The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-14

fairs. and his loyal nature was soon recog-
nized. His brother being disabled by Iii
ness. In 1887. be acted in his stead, and In
October, 1858, was formally installed as
Regent, and he succeeded him as King on
January 2. 1861. In July another abortive
bat gravsr attempt upon his life was made
at Baden Baden by the student Oskar
Becker, who charged him with inca
pacIty to effect the union of Ger
many. the accomplishment of which
however, became the salient feature of his
reign. With the assistanceof Won Room
he paved the way for victory by the re-
organic alton or the army, and In 1862 he
placed Bismarck at the head OF the Cabinet
as Minister of Foreign Affairs. After pro-
curing in 1854. the cooperation of Austria
in the Schleswig. H0lstein war, he achieved
great victory for Prussia. aud the conven-
ton OF Gastein august IA, 1869 assigned
Schlestng permanently to him, and
Lsuenberg temporarily. His sagacity in
selecting able ministers and generals was
equaIed only by his firmness in sustaining
them against all opposition; and his con-
fidence In Bismarck, as well as in Won
Room and Moltke. was fully confirmed by
the rapid and brilliant success of the war
OF 1906 in conf JUNCTION with Italy, against
Austria, in which he personally took an
active part, and which extinguished
Austria as German power and placed
him at the head of the new North German
Confederation, with Schleswig- Holstein,
Hanover, Hesse-Cassel. Nassau and Frank
fort added to his Prussian dominions.
On February a. 1867, he opened
the constituent Relohstag, and on
July 1 he made Bismarck Chancellor.
In the preceding month he and his
nephew the Emperor Alexander II. of
Russia had resisted Napoleon III. on the
occasion Of the Paris exposition. rne
friendly relations between Prussis ard
Russia were subsequently strengthened,
the two chaneellors, Bismarck and 1rtch-
akoff, being as much in accord as the two
monarchs; and the good understanding
was OF the greatest moment in the ultimate
victory over France and the attainment OF
German unity. The King aIs1 t0ok every
opportunity to vindicate the historic posi-
ton Of his dynasty as protector of the
Protestant faith. The candidature of
Prince Leopold of HOhensollern for the
Spanish throne, and the Kings objections
against further interviews with the French
ambassador, Count Benedette, who had re-
peatedly importuned him at Ems July
1870 became the pretezt for the French
declaration OF war against Prussia. The
South German States at once Joined the
North German Confederation against
France, under the lead of Prussia,
and the war was continuous
series of prodigious victories. William
accompanied by Bismarck, Won Room and
Moltke, was with the German armies from
the beginning to the end Of the contest,
and received at Sedan. Sept. 2, the surrsn-
der of Napoleon Ill. On October 5th he
fixed his headquarters in the palace of the
former French King at Versailles, and here,
on January IS, 1871, he was proclaimed
Emperor of Germany. After signing the
preliminaries of peace, February 10Th, be
intimatea to the Emperor of Russia that
Germany would never forget the service
rendered by his strict neutrality. The
treaty was ratified March / aud 9, and
the Emperor LETT Versailles on the 7th.
He entered Berlin on the 18th, and on the
21st opened the first Reichstag OF the new
empire. The definitive peace with France
was signed at Frankfort May 10, and on
June 8 appeared the Emperor's procla-
nation Incorporating Alsace-Lorain with
the Empire. On August 16, 1875, the ~
peror unveiled Bauders colossal monument
of the national hero ArminiIs
on the summit of the Grotenberg, near
Dstmold. After exchanging visits with
the Emperor Of Austria, he reached Milan
on October l8 to return the visit of the
King of Italy, his good relations with
Victor Emmanuel being of special import
ance in view OF the increasing magnitude
OF the Emperor's contest with the Roman
hierarchy. Early in 1876 he Joined the
Emperors of Austria aud Russia in the
project of reform suggested to Turkey for
the paci6cation of her revolted provinces
Monuments in his honor have been erected
all over the Empire. By his wife, the
Empress Augusta daughter of the Grand
Duke Charles Frederick Of SAKE Vein ar
Eisenach. born September 30, 1911, and
married June Il, 1929. he has one son, the
Crown Prince, now an invalid at San Reno,
and one daughter, the Princess Louisa,
born December 3, 1888, who married in
1856 the Grand Duke Frederick of Baden
Ever since the Franco-Prussian war it
seems TO have been the constant endsavor
OF the Emperor 70 preserve friendly rele-
tions With all powers, especially those con.
nected with Germany by ties of neighbor-
hood and history, and as far as peace
might be endangered among such to pre-
serve it by friendly mediation. The en-
pire was repeatedly assured that the blood
Of her sons would be sacrificed or risked
| only for the protection of her own honor
and interests. In May, 1876 the Emperor
visited the then new province of Alsace-
Lorraine. He was everywhere received
with great demonstrations of Joy and re-
sptct, particularly in the lower Alsacs in
and around Sussourg, where the pepula.
ton is chiefly German. But even in Metz
and its vicinity, where the French ele.
! ment predeminates, his presence was con.
I sidsred to have had a favorable influence
although the population showed greater
reserve in receiving him. January 1, 1877
was the SEVENTEEN anniversary Of TIE en-.
trance OF the Emperor into the Prussiau
army. On this occasion he held notable
reception of all the commanding officers Of
| the army.
A: $3.50 O'Clock in the afternoon OF Sstur
day, May IL, 1873, the aged Emperor, &C
companied by the Grand Duchess OF Baden
was returning from q customary drive. Al
he passed toward the palace, in the avenu.
Inter den Linden, q young man advanced
toward the edge of the street pavement anC
fred two shots at the carriage. The vehicl,
was immediately halted, the footmer
drops ed down from the box, and the per
son firing the revolver was deserted. Tn
latter, seeing that the footmen were abou
to seize him, hurriedly fired three NOR
shots in an excited manner, seemingly will
little aim, and then threw the weapon
away. Upon this q crowd of people rushe,
into the street, and closing about the would
be regioide, proclaimed an intention o
tearing him to pieces. Their efforts to ge
hold IT the young man were somawha
hindeTed by person named KreuRer, VIII
did ell he could to protect the assassin fror
harm. This settled suspicion on Kreuge
also, and he was temporarily placed unds
the uncomfortable charge OF sttempte