Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1895 — Bismarck’s Retort. [ARTICLE]

Bismarck’s Retort.

Berlin newspapers publish an anecdote of the late Duke Ernst of Saxe-Co-burg-Gotha and Prince Bismarck. One evening when the German troops were before Paris the Duke began grumbling in Bismarck’s presence because the iron cross of the first class, given for bravery on the field of battle, had been distributed too Indiscriminately. Bismarck replied that the distribution of such decorations was always a delicate and difficult task, “for," said he, “conspicuous merit has to be reworded, but in some cases, conspicuous position, with or without merit, cannot well be overlooked. See, now,” he added, “Moltke has it, Roon inis it, Blumenthal has it. Excellent! But then—your Highness and I have it, too, and surely It is not for us to grumble.”