The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-18
German Unity and French Arrogance
WILLIAM 1, KING OF PRUSSIA.

Upon William l, King of Prussia and execu-
tive head of the North German Confederation,
rest the eyes of the world, as one of the two
central figures in the great struggle for supre-
macy just inaugurated in Europe. We there
fore present the following sketch of his lfe
which is of interest at present, not only in a
personal way, but as showing the gradual pro-
gress of German unity during the period of his
reign.
The son of Frederick William III and of the
Princess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz he was
born on the 22d of March, 1897, at time when
the continent was in the turmoil of the first
French Revolution. Being a younger son, he
was educated as a soldier, and, having witnessed
when a child the humiliation of his country his
family and his father by the first Napoleon, he
commenced his military career, while mere
youth, by participating in the campaigns of
1918 and 1915 against France. Thus from his
earliest years he has been pitted against the
nation now facing him on the banks of the
Rhine and especially against the family which
again controls the destinies of France. After
the Napoleonic wars had been terminated by
the exile of their instigator to st. Helena,
Prince William did not figure very prominently
until 1910, in which year he was appointed Gov
ernor of Pomerania.
The Revolution of 1S4S Sends Him into Exile.
This post he retained until the outbreak of the
Revolution of 184S, when having completely
alienated the Liberal party by his undisguised
contempt for democracy and everything per-
tanning to it, he was forced to take refuge in
foreign land. He passed some months in Eng
land; and, having in May of the same year
been elected member of the Constituent AS
sembly, soon after ventured to return to Berlin,
assuming his seat in the Assembly on the sth of
June.
His Campaign In Baden.
In June of the following year he was made
Commander-n- Chief of the Prussian army ope-
rating against the revolutionary force in Baden,
and signalized himself by merciless and tri-
Hmphant campaign. In 1854, he was appointed
Military Governor of Rhenish Prussia, the very
position now held by Prince Charles Anthony,
the frther of Prince Leopold OF Hohenzollern,
but for whose existence the present struggle
would probably not have commenced. During
his residence at Mayence in this capacity, it is
said that his arbitrary bearing and course did
much towards increasing the disaffection of the
people of that city towards Prussian rule. The
| Crimean war, which transpired about this time
found Prussia on neutral platform, much to
Prince Williams regret and opposition, longing,
as he did to lead an army against France at that
time.
He Becomes egent in 1855
In 1858 the mind of his elder bro
ther, King Frederick William ", gave
way, and he was elevated to
the nominal position of Regent, and actual po-
siton of ruler of the kingdom, with an immedi-
ate prospect of the speedy succession to the
crown itself, as the royal lunatic was without
ISSUE
The first thing he did as Regent was to cut
loose from the arstocratic party with which he
hod fharnf hy hn ado
of measurably liberal policy laid the basis of
his future career.
He Crowns Himself K,cS FiGi by Divine R'Hht'' In
Frederick William died on the I'd of January,
1861, and the Regent succeeded to the throne as
William 1. His coronation took place at
Koenigsburg, on October 1S following, amid
much pomp. King William placed the crown
upon his own head with his own hands, and,
despite the liberal professions so recently made,
he on this occasion emphatically asserted the
divine right of kings, declaring that he held his
power not from the people or the Constitution,
but 'from God alone"
His Absolute PolicyaA Esl StrgEsle with the Prus-
The Liberal party, of course, were disap-
pointed, and a desperate struggle between the
crown and the chambers was inaugurated at the
very outset of his reign. The King insisted i'm
peratively npon a reform in the army, which,
he was satisfied by the recent Italian war, was
unequal to maintaining the position of Prussia
as one of the great powers of Europe. The
trouble with the House of Deputies was precipi-
tated by the haste which he manifested in carry
ing forward his scheme before the budget had
been definitely acted upon. In March, 1861, the
House had by resolution insisted upon more
specific budget, whereupon it was dissolved
The resignation of the Cabinet ensued, followed
in 1862 by the election of an overwhelming
Opposition majority to the House of Deputies.
He Calls Bismarck to His Help.
The new ministry proved no stronger thar
their predecessors, and the eyes of the Kins
were turned towards Bismarck then Ambassa
dor at Paris, as the man who could face th'
popular clamor at such crisis. He was no
mistaken in the character of the man The
House of Peers sustained the policy of the King
but the Deputies persistently refused to vott
the increased military budget demanded, and
Baron Won der Reydt the Prime Minister re
using to spend the money against this vote
resigned
In September following Bismarck was calleC
from Paris to take his place. He made shoV
Df conciliation and withdrew the obnoxiou
budget, 'because," as he alleged, 'the Govern
nent considered it their duty not to allow the
obstacles towards settlement to increase il
volume"
rhe Policy OF "Iron and BIood' Announced
Then he announced his policy. 1T was,
kaid Bismarck, echoing the sentiments of tn
King towing to the great obstinacy OF indiv
iuals that it was difficult to govern with tn