The Delta independent., 1888-03-27

| BERLIN, March 19.-The royal mes
sage was read in the Prussian Landtag in
united session to-day. 1t is countersigned
by all the ministers. 1t says:
~, Frederick, by the grace of God, King
Of Prussia, hereby proclaim and make
known, that 1t having pleased God. after
the demise of the Emperor and King Will
liam, our much beloved father, to call us to
the throne of our ancestors, we herewith
| send to the Landtag our greeting, the sen-
| timents and purposes with which we enter
| upon the government and the principles on
which we would exercise our royal Office
have been proclaim ed by lis to our faithful
people. Walking in the paths of our gior-
ious fatLer, we know no other aim of our
striving than the happiness and welfare of
the fatherland by conscientiously observ-
ing the constitution and fully safeguard
ing all the prerogatives of the crown, and
royalty cooperating with the national rep
resentation. The King hopes. with Gods
help, to attain his object which is the hap
piness and welfare of the country"
The condition of his health prevents him
from taking the oath personally. Desiring
to declare without delay his position re-
garding constitutional laws, although this
could admit of no doubt, he solemnly un-
dertakes to adhere to the constitution firm
| ly and inviolably, and to rule in conformity
with laws.
The sitting was invested with unusual
interest and the galleries oveIfiowed with
visitors. AS soon as the members had as
| sembled, Prince Bismarck, accompanied by
all the ministers of state, entered the hall
to read the message. When the chancellor
had ceased reading Duke vonRatibor, pres
ident Of the upper house. said that it was
not within his province to say how much the
house would reply to the message. He
would now simply ask the assemblage.to re-
ciprocate the kings faithful attachment
and devotion and unite in the cry of "Long
live King Frederick
The cheer was then repeated. The diet
forthwith adjourned.
The message was read by Herr Piasdorff,
president of the Reichstag, who requested
permission of the house to submit to 1t to-
morrow the draft of an address in reply to
the message, expressing devotion to the
emperor. The request was granted. Herr
PlesdOrff then ammo unced that he, with the
vice president of the House, had, In the
name of the reichtag, asked for an audience
with the Emperor and Empress. the Em-
press Augusta and the Crown Prince and
Crown Princess, which would shortly be
granted.
He then expressed the thanks of the
House for the resolutions of sympathy with
Germany passed by foreign parliaments.
Then Prince Bismarck arose and said:
TT will afford cme great satisfaction ii 1
am permitted to consider myself charged
by the House to communicate the theories
Of the Reichstag to those friendly govern
ments whose parliaments have expressed
sympathy with the grief surrounding us.
Such expressions have come from all
quarters of the globe. No such monarch
ever before was SO respected as to cause all
the nations of the earth to bring to his
grave signs Of sorrow. shall thank you
to empower me to express thanks to these
friendly nations whose sympathy the peace
of the future rests more firmly than upon
written treaties"