The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-17

owners, the wasted land and the unconquered
ardor, enthusiastically, desperation-of the
patriots militant prove this. The Great
Powers, headed by the United States as the
most interested, should, therefore, bring such
pressure to bear on Spain as would give Cuba
fair chance to peacefully decide her future.
There is much reason to fear that Spain would
be very loath to consent to such manifestly
fair proceeding. Should she contumaciously
would soon settle the matter. We have not
touched upon the question of annexation, as
we have no very strong desire to see it accom-
plished. The HERALD has done its share of
laying the case OF Cuba broadly and impair
TALLY before the world. What does the gov
eminent say to the appeal of Cespedes?
Emperor William, Germany and the
Condition of Europe.
For some days past the idea has been i'm
pressed upon us that Emperor William is in a
critical and dangerous condition One Of our
latest dispatches has it that the Emperor is
seriously ill, and that according to private adj
vices his condition is alarming. We have of
late become familiar with reports regarding
the serious illness Of illustrous personages in
Europe. The Holy Father has been dying for
ever SO many years, but in spite of oil reports
to the contrary the Pope, we have good
reason to believe, is, considering his
advanced years, in remarkably hale
and healthful condition Of body and
,s.>I - 04tn
Of the thought, and like and dislike are equally
liable to give birth to the wish. Pope Plus
the Ninth and Emperor William are, beyond
all question, the two most prominent rulers in
Europe at the present time They have their
friends and their enemies, and, bearing
in mind the wishes Of tho one and Of the
other, it is not difficult to understand how in
either case the rumor of serious illness might
be magnifed into the fact of death. Happily
Pho Mono still lives, and it would not be at
all wonderful if, in spite of his much care and
anxiety, the old man rejoices in the thought
that he has falsiied Papal tradition by out
living ST. Peter himself as the occupant Of the
See of Rome Some hate, some like him. By
some he is regarded as friend of humanity
and potent agent in the advancement of
modern thought and modern civilization. BY
others he is regarded as the foe of all that is
good and true in modern life.
1t is not to be denied that any moment may
bring us q confirmation of the report of the
Emperor's serious illness or the announce
ment of his death. He is already in the sew
enty-sixth year Of his age and, although his
late campaign against France, at the head
of the combined armies of Germany, gave
proof of wonderfully robust health, it ought
not to be forgotten that the seventy-six years
very nearly complete the allotted span of
human life. The strength which hitherto
has given character to his career must soon
become "labor and SORROW" and Kaiser as
he is, he must pass away. Few rulers, in
modern times, have been permitted to live so
long. Fewer still have had SO much success
crowded upon them in their later days. In
1861, when he assembled the throne Of Prussia
on the death of his feeble brother who could
have predicted that he would live to humble
Austria, to avenge jena, to become Emperor
of Germany? Since the twelve years which
preceded 1915 no such twelve years have been
known in Europe All the glory of those
twelve years Germany has reaped and that
glory has mainly centred in Emperor William.
Germany is now the most powerful nation by
far on the Continent of Europe. Russia courts
her; Austria is submissive; France smarting
from recent punishment, dare not speak, and
England, contemplating the gigantic strength
of her Continental neighbor can only
fatter herself that she is mistress of
that "streak Of silver sea- Since the
days of the First Napoleon no such
changes have taken place in Europe as those
which have taken place during the reign of
Kaiser William, and particularly during the
last six years, and as then power centred in
France, SO now power centres in Germany. 1t
cannot be said that the Emperor owes his
great success SO much to his own personal
qualities as to the men whose counsels he has
enjoyed and to the circumstances by which he
has been surrounded. Sturdy common sense
has been the characteristic of the man, and
by yielding to, rather than opposing the tide,
he has foated to success. As great man, in
the nlpn sense, ne Will not lake place In the
worlds annals but in his own land, and by
his own people his name will be associated
with Charlemagne, with the First Ohio and
with Frederick of the Red Beard. Under
him, il will be said, the dreams of ages were
realized and the German Empire was restored.
His death tomorrow would exercise but
little effect on the policy or condition of Ger
many. 1t would not materially alter the con-
dition Of Europe. The Emperor is strong be-
cause he gives expression to the sentiment of
Germany. The sentiment would rule through
his successor as it now rules through him. On
the life of no great ruler at the present mo-
ment does so little depend. Unlike France
and the Southern nations-unhke Russia
even--Germany is to O large extent self