesdrovehomewithme,andoneofthemsaid,"Well,IamanAmericanandarepublican,butwhenIaminamonarchyIliketoseeathingofthiskinddoneinthemostmagnificentwaypossible,asitwasthismorning。"Adayortwoafterward,atthedinnergiventotheambassadorsbytheEmperor,Itoldhimthisstory。Helaughedheartily,andthensaid:"Yourfriendisright:ifamanistobeamonarch,lethimbeamonarch;DomPedroofBraziltriedtobesomethingelse,anditdidnotturnoutwell。"
  ImpressiveinadifferentwayweretheceremoniesattendantuponthecomingofageoftheGermancrownprince,onthe6thofMay,1900。Todohonortotheoccasion,theEmperorFranzJosefofAustria—Hungaryhadsentwordthathewouldbepresent,andformanydaysthewholecityseemedmainlydevotedtodecoratingitsbuildingsandstreetsforhisvisit;theculminationofthewholebeingatthePariserPlatz,infrontoftheBrandenburgGate,whereatriumphalarchandobeliskswereerected,withotherdecorations,patrioticandcomplimentary。Onthemorningofthe4thhearrived,and,enteringthecityatthesideoftheGermanEmperor,eachintheproperuniformoftheother,hewasreceivedbytheburgomasterandtowncouncilofBerlinwithamostcordialspeech,andthen,passingonthroughtheLinden,whichwasshowilydecorated,hewasenthusiasticallygreetedeverywhere。Nodoubtthisgreetingwasthoroughlysincere,sinceallgoodGermanslookuponFranzJosefastheirtruestally。
  Nexteveningtherewasa"gala"performanceattheRoyalOpera,theplaypresentedbeing,ofallthingsintheworld,Auber’s"BronzeHorse,"whichisafarcicalChinesefairytalesettoverylightandpleasingmusic。Thestagesettingwasgorgeous,buttheaudiencewasstillmoreso,delegatesfromallthegreaterpowersoftheworldbeingpresent,includingtheheirstotheBritishandItalianthrones,theGrandDukeConstantineofRussia,andamultitudeofotherscionsofroyalty。Onefeaturewascomical。NearmesatHisExcellencytheChineseminister,surroundedbyhissecretariesandattaches,allapparentlydelighted;andonmyaskinghim,throughhisinterpreter,howhelikedit,hesaid,"Verymuch;thisshowstheEuropeansthatinChinaweknowhowtoamuseourselves。"OfthefactthatitwasaratherhighlychargedcaricatureofChineseofficialdomheseemedeitherreallyordiplomaticallyunconscious。
  OnthefollowingmorningIwasreceivedinaudiencebytheGermanEmperor,bringingtohimawarmmessageofcongratulationfromPresidentMcKinley;andwhenHisMajestyhadrepliedverycordially,heintroducedmetothecrownprincestandingathisside,towhomIgavethePresident’sbestwishes。Thencame,inthechapelofthepalace,animpressivereligiousservice,theaddressbyDr。Dryanderbeingeloquent,andthemusic,bythecathedralchoirand,attimes,byagreatmilitaryorchestra,bothfaraboveusinthedome,beautiful。Atitsclosethecrownprincecameforward,stoodbeforethealtar,whereIhadseenhisparentsmarriedtwentyyearsbefore,andtheoathofallegiance,whichwasquitelong,havingbeenreadtohimbythecolonelofhisregiment,herepeatedit,wordforword,andmadehissolemnpledge,liftingonehandandgraspingtheimperialstandardwiththeother。Then,afterreceivingaffectionateembracesfromhisfatherandmother,hewascongratulatedbythesovereignsandroyalpersonages。TheambassadorsandministershavingbeenthenreceivedbytheEmperorandEmpress,theyoungprincecamealongthelineandspoketoeachofusinaveryunaffectedandmanlyway。Hewasatthattimesomewhattallerthanhisfather,withanintelligentandpleasantface,andislikely,Ishouldsay,todowellinhisgreatposition,thoughnotpossessing,probably,anythinglikehisfather’svariedgiftsandgraces。
