The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-08-04

0A'' VI I1auee WHO almost
~ sspacious for conquest as was the first
Napoleon, vas compelled to withdraw
his claim to Prussia.
With varied fortune, amidst the wars
Of tho psriod, the new monarchy held
her own, and successfully resisted the
bribes and the armies which threaten.
ed to terminate her existence. Frede-
rick William, who was born In 1858,
and who died in 1740, after +. reign Of
tweuty-seven years, was just the man
for his country at the particular era
during which he ruled. He thoroughly
understood tho value Of economy to a
young and struggling people. He was
economical even to peuuriousness.
The wont blots upon his character
were those which stamped him with
tyranny and cruelty even towards his
own children. His son, who was after.
wards Frederick the Great, passed a
considerable time in a dungeon by
command Of bis father. Nevertheless
Frederick William left bis kingdom in
. much more prosperous and powerful
condition than that in which he found
it.
When Frederick H., surn.med the
Great, asoended tho throne, he found a
full exohequer aod = dne amy Of r..
600 men ready 10 his hand. He was
not slow to make use of this force:-
His whole life vas 4 continued dream Of
ambition, and he was utterly regardless
Of the rights Of others Is long rs hs
could add to Prussian territory. Pow.
erfal as was the Austrian Empress,
Maria Theresa, Frederick, without a
scintilla of right, wruug from her by
force the province Of S!esis, which he
eventually held, although to do so cost
him several years. fighting. Such were
his military genius and ardor that he
was able to defeat, with comparatively
few troops, all the armies that Austria
and France could pit against him, and
as soldier he certainly deserves to be
classed with Alexander the Great, Lord
Give and the first Napoleon. Freder.
ick, unfortunately, inherited all hi,
fathers vices, and possessed a few nd.
ditional ones of his own. To say tha,
he was a brilliant military genius is to
say the most that can be said in bis
favor. He collected round him many
Of the greatest authors Of bis day, in
oluding Voltaire, who held post in
the royal household. But these wits
and scientific characters were almos,
afraid to open their lips in tho pres
ence Of tho King; for the favorite o1
to-day without reason fell into disgrace
and became tho prisoner Of tomorrow
We dwell thus upoa Frederick's dispo
sition because he did more than oil tn.
rest Of the sovereigus of Germany tt
increase the prestige snd raise Prussi,
70 the dignity OF = first-olass European
power. At his death, however, which
occurred IN 1886, his subjects mum,
bered only 100000: Another blot
upon bis character was, although it ag
grand,zed his Kingdom, that he assisted
Catherine Of Russia, and Mari, There's,
Q: Austris, to rob aud partition Po
land.
In 1906 the first Napoleon offended
Prussia. In his war that year viii
Austria he found it necessary to marot
aeros. . portion Of Prussiau territory
thus violating her neutrality. Pruasi'
became at once anxious for war With
Napoleon, and actually sent . ministe,
With an ultjmatum to the French camp
He arrived 4 few hoars before the bat
sle Of Austsrlitz ~.s fought, aud vher
Napoleon obtained = decisive victor1
tho Willy minister instead Of delivering
his ultim.tam, thought it moro pru
dent to congratulate The Emperor o.
the success Of his arms. Napoleon Va
not to BE- 70 easily hoodvinked. In 1
few months hs declared war against
Prussia. and in three short weeks afts,
ths commencement Of hostilities the
1tsseh troops oeeapied the Prussiau
nbital. Prassis had 70 submit to ,
hsailiat;og peace, and Napoleon reduo'
led her to the rank Of scarcely second.
class power.
Prussia soon attained her revenge.
In tho hour of Napoleon's weakness,
when his grand army had been de-
stroyed by the severity Of the Russian
winter Of 1912, Prussia Is one man rose
against him. The disasters which
Afterwards overlook Napoleon may be
mainly attributed to Prussia. She co
operated against him With Russia, Eng
land and Austria, and desisted no,
until Napoleon was landed in St. Hele.
na. .s...sz ...,. - s. =
After Frederick's death the armies
of Prussia were not we'll gsneralsd,
She ~ oos Of the ast powers g