The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-03-28

wears. and the event was celebrated at Berlin
by an appropriate military display. In Do
tober Of that year, his elder brother, King
Frederick William Nv. was incapacttated by
illness from carrying on the Government,
and Prince William was appointed tam
porary Regent. When on the 9Th OF October.
1H5s, it became apparent that his brothers
mind was irreparably impaired, ne was
made Regent of Prussia, with the title q
Prince Regent In the mean time his son
Frederick William Nicholas Charles was
married to Victoria Adelaide, Princess Roy
al of Great Britain. In 1856 his daughter
Louisa was welded to the Grand Duke Fred
On January 2, 1861, Frederick William
w died, and William assembled the throne
of Prussia as King William l. He at once
inaugurated a firm and determined policy
which aimed at consolidating Germany un-
der Prussian leadership.
On July 5. 1861, a second attempt, was
made on the Kings life. He was walking
with Count Fleming from Carlsrule toward
Lichtenthal, when they met a well dressed
young man who bowed politely. After ne ne
passed shot was fired, and bullet grazed
the Kings neck. Turning, he and his COM
panion saw the young man who had just
passed facing them. In the grass near by
lay pistol. He made no resistance when he
was seized by people who had seen him tre
The King continued his walk unperturbed.
The efficiency to which King William had
brought the Prussian Army was first seen IN
1864, in the war against the Danes, whose
Denmark. Notwithstanding Austria's jeal-
ousy of Prussia's growing power, King Will
Jams diplomatists prevailed upon Austria to
unite with Prussia in this war. which resulted
in the total defeat Of the Danes. The Prus-
sian soldiers and their leaders behaved with
remarkable bravery, and after this war
Prussia assumed position among the first
military powers of Europe. 8,
, Difficulties now arose between Austria and
Prussia concerning the occupation OF Schles-
wig -Holstein. On August IA, 1865, the treaty
of Gastein gave Austria sole occupation OF
Holstein, Prussia the occupation of Schles-
wig, and annexed the Duchy of Lunen-
burg to Prussia. Soon a new difficulty
arose. On January %, 1866, the Austrian
Governor of Holstein allowed an anti
Prussian meeting to be held in Altoona.
spondence, and finally Austria submitted the
Schleswig- Holstein question to the Fedora!
Diet. Prussia regarded this as breach OF
the Gastein convention, AMI marched her
troops into Hostein On June IA the Diet
called upon all the States Of the confedera-
tion to arm against Prussia This was the
beginning of the Seven Weeks war, so called,
because in seven weeks PRUSSIA coWpleIely
postrated Austria and her allies.
IN the North-German Confederation,
formed after this war. Prussia had full con-
troll of foreign affairs All troops were
placed under King William, and it was
voted that every able bodied man should be
obliged to serve in the army.
In 1870 KIM William fulfilled his mothers s
command. given to him and his brother after
the defeat Of the Prussian army by France
during the Napoleonic wars: Remember
this defeat when you are men, to throw OFT
the shame Of it and to reconquer the glory
France has Snatched from u.s." When Prince
Leopold of Hohenzollern refused the Spanish
crown Napoleon III. demanded a guarantee
from Prussia that no prince of this house
should ever be a candidate for the crown Of
Spain. The King refused to give such a
guarantee, and Napoleon made this refusal
q pretext for declaring war. He relied upon
the support of Austria and the South Ger
man States, which had fought against
Prussia in 1866: but Bismarck, in whom King
William placed implicit faith, had formed
alliances with them, and as result Napoleon
found all Germany united against him. The
King himself took command Of the German
troops.