Note 182 — Chapter XXV · ENGLAND IN EGYPT.

These intrigues grew so dangerous that in 1879 Prince Bismarck concluded a Secret Treaty with Austria, which bound each Power to defend the other if attacked by Russia, or if Russia gave aid to any other Power which was attacking them. Though Prince Bismarck, as he said in his speech in the Reichstag (6th of February, 1887) really acted at the Berlin Congress as the fourth plenipotentiary of Russia, the Russian War Party were of opinion that he ought to have done more for them. Their attacks on Germany in the Press were incessant. Russians of rank like Gortschakoff and Skobeleff, notoriously carried on intrigues with France for an alliance against Germany. Indeed, Russian troops began to mass themselves on the German frontier in 1882. Curiously enough, of the four men who could have done most to thwart Prince Bismarck’s League of Peace with Austria—only one (Garibaldi) died in circumstances free from suspicion of foul play. Garibaldi’s death rendered it easier to bring Italy into Prince Bismarck’s anti-French combination. These four men it is curious to note passed away most opportunely for Prince Bismarck. Garibaldi died in June, Skobeleff on the 7th of July, Gambetta in December, 1882, and Gortschakoff on the 11th of March, 1883. Germany breathed freely after the death of Gambetta, who, said Prince Bismarck once, worked on the nerves of Europe “like a man who beats a drum in a sick room.”