The common man wanted a united Germany, as Germans shared a common, united culture and spirit.
The common man, as Bismarck saw things, was not much interested in the finer points of politics, of policy-making and political maneuvering. Common people simply saw themselves as Germans and saw themselves thus naturally in opposition to others -- like Frenchmen. (Bismarck managed to unite all of Germany partly by means of pursuing a war vs. France.)