II. Herbert von Bismarck to Count Kuno zu Rantzau
Varzin, October 29, 1881
Dear Kuno,
[ . . . ] In the runoff elections between Progressives and Socialists, the correct way to proceed would definitely be for all conservatives not to abstain but rather to vote for the Social Democrats. Papa says: “With the Socialists, we can either make a deal with them [paktieren] or crush them; they can never threaten the current government. A victory of the Progressives, however, = republic, in which case the government will be so weakened that the state must necessarily be ruined.” Lindau could speak along these lines to Luckhardt as if it were his own thinking so that Luckhardt would work along these same lines, and also let this advice slip into the provincial press. One cannot spell it out in the “Post” and the “Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung,” and Papa's name does not have to be brought up. He would like, however, to see the Socialists win against the Progressives in the runoffs mentioned, e.g. in Berlin. Please speak to Lindau and see what you can do!** – Finally, Papa also wishes that all of the mendacious leaflets of the Progressives should be collected and filed away.
Farewell now,
Your loyal HB.
** On the same day Rantzau asked whether the Chancellor favored Socialist over Progressive candidates in the Berlin run-off elections. Because their letters had crossed, Herbert repeated his earlier instructions in a letter dated October 30: “That Papa considers the Social Democrats preferable to the Progressives not only in the run-offs but in general too, cannot be stated openly because of the assassinations [meaning the two attempts on Wilhelm I's life in 1878]. But private views are free [ . . . ].” [Information provided in: Herbert von Bismarck, Staatssekretär Graf Herbert von Bismarck. Aus seiner politischen Privatkorrespondenz [State Secretary Count Herbert von Bismarck: From His Private Political Correspondence], edited and introduced by Walter Bussmann, with the assistance of Klaus-Peter Hoepke. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1964, p. 109.]
Source: Herbert von Bismarck, Staatssekretär Graf Herbert von Bismarck. Aus seiner politischen Privatkorrespondenz [State Secretary Count Herbert von Bismarck: From His Private Political Correspondence], edited and introduced by Walter Bussmann with the assistance of Klaus-Peter Hoepke. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1964, pp. 107-09.
Translation: Erwin Fink
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