Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-22
The Present German Crown Prince.

But is half or even fraction of the
assumption upon which this criticism if
based TO be relied upon? We think
not. Certainly not, if the statements
regarding the young Princes character
made by his critics are to be measured
by their (the critics) misapprehen-
sion concerning certain OF the impe-
rial prerogatives. A favorite prediction
is that young WILLIAM would imme-
diately Jump upon France, and no longer
ago than yesterday one OF our northern
friends declared that in case Of the death
of FREDERICK the home policy would
doubtless give place to a policy Of for
eign conquest seeing that WILLIAM is
ambitious and BISMARCK has an army
ready for the new programme.
As we have before stated, no one can
read BIsMABCK's great speech in support
of the military bill without being con-
WINGED that his policy is a policy
of peace, that the preservation OF
the peace OF Europe was the object Of
the triple alliance, and that Germany is
on the defensive. But there is evidence
| besides the Chancellor's own words to
prove that he does not desire war. 4
recent issue of the Contemporary Re-
uioW contains an article on the "Moves
on the European Chess-Board,' by Pro-
fessor HEINRICH GEFFKEN, of the Uni
versily of Strassburg, in which that
writer quotes Signor CREsPI, the Italian
premier, as follows:
"Our system of allilnces tends to one
object-the preservation OF order; not
! to aggression or perturbation. IT is adj
vsntageous to Italy as well as to the gene
raj interest. Italy is not the only State
which desires the maintenance OF peace ;
for Germany, among others, pursues the
same object. The history of our time is
| dominated by the name of one states
man whom / sincerely admire. and with
whom am connected by personal ties of
long standing his aim Is pesce and the
| greatness of his country; he has worked
! thirty years 10 obtain that aim, and to pre-
serve what he has won he is an old
| friend of Italy, and has been so from her
earliest years, for he knows the solidarity
Of the union of Italy and Germany. The
agreement Of thought and sentiment be-
tween him and myself has now received
| fresh confirmation. II is said that we
have been consplring at Friedrichsruhe.
/ |, as an old cOnspirator, reply that we
have conspired in the cause for peace,
and that all those are at liberty to take
part in that conspiracy who wish for
peace. On taking leave of me Bismarck
said I'VE have rendered service to
Europe "
1t is conceded on all sides that VIII
LIAM is more under the influence of Bis
MARcK than is his father. The Grown
Prince gave proof OF his concurrence
with BISMARCK in his speech at the
Brandenburg dinner. Here is what he
said:
~ know that section Of the public,
especially section abroad, imputes to
me careless and thoughtless longing for
war for the sake of glory. God preserve
me from such n criminal giddiness. /
repudiate all such accusations with hor-
ror. lam soldier and Brandenburgers
are soldiers. conclude with the words
uttered 10y Prince Bismarck on Monday
in the Reichstag. which showed grand
spectacle OF popular representation going
locked hand in hand with the Govern
ment. | adapt to Brandenburg the sem
tence: We Brandenburgers only fear
God, and nothing else in this world"
However, even were BISMARCK and
the young Prince not in accord, there is
one very important fact that initiates
against the theory that WILLIAM would
jump upon France or plunge Germany
into O causeless and unjustifable often
sive war for the sake OF satisfying his
own ambition. The Emperor of Ger.
rany has the right to declare war for
defensive purposes. but must have
the consent OF the Bundesrath or
Federal Council to make war when it is
not purely defensive. The Bundesrath
contains sixty-two members representing
the confederated States and who are
appointed by the Governments OF sold
States. In other words the imperial
power is vested in the Prussian Crown
and the Federal Council, which latter
speaks for many separate interests and
internal policies, and is by no means
unit save on questions affecting the
unity OF the Fatherland. An offensive
war would therefore have TO be in a GER
tain sense popular war.
As 10 young Williams personal cha
racter and ability Professor GFEKEN
also bears testimony which - directly
antagonistic TO that with which the
American papers have been flooded. He
says:
at is certain that be (William) has
gifts of the first order he is honest and
upright in character. an intelligent and
capable soldier, has a high sense OF his
duties, and is happy in his family life. "
1t is true that Professor GTFKeE adds
that the Crown Prince "can scarcely
have the maturity 80 desirable for the
arduous task that may fall upon him"
but BISMARCK and VoS MoLrKE, and
many other German patriots. who, the
young Prince has shown, have his conf
dence, have the maturity necessary to
advise and guide him.
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