Telegram-herald., 1888-03-10

Friedrich Ludwig Wilhelm was born
March %. 1897. being the second son of
Frederick William III. He was the great
grandson of the illustrious Frederick the
Great, and came upon the stage of action
during the time that Napoleon l. had placed
bis humiliatipg hand upon Prussia, by
dragging heF into war with France. IL Is
now more than four score years ago, and
yet the now deceased Emperor William was
ten years old when Napoleon entered Berlin
in triumph Then it was that young William
saw Prussia crushed in the dust. for, Incl
dent TO the loss OF territory. she had lost
), 900 600 of her subjects, besides being
made 10 pay lac. .O00,OO9 franc. for having
resented Nspolson's insults 5y making war
on France. But this was not ali the En-
peror in embryo saw, for while Prussia felt
deeply her humiliation she learned wisdom
from ner reverses and the leading men of
the kingdom quietly, but with Energy. en-
gagged ia the work Of preparing the people
Tor al effort TO win back wha. they had lost
The suspicious time came when tue French
we're re,reating before the Russians. Fred
ersck William called C young men of
Prussia TO the defense OF the FAtherland. 1t
was not, however, until Russia. Ssxony,
Austria aud Sweden mad in turn formed the
alliance against the common en2my-Na-
Dolson-that tAe power Of France ia Ger
many was broken. France was then in
yaded aud Napoleon was driven from the
torons and assigned TO the island of Elba.
These were the stormy events amid wnicn
the boyhood DAYS Of the Emperor of Ger
many were pass /. Passing over the fruit
less struggle of the people of Prussia for a
! constitutional government, history leads to
the death of Frederick Williom Ill in ls4O.
Of
William ". 10 the crown Of Prussia. Not
70 detail the intervening events in Prussian
| history. Frederick William ". died on jan
| uary 2, 1851. and his brother, the present
Emperor, the Prince Regent, became King
| as William |. He was crowned with great
| pomp AZ 10 Iigsourg. on October IL. 1851.
| RE believed IN maintaining the military in
elective force, and tnough the representa-
| i've assembly was opposed to the requisite
heavy outlay Of money, he began his reign
| oy recognizing the Prnssan army upon a
| basis intended TO render il irresistible. Bis
msrck. VINO was thoroughly in symp.-
/ thy With King William in his desire to
| make Prussia the leading state in Prussia.
| wss entrusted with the portfolio of foreign
| affairs sBa histOry tells how wise was the
| choice and bow vorthily the honor was
| bestowed. Minor events in Prussis's his
| tory succeeded each other. until the Franco
| PTussisn war presented the realities of a
| conflict. in whicn the German armies wers
/ signsily successful. and the union OF the
| Fataerisnd became an accomplished fact
under the Germsu confederation. The peo-
| pie Of Germany rejoiced. and on the An oi
| December. 1870. the King of Bsvsrs
/ proposed TO the other German SOY
srsikns and 20 the free towns. ths.
i the President of the Confederation should
/ receive toe title of German Emperor
i Tne proposition vas agreed to- sad
/ toe imperial cr0en vas formally offered q
| tbe king Of Prussia. he scceptsd. and On
/ Jan. Ia. 1871 in the presence Of sriilisnl
assembly ot Gerrsan Princes aud officers o.
the army. held IN the Hail Of Mirrors Ia Ia,
/ palace of Versailles, King William va,
soi-mnly proclaimed Emperor In Germany
Ry the terms Of the treaty Of peace betveer
France and Germsny the former csded Il
/ TIE German Empire the provinces ~
| Alsscr with the exception Of Belfort, anfd
the Germsn part Of Lorrains. inciudin
Mefz and Tnionvili-, and sxreed % pss
/ Germany 500 cocoon francs ss an indem
nifty tor thr sx0enses incurred 57 the var