  IntheeveningcameadinnerintheWhiteHallofthepalacetoseveralhundredguests,includingtheEmperorofAustria—Hungary,theKingofSaxony,andothervisitingpersonages,withtheheadsofthediplomaticmissions,andtheleadingpersonagesoftheempire;andnearthecloseofittheEmperorWilliamaroseandmadeanexcellentspeech,toallappearanceextemporaneous。TheanswerbytheEmperorofAustria—Hungarywasreadbyhim,andwassensibleandappropriate。
  Thatthisvisitdidmuchtostrengthenthetieswhichbindthetwomonarchieswasshownnotmerelybyhurrahsinthestreetsanddithyrambicutterancesinthenewspapers,butbyamassofothertestimony。OnecuriousthingwasthegreatcareeverywheretakeninthedecorationstohonorthecrownandflagofHungaryequallywiththatofAustria,andthis,aswasshownbytheHungarianjournals,hadanexcellenteffect。Bythismeeting,nodoubt,theTripleAlliancewassomewhatstrengthened,andthechancesforcontinuedpeaceincreased,atleastduringthelifetimeoftheEmperorFranzJosef。Astowhatwillfollowhisdeathallisdark。Hissuccessorisoneoftheleastsuitableofmen,——unprepossessing,andevenforbidding,ineveryrespect。
  BroughtupbytheJesuits,heisdistrustedbyavastmassofthebestpeopleintheempire,CatholicandProtestant。AdevoutCatholictheywouldbegladtotake,butaJesuitpupiltheydread,fortheyknowtoowellwhatsuchhavebroughtupontheempirehitherto,and,indeed,uponeverykingdomwhichhasallowedtheminitscouncils。Hispreviouscareerhasnotbeenedifying,andthereisnoreasontoexpectanychangeinhim。TheEmperorFranzJosefisprobablyasthoroughlybelovedbyhissubjectsasanysovereigninhistoryhaseverbeen。Hisgreatmisfortunes——fearfuldefeatsinthewarswithFranceandGermany,thesuicideofhisonlyson,theassassinationofhiswife,andfamilytroublesinmorerecenttimes——havethrownabouthimanatmosphereofromanticsympathy;whileloveforhiskindlyqualitiesismingledwithrespectforhisplaincommonsense。
  DuringhisstayinBerlinImethimasecondtime。AtmyfirstpresentationatDresden,twoyearsbefore,therewaslittleopportunityforextendedconversation;buthenowspokequiteatlengthandinamannerwhichshowedhimtobeobservantoftheworld’saffairseveninremoteregions。Hediscussedtherecentincreaseofourarmy,theprogressofourwarinthePhilippines,andtheextensionofAmericanenterpriseinvariouspartsoftheworld,inawaywhichwasnotatallperfunctory,butevidentlytheresultoflargeinformationandcarefulobservation。Hisempire,whichisaseethingcaldronofhates,racial,religious,political,andlocal,isheldtogetherbyloveandrespectforhim;butwhenhediesthispersonaltiewhichunitesallthesedifferentraces,parties,andlocalitieswilldisappear,andinplaceofitwillcomethemanwhobyforceofuntowardcircumstancesistobehissuccessor,andthisisanythingbutapleasingprospecttoanAustro—Hungarian,or,indeed,toanythoughtfulobserverofhumanaffairs。
  Interestingtomeatthisperiodwasavisitfromrepresentativesofthe"Kriegerverein"——German—AmericanswhohadformerlyfoughtinthewarbetweenGermanyandFrance,whohadsincebecomeAmericancitizens,andwhowerenowrevisitingtheirnativeland。
  Theywereaverymanlybody,evidentlytakingprideintheAmericanflagwhichtheycarried,andalsointheparttheyhadplayedinGermany。Replyingtoafriendlyaddressbytheircommandingofficer,ItookupsomecurrentAmericanfallaciesregardingGermanyandGermans,encouragedmyhearerstostandfirmagainstsensationaleffortstomaketroublebetweenthetwocountries,urgedthemtokeeptheirchildreninknowledgeoftheGermanlanguageandintouchwithGermancivilization,whilebringingthemupasthoroughlyloyalAmericans,remindingthemthateveryAmericanwhoisinterestedinGermanhistoryorliteratureorscienceorartisanadditionallinkinthechainwhichbindstogetherthetwonations。Thespeechwasofaveryoffhandsort;butitseemedtostrikedeepandspeedfar,foritevokedmostkindlylettersofcongratulationandthanksfromvariouspartsofGermanyandtheUnitedStates。
