The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-04-05
THE SICK MAN OF EUROPE.
ALL EYES FASTENED ON GERHIANY,s
FEEBLE KAISER,

Despite all tho official disclaimers and
the vague and misleading reports of
favorable symptoms Kaiser Frederick is
really growing worse week by week.
Almost the last words Prussian official
friend said to me on Thursday when I
was leaving Berlin were: "Be prepared
for declaration of regency an2 day.
The Kaiser will not much longe. bo able
to stand the strain of even Listening to
State papers and signing his name"
/; Sure enough, within forty-eight hours
ne announcement has come. The i'm
pedsl rescript egeates O sort of co-regen-
coy, enabling Prince William to act with
authority solely on such matters as are
referred to him by his father, but there
rs reason to believe that another rescript
'1s already signed and in readiness for an
emergency, devolving whole and full
powers as regent on Prince William.
1t as fair to say that this action is q
more valuable and trustworthy indica-
tlon OF the Kaiser's health than all that
Dr. Mackenzie may whisper to the cor
respondents to the contrary. A new
Emperor who is unable even to receive
the Presidents OF the Chambers Of the
Prussian Diet when they bring an ad-
dress which is the most important that
could possibly be presented is not q
pShent with q mere local throat ailment
from which he is recovering. when L
remember that last week he gave .ap
audience to moro delegation of the,
municipality Of Berlin, it is obvious that
bis refusal now to see delegation from
Parliament gives the lie to the assertion
that his health is improving. More than
this for the moment it is impossible to
say. Probably next week, when, if the
fine weather continues, the question of
his removal to Weisbaden or Pottsdam
will be settled, the public may learn
something of the real facts of his condi-
tion.
Hints about coming constitutional re-
forms throughout Germany continue in
the air, but the prophecies are still with
out tangible form. There is good deal
OF disappointment in moderate German
circles of Alsace Lorraine at the tone of
the imperial proclamation to the people
of these provinces. The Elaseer journal
says, for example: "NVe must openly ad-
nit that our people had hoped to find in
. the proclamation somo allusion to the
development which the Constitution
= woHld easily admit of or to the relaxa-
tioh!7hich might be made in the present
s~Gystem of government. This hope is not
fulfilled" Liberal papers in Berlin,
like the National Ze'tn1g G, also show
cas:ain signs of mo- s. .ng their first
exnhegant confidence that great steps to-
ward the liberalization of Prussia were
impenGling. DIR. Friedberg, the imperi-
al minia&er Gf Justice, is said to be hard
- p; ol,,lo rf 20
be Included in the amnesty granted to
political offenaers wllichio expected next
week, but beyond that nothing definite
is known.
Prince Bi:marz3tt's status .un4or the
new regime continues to be generally
discussed. There IL some danger that
people outside of Gerx. any not familiar
with the habits of thoueh6 and action in
grained in the Prussia,a character will
draw false conclusions FROM the fact that
there has been an evident desire by the
new Kaiser to honor lot Of people
whom Bismarck dishkes 1t is difficult
for foreigner to realize how.aNlall, from
the standpoint of Prussian Court dis
clpllne, bismarck is as com pafed with
royalty itself. Americans pro badly had
in their minds eye before last week S
funeral q kind of fancy picture of tho
old Kaiser in his coffin, with tho two
great historic lieutenants, Bismarck and
. Moltkc, as the chief figures on either
side. AS matter Of fact, if they had
attended the funeral, their places would
have been about half mile behind the
hcarse, following in tie humble wake Of
every petty descendant OF an obscure
CGcFman Prince or other princoljng who
WVas able to pay his fare to Berlin. When
Y 'saW ~ the official programme the
plaeB assigned to them l said TO u Ger
man ofttial. "This seems, from my
point Of view st least, to be an Outrage.
wonder they don't resent it," The
official looked ,st me in smiling surprise.
"Oh, by no rlGans," he answered, "they
are too good frussians not to know e2i-
actly where they belong in the process
sion, and would lever dream of desiring
to be somewhere else" The same gen,
tleman told me an interesting anccdot2
Of an interview Bismarck had With
Frederick Ill. when he went down tC
Leipsic on the 1lth to meet the San
Reno train and return with it to Berlin
The Kaiser showed the Chancellor 6
draft of his famous letter to Bismarck
for approval before publication. Bis
marck read and returned it, suggesting
the alteration Of single word in the
original. The draft referred to him a.
the "much- cherished felow-worker O
tho late Kaiser" Bismarck suggested
tho word servant instead of fellow
worker. Frederick shook the Chancel
lor's hand warmly and made the altera
ton. / relate this to indicate Bismarck
conception Of his position. Whatever h
may think of the new policy, it woulC
have TO be very grave and momentou
thing indeed which would induce him t.
express dissent from the decisions an,
Instructions of his imperial master
Even then it would be done with tn
utmost caution and doference. As 70
mutiny, that would be simply out Of th
question.
Another Account.
BERLIN, March 27.-It is expccte
that the coronation of King Frederic
and Queen Victoria of Prussia will tax
place at Konigsberg in June.
The mass of cartilage iust remove
from the Emperor's larynx is believed
L.. - = -. L.