, 1888-03-15
He CALLED A kINo..

| n shining mark experience has proven
that tho grim reaper is not at all partic-
ular in his selection OF targets and shoots
right and left, in one moment remov-
ing the felon, whose absence Is Il bene-
fit to society, and the next striking his
shaft to the fountain OF life OF him
whose brow is environed with the cir
clet OF power that gives him rule over
the destinies of millions OF his fellow
men. William /, Emperor OF Ger
many and King OF Prussia, Is dead.
The public was prepared for this an
nouncement by the character. of the
cablegrams from Bcr.in published yes
terduy. He was enfeebled by the ac-
cumulated years, and though the
sturdy old Teuton held tenaciously TO
life, nature had spent its forces and
the last attack OF illness was so accute
that his system could not rally from
the shock. At midnight Wednesday
night the Emperor slept after taking
slight nourishment, and by his anxious
attendants it was hoped that he would
revive anu Ot cItItu w VIC oNNi
which he has ruled with such n father
" hand for so many years. What ef-
feet his death may have upon the en-
pire, and what effect il will have in
the threatening plicatlons, remains
to be seen. At present all things else
are lost sight of in the mourning
among all German people for the loss
of one OF the most important person
ages of German history. His death,
though occurring at this late day in
life, when further prolongation of his
reign could hardly be expected, is Il
great blow to Europe, and one that
will be sincerely deplored.
The following brief outline OF his
career, while merely condensed sketch
of most active life, gives an idea OF
some of the stormy scenes through |
which the dead King has passed.
William /, King of Prussia, and
since 1871 Emperor OF Germany, is
the second son of Frederick William |
III, and was born March 22nd, 1897. |
He joined the army at an early age,
and was engaged in the campaign of
1S13-14 against France. On the ac-
cession of his elder brother, Frederick |
William w, to the throne IN lS4O.
William became govern or OF Pomer- |
alma, and afterwards sat in the Prus- |
sian diet, and vigorously supported
the Absolutest party. In consequence |
he was so much disliked by the people |
that on the outbreak of the revolution
in l84S he had to flee TO England,
though he returned some months |
after and was elected to the national
assembly. However, from this time
he interferred little in the quarrels le-
tween the constitutionalists end abso-
lutists, though he gladly accepted the
command of the troops dispatched to
put down the rising in Beden, in Oct.
1857, the king having become inca
paciatated for bust ness William was
commissioned to act as regent, u COM
mission renewed from time to time,
till his permanent installation in Oct. |
1858. Al tuis time he was very popu- |
lar in Prussia, owing to his supposed
opposition to some Of the obnoxious |
measures OF the kings ministers, and |
to his vigorous advocacy OF conjoint !
action with Britain and France in the
war of 1854 ; and his election as regent |
was consequently opposed by the aris-
tocratic and pirlist.c portion, who
were, on his election, dismissed from |
power and a more liberal ministry |
formed. On Jan. 2, 1861, William as
cended the throne and at the occa-
sion OF his coronation, Oct. Is, follow
ing he himself put the crown on his !
head, declaring that he "ruled by the |
favor OF God and of no one else" The |
result OF the elections to the chamber
Of deputies, which were being carried
ON at the same time, being much in
favor of the liberal party William who
was quite astonished at the
fact OF the party, whom he looked up
on as the opponents of the crown
having majority, attributed it to the
intrigues OF secret engineers; aud in
his address at the opening Of the
chambers, saying that he"never could
permit the progressive development of
our inner political life to question or to
endanger the rights OF the crown and
the honor OF Prussia" disclosed the
principle OF his policy, policy which
with all the unfagging perseverance,
and unconquerable obsipancy which
characterize men like him OF thorough
honesty, unfinching firmness and
considerable narrow -mindedness, he
has unremittingly pursued. The first
chamber that sat after his coronation
was dissolved despite the protest Of a
large majority OF the number; but the
succeeding election further increased
the liberal majority; and though some
popular measures were brought for
ward and some obn0xious taxes abol-
isned, the new chamber proved as re-
fractory as its predecessor, and re-
fused to consent to the extensive
changes in the Prussian military, (the
kings pet scheme) to the raising of