The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-03-16
GERMANY.

The King is dead; live the King. Empe-
ror William, whose good fortune it was to
see aud aid in the urifcation of Germany,
to see its standards float in great battles and
victories, to know that 1t was the most pow
erful empire of the world, aud to rlpen into
fullest maturity among . people who blessed
and called him father, has laid down the
scepter and is dead. His son, the Grown
Prince Frederick William III, himself Sc
years of age and for months past in the valley
than that which enshrouded mis- sire, seems
revivi6ed by the event, mounts the throne,
accepts the allegiance of the army and all
the people shout. Prince William, his son,
who had been selected as Regent, stands
aside, while Frederick leads the daughter of
Victoria to the throne of Germany and she
becomes joint heir to all the crown estates.
To the world there seems nothing but sorrow
for the dead and reioicings for the living.
Yet underneath all this the troubled waves
are lashing, ambitions are satiated or frus-
trated, the policies hang by . thread and the
fate Of Europe is held in . trembling bal.
ance. William, even to bis death, talked Of
European complications and wars. Prince
William would have followed precisely in
his footsteps with Bismarck his mentor as he
had been that Of his grandsire; but interven-
ing, his father, of diverse mould and largely
under the influence of HE wife who is
wholly English, steps from the grave to
wear the crown. Bismarck thoroughly dis.
likes Frederick and this wife; he as thor
oughly likes Prince William. And Bismarck
is Germany. It was bis genius made the
empire. His position as Chancellor is above
the power of the Reichstag; he has permit
ted no rival near the throne; he is the State,
holding its destinies in bis iron grasp and
responsible only to an Emperor whom he
controls. Did Frederick III have promise
of life the ambitions the Chancellor has kept
suppressed would assert themselves. Fred
erick would lend willing ear to less warlike
proposals and Germany would be in turmoil.
days of Frederick are numbered; Bismarck
is in sturdy health; Prince William is but
28-and the Chancellor and heir apparent
can wait. The grave of Frederick III yawns.
The conditions cannot be much changed
until it closes, and the Chancellor can be
complainant to the Emperor and bide his
time. When Bismarck falls then will the
crown rest on an uneasy head; but while the
Richelieu of Germany lives there will be no
policy save that which he dictates, lone
close to the throne save at his will.
It is better thus for the Empire-better
there should be SUGGESTIONS while the master
stands watch and ward and Germany learns
the art of peaceful transfer of the crown.
The Empire is liberalizing. It is learning
under an autocrat the duties and dignities
and rights of citizenship. Its people, not
long since diverse and hostile, are becoming
homogeneous and imbued with pride in the
strength and unity Of Germany. Then, some
day, in the turmoil of Empire, the inspira-
ton of tho larger manhood will seize upon
them and Germany will be a Republic. She
is not pre- pared for it yet. An Empire with
strong hold upon the affections of the people
is yet required, perhaps, to more perfectly
establish itself against the rival powers on
every hand, but as sure as France remains a
Republic will there yet another rise across
the Rhine.