  ThemoststrikingepisodeinthehistoryoftheworldduringtheseyearswastherevolutioninChina。ThefirsteventwhichstartledmankindwasthemurderofBaronvonKetteler,theGermanministeratPeking,amanofremarkableabilitiesandaccomplishments,whowasthoughtsuretorisehighamongdiplomatists,andwhohadespeciallyattractedAmericanfriendshipsbyhismarriagewithanAmericanlady。Theimpressioncreatedbythiscalamitywasmadeallthegreaterbythefactthat,intheabsenceoffurthernewsfromtheChinesecapital,therewasreasontofearthatthewholediplomaticcorps,withtheirfamilies,mightbemurdered。Americanactionintheentanglementswhichfollowedwaspromptandsuccessful,andthinkingmeneverywheresoonsawittobeso。TowardtheendofJuly,1900,beingabouttogotoAmericaforthesummer,ItookleaveofCountvonBulowattheForeignOffice,and,oncomingout,metoneofmycolleagues,who,althoughrepresentingoneofthelesserEuropeanpowers,waswellknownasexceedinglyshrewdandfar—sighted。Hesaid:"IcongratulateyouonthecoursepursuedbyyourgovernmentduringthisfearfulChineseimbroglio。
  Otherpowershavemadehastetojumpintowar;youradmiralatTientsinseemstheonlyonewhohaskepthishead;othergovernmentshavetreatedrepresentativesoftheChineseEmpireashostile,and,indoingso,havecutthemselvesofffromalldirectinfluenceonthePekingGovernment;thegovernmentatWashingtonhastakenanoppositecourse,hasconsideredthetroublesas,primafacie,theworkofinsurrectionists,hasinsistedonclaimingfriendshipwiththeconstitutedauthoritiesinChina,and,inviewofthisfriendship,hasinsistedonbeingkeptincommunicationwithitsrepresentativeattheChinesecapital,theresultbeingthatyourgovernmenthasbeenallowedtocommunicatewithitsrepresentative,andhastherebygainedtheinformationandissuedtheorderswhichhavesavedtheentirediplomaticcorps,aswellastheforcesofthedifferentpowersnowinPeking。"
  ItwasoneofthosecontemporarytestimoniestotheskillofMr。
  McKinleyandSecretaryHaywhichindicatetheverdictofhistory。
  Ourlaterpolicywasequallysound。ItwastopreventanyfurtherterritorialencroachmentsonChinabyforeignpowers,andtosecuretheopeningoftheempireonequaltermstothecommerceoftheentireworld。Ontheotherhand,theGermanGovernment,exasperatedbythemurderofitsministeratPeking,wasatfirstinclinedtogobeyondthis,andaspeechoftheEmperortohistroopsastheywereleavingGermanyfortheseatofwarwashastilyconstruedtomeanthattheyweretocarryoutapolicyofexterminationandconfiscation。EvenafterthefirstnaturaloutburstofindignationagainsttheChinese,itlookedasiftheultimatumpresentedbythepowerswouldincludedemandswhichcouldneverbemet,andwouldentangleallthepowersinalongandtediouswar,leading,perhaps,toaworsecatastrophe。
  Quietlybutvigorously,fromfirsttolast,theAmericanpolicywasurgedbyMr。Conger,AmericanministeratPeking,andbyotherrepresentativesofourgovernmentabroad;anditwasahappymorningformewhen,aftereffortsmanyandlongcontinued,IreceivedattheBerlinForeignOfficetheassurancethatGermanywouldnotconsidertheearlierconditionspresentedbythepowerstotheChineseGovernmentas"irrevocable。"Myconstantcontention,duringinterviewsattheForeignOffice,hadbeenthattheUnitedStatesdesiredasanxiouslytoseethemainmiscreantspunishedasdidanyothernation,butthatitwasofnousetodemand,uponmembersoftheimperialfamily,andupongeneralsincommandofgreatarmies,extremepenaltieswhichtheChineseGovernmentwasnotstrongenoughtoinflict,orindemnitieswhichitwasnotrichenoughtopay;thatouraimwasnotquixoticbutpractical,andthat,inadvocatingsteadilythe"opendoor"policy,wewerelaboringquiteasmuchforallotherpowersasforourselves。Ofcoursewewerechargedinvariousquarterswithcold—bloodedness,andwithmerelyseekingtopromoteourowninterestintrade;buttheJapanese,whocouldunderstandthequestionbetterthantheWesternpowers,steadilyadheredtoourpolicy,andmoreandmore,initsmainlines,itprovedtobecorrect。
