National Republican., 1886-07-31
The German Empire and Emperor.


dead. The news was Immediately contra
dicted, and we learned the following day
that arrangements on a magnificent scale
were being commenced already for the
celebration Of the ninetieth anniversary Of
the intrepid old warriors birthday. A
short review Of his life, and OF that great
empire which his steadfastness has helped
go much to build up, may not be out OF
place at the present time.
William, emperor OF Germany and king
Of Prussia, son OF Frederick William III
and brother Of Frederick William ", was
born March %, 179E two years after the
historian Won Ranke, and three years before
George Bancroft. He was old enough,
therefore, in 1906 TO know that Napoleon's
victory at Jena had utterly prostrated the
kingdom OF Prussia. For seven years she
held no higher place than that Of tributary
country, but when she rousedberself for the
campaigns Of 1918 and 1915 the boy VIII.
lam served against the French.
There is nothing particularly remarkable
about his career down TO the year 1885,
when his brothers. mind having given away
William was appointed regent, and in 1861
on the death of his brother, he crowned
himself king OF Prussia. Henceforth the
story Of Prussia is not that OF the king; II
is the story Of Bismarck, Won Room, the
minister Of war, Won Moltke, nation un-
der arms, and king who Gattered himself
with possessing mission from on high to
bring about the unilcGtion OF Germany.
Twenty-four states, exclusive OF Austria,
had to be conciliated and reconciled.
Duchies, grand duchies, celebrates, princi-
palities, and territories, whose lands were
shorter than their Understanding names,
and whose rulers were proud In the inverse
proportion Of their power, were to be
educated up to an amount Of self-sacri1ce
for the common good which nothing but
the instinct Of self.preservation could ever
have suggested to petty German prince.
The Napoleonic wars had afforded Ger
many an important experience in the theory
and practice OF unity. But France had
been teaching Europe lessons in liberty, and
French liberty had but little In common with
the methods proposed for German unity.
In 1918 the revolutionary movement which
agitated Spain and Naples caused serious
anxiety among the German princes. The
PTussian government calmly announced
that "there existed a fermentation of ideas
fitted to cause most serious alarm; that
there were numerous secret societies that
there prevailed among the people sentl-
ment Of hatred for kings and governments,
and an enthusiasm for the phantom which
they call liberty" The Frankfort diet
promptly adopted measures TO repress such
alarming symptoms. The press was gagged,
free speech stiaed, and vigorous coercion
laws in full blast. For the next thirty
years the antagonism between the king and
| people of Prussia had attained such formi-
dable proportions as to give assurance of a
stubborn conflict. The people were per
suaded that like the people of America,
France, and England they possessed Of
right a voice in their own public affairs.
The king, however, "claimed to have re-
ceived from heaven an exclusive control
over these affalrs.'
| In 1S47 Bismarck, as q member OF the
general diet, argued that all great cities
should be swept from the face OF the earth,
because they were the centers Of democracy
and constitutionalism, and, In the same
year, he defines the royal prerogative with
much clearness. "The Prussian sover
eigrs," he says, "are in possession of Q
crown not by grace Of the people, but by
Gods grace; an actually unconditional
crown, some Of the rights Of which thosC
great kings have voluntarily conceded tc
the people-an example rare in history
In those days the king was more llbera
than the minister, and the valiant Bismarck
has had occasion to criticise severely, upor
several occasions, two Of his sovereigni
who desired to grant constitution to th,
Prussian people. The divine right of thu
Prussian monarchy was fundamental
article OF Blsmarck's political creed. Al
English historian remarks that even In 1S4i
there Is no reason to believe that Bismarck
was, In his heart, lover OF despoti,
government, But, from an early perlot
in his political life, he satisfied
himself that order could not b.
brought out Of the prevailing chao
otherwise than by the action OF stron
Prussian government. In 1862 the kin
pressed a scheme Of army reorganization
The lower house refused him the means :,
carry 1t into effect. Bismarck did not hes
tate to suspend parliamentary government
and to restrain Illegally the liberty OF til
press. He closed the diet "with the des
potic intimation that, since the house re
fused Its sanction to the budget, he foun
himself obliged to carry on the admlnlstra
ton Of affairs even In the absence of sane
tion. During four years this violence cor
tinued to be offered to the constitution.
The liberals denounced a method of GOV
eminent so offensive; but gradually, as th
foreign policy Of the ministry unfolded II
self, the clamor ceased, and, in 1868, afte
smashing the Austrlans at Sadowa, Bl:
marck asked for and obtained, by ajorit
OF $50 to 75, bill OF indemnity for his vic
lations Of the constitution.
Since that time the chancellor has move
on more constitutional lines, but, when th
divine right OF the kaiser has TO be defended
1t is difficult TO know where Blsmarc
draws the line between military bulldozin
andlegitimate parliamentary contest. How
ever nothing succeeds like success, and whe
Sedan followed right upon Sadowa, and tn
king OF Prussia was unanimously pre-
cihmeu eihporor VI uhiVeu HeTmtuy, I'll
blood and iron methods which produce
J such results were lost sight of-at least 70
, time-while strongly reconstructed en-
pire sang the Te Deum and "DIe Wach
Am Rhein.n
We have seen that Prussia was crushe
at Jena In 1905. The learned Flchte wa
lecturing his class, at the celebrated Univei
sity, upon Mdn's Duty and Moral ObHgC
tions, when his pupils heard the thunder q
! Napoleons cannon, "Gentlemen," said tn
! great ldealist, as he closed his manuscript
at is the duty of each one of us now not t
talk of duty, but to carry musket." III
} patriotism, however, of one out OF twenty
: five German states availed naught agains