第44章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White",免费读到尾

  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。

点击下载App,搜索"Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White",免费读到尾