  OntheFourthofJuly,1900,camethecelebrationofournationalindependenceatLeipsic,andbeingaskedtorespondtothefirstregulartoast,and,havingatmyformervisitdweltespeciallyuponthePresidency,mythemenowbecamethecharacterandservicesofthePresidenthimself,anditwasapleasuretofindthatmystatementwasreceivedbytheGermanpressinawaythatshowedareactionfrompreviousinjustice。
  DuringAugustandSeptemberprecedingthepoliticalcampaignwhichresultedinMr。McKinley’sreelectionIwasintheUnitedStates。Itwasthehottestsummerinverymanyyears,andcertainly,withinmywholeexperience,therehadbeennotorridheatlikethatduringmyvisitstoWashington。Nearlyeveryoneseemedprostratedbyit。UponarrivingattheArlingtonHotel,I
  foundtwooldfriendsunnervedbythetemperature,oneofthemnotdaringtoriskasunstrokebygoingtothetrainwhichwouldtakehimtohishomeinChicagoRetiringtoone’sroomatnight,eveninthebest—situatedhotels,waslikeenteringanoven。Theleadingofficialpersonsweregenerallyabsent,andthosewhoremainedseemedhardlycapableofdoingbusiness。Buttherewasoneexception。GoingtotheWhiteHousetopaymyrespectstothePresident,IfoundhimtheonemaninWashingtonperfectlycool,serene,andunaffectedbytheburningheatorbythepressureofpublicaffairs。AlthoughmattersinCuba,inPortoRico,inthePhilippinesinChina,andinthepoliticalcampaignthengoingonmusthavebeenconstantlyinhismind,hehadplentyoftime,seemedtotaketroubleaboutnothing,andkeptmeinhisofficeforafullhour,discussingcalmlythevariousphasesofthesituationastheywereaffectedbymattersinGermany。
  HisdiscussionofpublicaffairsshowedthesamequietinsightandstrengthwhichIhadrecognizedinhimwhenwefirstmet,in1884,asdelegatesattheChicagoNationalConvention。OnethingduringthisWashingtoninterviewstruckmeespecially:Iaskedhimifhewastomakeanyaddressesduringthecampaign;heanswered:"No;severalofmyfriendshaveurgedmetodoso,butIshallnot。IintendtoreturntowhatseemstomethebetterpolicyoftheearlierPresidents:theAmericanpeoplehavemyadministrationbeforethem;theyhaveamplematerialforjudgingit,andwiththemIshallsilentlyleavethewholematter。"Hesaidthisinaperfectlysimple,quietway,whichshowedthathemeantwhathesaid。AtthetimeIregrettedhisdecision;butitsoonbecameclearthathewasright。
  Atthebeginningoftheyear1901camethetwo—hundredthanniversaryofthefoundingofthePrussiankingdom。
  Representativesoftheothergovernmentsoftheworldappearedatcourtinfullforce;and,underinstructionsfromthePresident,Itenderedhiscongratulationsandbestwishestothemonarch,asfollows:
  MayitpleaseYourMajesty:IaminstructedbythePresidenttopresenthisheartycongratulationsonthistwo—hundredthanniversaryofthefoundingoftheKingdomofPrussia,and,withhiscongratulations,hisbestwishesforYourMajesty’shealthandhappiness,aswellasthehealthandhappinessoftheRoyalFamily,andhisearnesthopesforthecontinuedprosperityofYourMajesty’sKingdomandEmpire。
  AtthesametimeIfeelfullyauthorizedtopresentsimilarcongratulationsandgoodwishesfromthewholepeopleoftheUnitedStates。Thetiesbetweenthetwonations,insteadofbeingweakenedbytime,haveconstantlygrownstronger。Asregardsmaterialintereststheyareboundtogetherbyanenormouscommerce,growinggreatlyeveryyear:asregardsdeepersentiments,nomanacquaintedwithAmericanHistoryforgetsthattheHouseofHohenzollernwasoneofthefirstEuropeanpowerstorecognizeAmericanIndependence;andthatitwasFredericktheGreatwhomadethatfirsttreaty,——alandmarkinthehistoryofInternationalLaw,——theonlyfaultofwhichwasthattheworldwasnotfarenoughadvancedtoappreciateit。WealsorememberthatGermanywastheonlyforeigncountrywhichshoweddecidedsympathyforusduringourCivilWar——thesecondstruggleforournationalexistence。
