“ Schurz written his story immediately after leaving the Chancellor's house and given it out for publication. Suppose, for example, Mr. Schurz had published in 1868 Bismarck's prediction of a war with France. Bismarck had been telling how he had averted intervention by France in the Austrian war. He paused, and then added:
But we shall have that war with France anyhow. Do not believe that I love war. I have seen enough of war to abhor it profoundly. The terrible scenes I have witnessed will never cease to haunt my mind. I shall never consent to a war that is avoidable, much less seek it. ”

“ Bismarck enjoyed his evening with Mr. Schurz so much that he bade him come to dinner the next day, and when it was over the great pipe was lighted again and another conversation began, which lasted until long after midnight. In this conversation Bismarck discussed with Mr. Schurz the political, social, and business life of America. “I am not a democrat,” said the Chancellor in the course of this conversation. “I am not a democrat and cannot be. I was born an aristocrat and brought up an aristocrat. ”

“ Prussia is and will steadily be, by tradition as well as by well-understood interests, the firm friend of your Republic, notwithstanding her monarchical and aristocratic sympathies. You may always count upon that. ”