The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-03-16
The Death Of Emperor William.

With the demise OF Emperor William,
os Germany, there has been removed
one o. the great central figures of the
nineteenth century. We III our West
ern land, far away from the atmosphere
that surrounds imperial power. and
looking on the ''dlyine right" OF kings
to rule as something from which we
| have happily emancipated ourselves,
cannot gauge his lifs-woIk 10y the
standard that will be applied TO II by
/ those who live under the shadow OF a
monarchy Yet we canro, fail TO re-
ccgniZa the genius that welded petty
/ Powers and Pnncipalities together in
| one homogeneous mass aud at last sccom-
plished the task Of reuniIing rrgeneT-
} ated Germany,
II is difficult TO realiZs tha. the nan
who died no later than yesterday. and
who welded the sceptre OF government
| almost until his last hours, o-cs met The
great Napoleon on the field OF battle ;
saw dynasties change and empires over
thrown; witnessed the revolution in
Paris IL 1S4S, the outbreak of which re-
echoed far and wide over Europe :;
watched a new NapoleOnic Empire arise
from the ruins OF that struggle, and.
having brought about the downfall Of
that Empire, found himself crowned in
the Palace of Versailles itself as En-
paror OF united Germany. When this
monarch whom King Death has jus.
uncrowned was appointed Regent Of
Germany. owing to the insanity or his
brother, King Frederick William ",
his first acts were full of promise. In
deed, Oy nominating popular Ministry
he virtually acknowledged the people s
right TO have share in their own gov
eminent. But when he ascended the
throne change came over him. and IN
his coronation speech he alluded very
plainly TO the "divine right'' through
which he accepted the crown. Despite
his well-knOwn liberality and enlight-
ment on some points, he WAS at variance
with the majority OF his thinking sub
iects. The Prussians were, above all
things, military people, but they had
been asked TO ind dulge IL soldering to
an extent for which they professed the
greatest aversion. William L had q
fixed belief that the welfare OF Prussia
cI.ccrrenGed upon her possession OF a
colossal army, and 20 ne bryan his siuu
Gus task o. carrying out al army reform
scheme. II WAS at this stage that there
entered on the Ecens man whose career
has ever since been indissoluOly linked
with that of his master. To O;to Won
Bismarck's gigantic intellect and re-
maTkable foresight Germany largely
owes h press nt leading position among
nations.
1t Tould Je simply q repetition OF
familiar history 10 trace IN detail the
subsequent conduct OF King William,
sftergaTd OF world wide fame as the
Emperor OF United Germany. Bis
marck was a man after King Williams
Own heart, and they worked together.
Although the great ChanceI.or's share
in the events that brought about the
supremacy OF Germany in Europe IS ac-
knowledged, il would Ge unjust to be
little Emperor Williams part theTIn
lie selected the proper instruments for
the execution Of his projects, and, hav-
ing once selected them, he stood by
them in all their conflicts. The names
OF these two men will always be associ-
ated in the chronicles Of the great.
AfteT the French war their whole
domestic policy aimed AZ the perfection
OF the national unity that had been
crested. In this they largely succeeded,
although the advancing tide of liberal
ism occasionally threatened To sweep
away old landmarks dear 70 tie heart
OF the mOnaTchists.
SO far as the succession to the throne
of Prussia is concerned there is in the
Constitution of that Kingdom an effec-
tive safeguard against anv possible
complication. The safeguard IS con
/ taiaed in a section which declares that
| the crown is hereditary on the male side
! q. the royal house according TO the
/ rights OF the FIRST. born. IL the King be
/ short CT his msjOriIy, or from any other
cause be incapacita,ed from governing,
/ IL is provided that the regency is to be
| taken by the next heT presumptive
I aDd II there be at hand 10 heir Of age
/ both Houses OF PArliam 5ut N jJiat ses
/ sion ore 10 elect a regent. y possible
( inteTregnum was provided against in
| Novem Der last by the appointment ol
| Prince William 10 act as Regent, but
! he ann2u1camnnt made py Prince
/ Bismarck in the Rsichstag yesterday
| that Frederick William would ascend
the throne OF Prussia under the title oil
| Frederick III dispels all doubts q. &c
} the succession.
II is eviSens, however, that the new
] h-ng OF Prussia will not be proclaimed
! Emperor OF Germany until the formali-
! y OF an election shall have been gOn,
through with. Although the late En-
| peTOr William was proclaimed EmpeI
| or at Versailles, IL was not until severa
1 months later that he was elected by IN,
R=ichstag and thus invested with su
pTeme authority as Kaiser. The consti-
tuent Princes or Germany will doubt
less, therefore, be called upon TO supper
the fiction that the headship o. tn
Empire is elective ; and thus tie Impe
rial Constitution, which WAS adopted il
April. 1871, will still be maintained
ia its integrity.
The coronation OF Frederick William
even though he may lot live long L
enjoy his hereditary rights, will inves
his wife with a measure OF influenc
which may be exercised temporarily a
a countercheck on Bismarck's ambition
schemes. The views entertained b
the new King have been broad and en-
lighteued, and largely in accord wit
the aspirations OF the progressive ele
ment among the German people. Bu
there is no denying the desperate strai
in which Frederick Ill finds himself
for he seems already to be within IN
shadow OF death, and with Hail !!
Will speedily come Farewell l''-Philc
Record.
Germany's Dead Emperor.
BERLIN. March 9.-EnperOr Wi
a.. - -. L.. q sl