  Ialsofeelfullyauthorized,inviewofYourMajesty’sinterestineverythingthatministerstothehighestinterestsofcivilization,toexpressthanksforservicewhichthebroadpolicyofGermanyhasrenderedtheUnitedStatesinthrowingopentoAmericanscholarsitsUniversities,itsTechnicalSchools,itsconservatoriesofArt,itsMuseums,anditsLibraries。EveryUniversityandadvancedschooloflearningintheUnitedStatesrecognizesthefactthatGermanyhasbeenourmainforeignteacher,asregardsthehigherrangesofScience,Literature,andArt,andImaybeallowedtoremindYourMajesty,thatwhileGreatBritainisjustlyreveredbyusasourmothercountryGermanyisbeginningtoholdtousasimilarrelation,notonlyasthefatherlandofavastnumberofAmericancitizens,butasoneofthemainsourcesoftheintellectualculturespreadbyouruniversitiesandschoolsforadvancedlearning。
  Allowme,then,sir,torenewthebestwishesofthePresidentandpeopleoftheUnitedStates,withtheirhopesthateverblessingmayattendYourMajesty,theHouseofHohenzollerntheKingdomofPrussia,andtheGermanEmpire。
  TheEmperorinhisreplyspokeverycordiallyofthePresident’sspecialtelegram,whichhehadreceivedthatmorning,andthengaveearnestutterancetohisbeliefthatthetimeiscomingwhenthethreegreatpeoplesofGermanicdescentwillstandfirmlytogetherinallthegreatquestionsoftheworld。
  ThereligiousceremoniesinthePalaceChapel,withmagnificentmusic;thebanquet,whichincludedpertinentspeechesfromthemonarchs;andthegalarepresentationattheoperaallpassedoffwell:but,perhaps,thatwhichwilldwelllongestinmymemorytookplaceatthelast。Theperformanceconsistedoftwopieces:
  oneapoemglorifyingPrussia,recitedwithmusic;theotheraplay,infouracts,withlong,musicalinterludes,deifyingthegreatElectorandthehouseofHohenzollern。Thoughsplendidinscenicsettingandbrilliantinpresentationitwasverylong,andtheambassadors’boxwascrowdedandhot。InthemidstofitalltheFrenchambassador,theMarquisdeNoailles,oneofthemostsuavecourteous,andplacidofmen,quietlysaidtome,withinimitablegravity,"WhataborethismustbetothosewhounderstandGerman!(Commecadoitetreennuyeuxaceuxquicorreprennentl’Allexnand!)"Thissuddenrevelationofalowerdepthofboredom——fromonewhocouldnotunderstandawordoftheplay——wasworthyofhisancestorsinthedaysofSaint—SimonandDangeau。
  Duringthefollowingsummertwogreatsorrowsbefellmeandmine,butthereisnothingtobeherechronicledsavethatinthis,asinprevioustrials,Itookrefugeinworkwhichseemedtobeworthy。Thediplomaticserviceinsummerisnotusuallyexacting,especiallywhenonehas,asIhad,thoroughlyloyalandjudiciousembassysecretaries。AsinaformerbereavementIhadturnedtoastudyofthecharacterandservicesofJohnofPortugalandhisgreatsuccessorsintheageofdiscovery,sonowIturnedtoFraPaoloSarpiandthegoodfighthefoughtforVeniceandhumanity。
  Tomylargecollectionofbooksonthesubject,mademainlyinItaly,Iaddedmuchfromtheoldbook—shopsofGermany,andwiththeserevisedmyVenetianstudies。AnolddreamofminehadbeentobringoutasmallbookonFraPaolo:nowIsought,moremodestly,toprepareanessay。[6]Theworkwasgoodforme。
  ContemplationofthatnoblestofthethreegreatItaliansbetweentheRenaissanceandtheResurrectionofItalydidsomethingtoliftmeabovesorrow;readinghiswords,utteredsocalmlyinallthestormandstressofhistime,soothedme。Viewedfrommywork—tableontheislandofRugen,theworldbecamelessdarkasIthoughtuponthisheroofthreecenturiesago。
