Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-26
THE EMPEROR WILLIAM.

.
Kindness or IIcart-The Talk About So.
cialisln.
Berlin Letter to the New York Herald
ut is so strange, SO strange and so sad,"
answered the prince, with marked feeling.
"Here is an old man-one Of the kindest old
gentlemen in the world-and yet they must
simple, more genuine, more-what shall
peror's. Heis totally unlike men born in
know that men who come into the world in
his rank, born princes, are apt to think
themselves of another race and another
world. They are apt to take small account
of the wishes and feelings of others. All
their education tends to deaden the human
side. But the emperor IL so much of man
in all things! HIS never did any one q
wrong in his life. He never wounded any
ones feelings; never imposed hardship!
he is the most genial and winning of men
thinking always, anxious always for the
comfort and welfare of his people-of those
around him. You cannot conceive finer
type of the noble, courteous, charitable old
gentlempn, with every high quality of
prince, as we'll as every virtue of man,
should have supposed the emperor could
have walked alone all over the empire with
out harm, and vet they must try and shoot
him."
The general said that it was . horrible
thing, and referred to Lincoln-a man of
the kindest and gentlest nsture-killed by
an assassin.
ia some respects" said the prince, con-
tinuing as ia half revery, and as if speak
ing of q subject upon which he had been
thinking great deal, I'm some respects the
emperor resembles his ancestor, Frederick
William, the father of Frederick the great.
The difference between the two is that the
old king would be severe and harsh at times
to those around him, while the emperor is
never harsh to any one. But the old king
had so much simplicity of character, lived
an austere home loving, domestic life; had
all the republican qualities. So with this
king; he is so republican in all things that
even the most extreme republican, If he did
| The general answered that the influence
which aimed at the emperor's life was an
influence that would destroy all govern.
ments, all order. all society, republics and
empires.
In America" he said, "some of our
people are, as see from the papers, anxious
about it. There is only one way to deal
With it, and that is by the severest meth.
ods. don't see why man who commits
crime like this, q crime that not only
aims at an old mans life, rulers life, bu,
shocks the world, should not meet with the
sevsrest punishment. In fact" continued
the general. although at home there is Z
strong sentiment against the death penalty,
and It ls sentiment which one naturally
respects; am not sure but 1t should bt
made more severe rather than less severe
Something is due to the offended as we'll q
the offender. especially where the offender
Is slain.
''That." said the prince, "is entirely m,
view. My convictions are go strong that
resigned the government of Alsace becaus'
was required TO commute sentences o
capital nature. ! could not do it In justic,
to my conscience. You sce, this kind ol.
;, gentleman, that emperor whoAe these very
people have tried to kill, is 90 gentle that h
will never confirm death sentence. Ca,
you think Of anything 60 strange that
, sovereign whOke tenderness of heart hs
;. practically abolished the death punishmep
should be the victim of assassination or st
v tempted assassination! That is the fac
}. Well. have never agreed with the empero
on this point, and In Alsace, when foun
that o. chancellor had to approve all con
, mutations Of the death sentence I resienct
. 10 Prussia that 10 the work of the min,sts
Of justice 10 Alsacs 1t dev0lved urou "
I felt. as the French say. that some,hi.
d was due to justice. and Il crimes like thu.
!. are rampant thew must be severely punis.
u cd.