The one interest which Bismarck wanted the Prussian government to promote was the Prussian interest, no matter whether that interest meant opposition to the democracy or cooeperation therewith; and the important point in the realization of this exclusive policy is that he soon found himself in need of the help of the German democratic movement.

His resolute and candid nationalism in the end forced him to enter into an alliance with the very democracy which he had begun by detesting.
It must be admitted, also, that he had in the beginning reason to distrust the Prussian and the German democracy.

The German radicals had sought to compass the unification of Germany by passing resolutions and making speeches; but such methods, which are indispensable accessories to the good government of an established national community, were utterly incompetent to remove the obstacles to German unity.

These obstacles consisted in the particularism of the German princes, the opposition of Austria, and looming in the background the possible opposition of France; and Bismarck alone thoroughly understood that such obstacles could be removed by war and war only.

But in order to wage war successfully, a country must be well-armed; and in the attempt to arm Prussia so that she would be equal to asserting her interests in Germany, Bismarck and the king had to face the stubborn opposition of the Prussian representative assembly.