Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-10

hiot, Tic COUltSl Will auStTld, Tic
Liberal party opposed the Kings policy
and endeavored to obstruct it; but when
overwhelming victories crowned the under
taking they yielded Immediately and be-
came one with the Kings supporters in the
storm of applause that created him and
his councilors-Bismarck, Won Moltke and
Room.
REVIVAL OF THE NATIONAL SENTIMENT.
When the Italians had secured to Italy
its unity the fame spread to Germany, and
they could not believe that what their
neighbors had attained was unattainable
by them. Here the craftsmanship of the
King was shown in the annexation of
Hanover, Hesse and Nassau. As King he
undoubtedly hesitated at the step, but the
end justified the means, and as King he
became subservient to the indications of
his political world. The Confederative
Constitution followed, decided by universal
ballot On July 26, 1867, the King issued
from Ems a manifesto by which he assumed
the sovereignty of the North German
States for himself and successors. The
South German States were bitterly opposed
to union with the North, and without
extraneous causes it would not readily
have been achieved. What internal causes
would have prevented external reasons ac-
complished.
WAR WITH FRANCE.
At Ems, in 1870, when the proposition
to put upon the throne of Spain prince
of the Swabian branch of the house of Ho-
benzollern kindled the wrath of France,
the King displayed rectitude, dignity
and self-respect that won the appreciation
of the civilized world 1t may well be
doubted if France had anything to fear
from the proposition. The French crisis
made the grasping of the dispute desirable
to Napoleon. The Kings calm dignity
triumphed, and the most wonderful cam
paign that ever made panorama of Europe
began. The position the King assumed in
his diplomacy with Beneditti, the French
Minister, added greatly to the esteem with
which the people were now regarding him.
Before, he had been looked upon as stolid
and resolute soldier. To this was soon
added the far greater glory of the far-see
ing and courageous statesman. He was
adopted as the German representative of
progress and utility. The old diplomacy
and wars of Frederick the Great, which
had no object save the personal glory of
the crown, seemed to be supplemented by
an advanced theory of making the position
in the development one of right-a right
which meant a guardianship of the people
as well as the throne and its dignities.
In the incursion into France after the
early victories of the army on It's own Ger
man soil the perfect results ofthe long con-
tinued system and discipline with which
tho bod haa,, fp,l,,nI
stration that aroused the admiration of the
world as well as excited its surprise and
wonder. What possibilities lay in the sys-
tenn that had been inaugurated in faith and
developed with patience no one knew, not
even the soldiers who had opposed it in its
incipiency and growth Absorbed in the
theories of liberty they had failed to rec
ognize the element in which Europe was
best calculated to preserve that liberty
Like the return to sanity of the mailman
came the general and overwhelming con-
cession of their kings greatness and fore
sight. Victory after victory crowned the
march. In battle his tall and unbowed
form, though more than threescore wears
and ten in age, was exposed with the bray
cry and indifference of the commonest
soldier. The success of the war and the
realization of Prussia's future glory &C.
mented at once the loyalty of German
princes, previously divided, and the impe-
rial crown was offered and, at Versailles.
on the 18th of January, 1871, accepted.
RETURN TO BERLIN.
His return TO Berlin was one prolonged
ovation, and the tremendous enthusiasm of
the people forever swept away all that
could conflict with their love, admiration
and reverence. The newly elected House
of Representatives with one accord con-
sented to obliterate all evidences of past
differences. A new Constitution was
adopted, which prescribed that the head
ship of the considerations should be heredi-
tary; that it should belong to the King of
Prussia, and that legislative functions
should be exercised by Federal Council,
representatives of the various principali-
ties, and n Diet to be elected by the whole
people.
CHURCH AND STATE.
Strong now in the loyalty of his people,
the Emperor was about to test powerful
and extended portion of them in their
dearest prejudices and beliefs. At no other
time in his career could he have yentured
uBOu Vic obCp llC llOW uIHtSILdlIDSly IOOk.
During his whole life he had been re-
markable for piety. No doubt this firm
disposition in religious matters had in
stllled an opposition to the Roman curia
and the Catholic Church, which in Ger
many had occasioned, directly and indi-
rectly, long and bloody wars As in his
State policy he had been far-seeing so it is
no more than just to accord to his action
toward the Catholics, and more Immediately
| the Pope, the belief that he was actuated
| by unsel6sh motives. His own age and
the strength of his position precluded the
thought of any personal anticipation of
| trouble from ultramontanism. The
most Indifferent pessimist cannot, in this
| day Of liberalism in matters of religion,
| predict UNCONVENTIONAL conflicts and differ
encss. But religious revivals and excite
ments are liable to come at long intervals.
History shows the world has been for CEN
turtles ever changing, nov liberal, now in
| tolerant. A law was passed making it q
penal otfense for the clergy to utter or print
any sentiment which imperiled the public
peace. In July the ministry of the Catho-
| lie religion was suppressed, and one minis
| try of religion was constituted for Catholic
| and Protestant. The Office of CHAPLAIN
General in the army was abolished. Other
annoying and restraining acts were passed
which completely paralyzed the Pope.
The Crown Prince visited Rome in conse-
quence and had an audience with the
Pope and then the matter was suffered to
sink into state OF indifference. To-day
the Catholic priest in Germany mingIes
more freely with the Protestant ministers
than ever before, and condition of
mutual forbearance and friendship exists
that has its foundation in the belief that
matters of religion must become subservient
to those of state when a political policy
requires it. The storm that threatened
this invasion of the rights of conscience
passed away, and the result has justified
the wisdom of the step, for it is apparent
there is less of bigotry in religious affairs
now in Germany than before the passage
of the Acts, and where bigotry had been
eradicated disagreements are impossible.
\ HIS PERSONALITY.
One cannot read even the bare. skeleton
like outline of the incidents of the En-
peror's life without being impressed with
J the individuality of his remarkable char
acter. Kings and Emperors at no time in
the worlds history havebeen distinguished
as a class, for mental greatness. Their