  [6]Thisessayhassincebeenpublishedinthe"AtlanticMonthly"
  ofJanuaryandFebruary,1904。
  {Includedetext:ProjectGutenberg}
  THEATLANTICMONTHLY:AMAGAZINEOFLiterature,Science,Art,andPoliticsVOLUMEXCIII{FromJanuary,1904——NumberDLV。andFebruary,1904——NumberDLVI。}
  BOSTONANDNEWYORKHOUGHTONMIFFLINANDCOMPANYTheRiversidePress,Cambridge1904
  COPYRIGHT,1903AND1904BYHOUGHTON,MIFFLINANDCOMPANY
  TheRiversidePress,Cambridge,Mass。,U。S。A。ElectrotypedandPrintedbyH。O。Houghton&CompanyFRAPAOLOSARPI。
  I。
  Athoughtfulhistoriantellsusthat,betweenthefourteenthcenturyandthenineteenth,Italyproducedthreegreatmen。Asthefirstofthese,henamesMachiavelli,who,hesays,"taughttheworldtounderstandpoliticaldespotismandtohateit;"asthesecond,henamesSarpiwho"taughttheworldafterwhatmannertheHolySpiritguidestheCouncilsoftheChurch;"andasthethird,Galileo,who"taughttheworldwhatdogmatictheologyisworthwhenitcanbetestedbyscience。"
  Ipurposenowtopresentthesecondofthese。AsaMAN,hewasbyfarthegreatestofthethreeand,invariousrespects,themostinteresting,forhenotonlythrewabrightlightintothemostimportantgeneralcounciloftheChurchandrevealedtoChristendomthemethodswhichthereprevailed,——inabookwhichremainsoneofthehalf—dozenclassichistoriesoftheworld,——buthefoughtthemostbitterfightforhumanityagainstthepapacyeverknowninanyLatinnation,andwonavictorybywhichthewholeworldhasprofitedeversince。Moreover,hewasoneofthetwoforemostItalianstatesmensincetheMiddleAges,theotherbeingCavour。
  HewasbornatVenicein1552,anditmayconcernthosewhocaretonotethesubtleinterweavingofthewarpandwoofofhistorythatthebirthyearofthismostresourcefulfoethatJesuitismeverhadwasthedeathyearofSt。FrancisXavier,thenoblestofJesuitapostles。
  Itmayalsointerestthosewhostudythemoreevidentevolutionofcauseandeffectinhumanaffairstonotethat,likemoststrongmen,hehadastrongmother;thatwhilehisfatherwasapoorshopkeeperwhodidlittleanddiedyoung,hismotherwaswiseandserene。
  Fromhisearliestboyhood,heshowedstrikinggiftsandcharacteristics。Heneverforgotafaceonceseen,couldtakeinthemaincontentsofapageataglance,spokelittle,rarelyatemeat,and,untilhislastyears,neverdrankwine。
  Broughtup,afterthedeathofhisfather,firstbyhisuncle,apriest,andthenbyCapella,aServitemonk,insomethingbetterthantheusualpriestlyfashion,hebecameknown,whileyetinhisboyhood,asatheologicalprodigy。Disputationsinhisyouth,especiallyoneatMantua,where,afterthemannerofthetime,hesuccessfullydefendedseveralhundredthesesagainstallcomers,attractedwideattention,sothattheBishopgavehimaprofessorship,andtheDuke,who,likesomeothercrownedheadsofthosedays,——notablyHenryVIII。andJamesI。,——likedtodabbleintheology,madehimacourttheologian。Butthedutiesofthispositionwereuncongenial:aflippantduke,fondofputtingquestionswhichthewisesttheologiancouldnotanswer,andlayingoutworkwhichtheyoungscholarevidentlythoughtfutile,apparentlyweariedhim。HereturnedtotheconventoftheServitesatVenice,andbecame,afterafewyears’novitiate,afriar,changing,atthesametime,hisname;sothat,havingbeenbaptizedPeter,henowbecamePaul。
  Hiscareersoonseemedtorevealanotherandunderlyingcauseofhisreturn:heevidentlyfeltthesameimpulsewhichstirredhiscontemporaries,LordBaconandGalileo;forhebegandevotinghimselftothewholerangeofscientificandphilosophicalstudies,especiallytomathematics,physics,astronomy,anatomy,andphysiology。Inthesehebecameknownasanauthority,andbeforelongwasrecognizedassuchthroughoutEurope。Itisclaimed,anditisnotimprobable,thatheanticipatedHarveyindiscoveringthecirculationoftheblood,andthathewastheforerunnerofnoteddiscoveriesinmagnetism。Unfortunatelythelossofthegreatmassofhispapersbythefirewhichdestroyedhisconventin1769forbidsanyfullestimateofhiswork;butitiscertainthatamongthosewhosoughthisopinionandadviceweresuchgreatdiscoverersasAcquapendente,Galileo,Torricelli,andGilbertofColchester,andthateveryoneofthesereferredtohimasanequal,andindeedasamaster。Itseemsalsoestablishedthatitwashewhofirstdiscoveredthevalvesoftheveins,thathemadeknownthemostbeautifulfunctionoftheiris,——itscontractility,——andthatvarioussurmisesofhisregardingheat,light,andsoundhavesincebeendevelopedintoscientifictruths。Itisaltogetherlikelythat,hadhenotbeendrawnfromscientificpursuitsbyhisdutiesasastatesman,hewouldhaverankedamongthegreaterinvestigatorsanddiscoverers,notonlyofItaly,butoftheworld。
  Healsostudiedpoliticalandsocialproblems,andhearrivedatoneconclusionwhich,thoughnowtrite,wasthennovel,——theopinionthattheaimofpunishmentshouldnotbevengeance,butreformation。Inthesedaysandinthiscountry,whereoneofthemostseriousofevilsisunduelenitytocrime,thisopinionmaybeimputedtohimasafault;butinthosedays,whentorturewasthemainmethodinprocedureandinpenalty,hisdeclarationwashonorablebothtohisheadandheart。
  Withallhisdevotiontobooks,hefoundtimetostudymen。Evenatschool,hehadseemedtodiscernthosewhowouldwincontrol。
  Theydiscernedsomethinginhimalso;sothatcloserelationswereformedbetweenhimandsuchleadersasContariniandMorosini,withwhomheafterwardsstoodsidebysideingreatemergencies。
  Importantmissionswereentrustedtohim。FivetimeshevisitedRometoadjustperplexingdifferencesbetweenthepapalpowerandvariousinterestsatVenice。Hewasrapidlyadvancedthroughmostofthehigherofficesinhisorder,andinthesehegaveaseriesofdecisionswhichwontherespectofallentitledtoformanopinion。
  NaturallyhewasthoughtofforhighplaceintheChurch,andwastwicepresentedforabishopric;buteachtimehewasrejectedatRome,——partlyfromfamilyclaimsoflessworthycandidates,partlyfromsuspicionsregardinghisorthodoxy。ItwasobjectedthathedidnotfindthewholedoctrineoftheTrinityinthefirstverseofGenesis,thathecorrespondedwitheminenthereticsofEnglandandGermany,thathewasnotaversetoreforms,that,inshort,hewasnotinclinedtowallowintheslimefromwhichhadcrawledforthsuchhugeincarnationsofevilasJohnXXIII。,JuliusII。,SixtusIV。,andAlexanderVI。
  Hisorthodoxdetractorshavebeenwonttorepresenthimasseekingvengeanceforhisnon—promotion;buthisaftercareershowedamplythatpersonalgrievanceshadlittleeffectuponhim。
  Itisindeednotunlikelythatwhenhesawbishopricsforwhichheknewhimselfwellfittedgivenassopstopoorcreaturesutterlyunfitinmoralsorintellect,hemayhavehaddoubtsregardingtheparttakenbytheAlmightyinselectingthem;buthewasreticent,andkeptonwithhiswork。InhiscellatSantaFosca,hequietlyandsteadilydevotedhimselftohischerishedstudies;buthecontinuedtostudymorethanbooksorinanimatenature。Hewasneitherabookwormnorapedant。Onhisvariousmissionshemetanddiscoursedwithchurchmenandstatesmenconcernedinthegreatesttransactionsofhistime,notablyatMantuawithOliva,secretaryofoneofthegreatestecclesiasticsattheCouncilofTrent;atMilanwithCardinalBorromeo,byfarthenoblestofallwhosatinthatassemblageduringitseighteenyears;inRomeandelsewherewithArnauldFerrier,whohadbeenFrenchAmbassadorattheCouncil,CardinalSeverina,headoftheInquisition,Castagna,afterwardPopeUrbanVII。,andCardinalBellarmine,afterwardSarpi’sstrongestandnoblestopponent。