Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-10
THE KAISER.
INDUSTRIOUS CAREER OF THE
EMPEROR OF GERMANY.
ereign Lord and Revered
by His People.

William the First, Emperor of Germany,
was born March %, 1897, and was the sec
ond son of King Frederick William III.
and Queen Louise, Princess of Mecklen-
burg Strelitz. The Hohenzollern family,
of which he was the chief emerged from
the comparative obscurity of feudal sway in
the eighth century The name is derived
from the mountain castle of Zollern, which
has won immortality in the fame and
prominence of the descendants of its found
ers. 1t is located in Southwestern Ger
many. This was the source from which
has sprung the reigning dynasty of Prus-
STA. A Count Thassilo, who tlourished
about 800, is mentioned as the most an
cient and authentic progenitor of the house.
There is vague tradition that alleges that
in the veins of the Hohenzollerns runs, too,
the blood of the distinguished Colonnas of
Italy. Naturally, the line was subjected
to numerous subdivisions of which the
most powerful were those known as the
Frankish and Swabian. These two during
the changes and excitements of interven-
ing centuries, seem to have secured
and maintained a prominence that
was ever progressive. The Frankish line
was, in 1868, raised to the princely rank
in 1415 it obtained the electorate of Bran
denburg, and in l701 its head, the Elector
Frederick III. became the first King of
Prussia. From this branch, which was
known as the Hohenzol.ern-Hechin was
descended directly the Emperor William.
1t was the fortune of his boyhood to be
identified with the most exciting and
kaleidoscope years of the present century,
when Napoleon l., with rapidity of mo-
tion and comprehensiveness of scheme, was
constantly changing the map of Europe.
Growing up among the humillating scenes
of Jena, Auerstadt, Eylau and Friedland,
it is not to be wondered that in him there
were planted seeds which, though slow of
growth, have yet borne wonderful fruit in
our own day. Young as he was, he took
distinguished part in the campaigns of
1913 and 1914, which closed the career of
Bonaparte. 1t is not strange that such an
introduction into life should have deyel-
oped the instincts of the soldier. At the
close of the wars he became a student of
the minutest details of military affairs
Hardened by exercise, temperate in all
things, he was soon remarkable for his pro-
fciency and for his enthusiasm in martial
attainments.
HIS FATHER DIES.
In 1910 the King, his father, died, and
his elder brother Frederick William, was
crowned the fourth of his name, and Will
lam became heir presumptive and Prince
of Prussia Though at this period 43 years
of age, he had no distinction other than
that conferred by his rank and military
reputation. He had no prominence in
political affairs. The insignifcance of his
duties and power in times of peace, his
only nominal connection with the Govern
ment, his well-known military character
all conspire to conceal the greatness of his
genius and the patriotism which cherishes
only the good and glory of Germany. Re-
garded as an absolutist, on account of his
attachments as a soldier, he was with the
masses unpopular. The events of the
French revolution aroused in the German
mind passionate desire for unity and
freedom, and the result was at this time
an undercurreut of disturbance growing
out of jealousy of governmental encroach-
ments and craving for constitutional re-
forms. The people thought they knew
that personal rule was ill-adapted to
the fastening of the principles of liberty,
except as persecution induced revolution.
Their Princes had not been of kind to
lead them to think otherwise. Popular
aspiration had been thwarted and they
had been promised concessions in emer-
gencies, which, when the occasion had
passed, were never regarded except to a
degree that did not greatly modify the es-
tablished absolutism. The Conservative
party, or the party in power, was consid-
cred antagonistic to all the principles of
the Liberals. That the Prince should
have been, in theory at least, identified
with the opponents of public demands is
in existence the qualities which made pos
sible nation of the best features of each.
Self-contained, calm and undemonstrative
in his character, 1t was not to be expected
of him that he would take course that
would antagonize both by a lukewarm ad-
herence to the principles of either. The
time was not ripe for the display of his be-
liefs and plans
REVOLUTION OF 1S4S.
When the revolution of 1S4S took place
he was obliged to leave Germany, and he
went to England. His absence, however,
was brief, for in 1S49 we find him in COM
mand of the army, ordered to the South
German States to suppress risings in the
Palatinate and Baden. A little later
owing to the Austrian policy in German
affairs-he contributed most earnestly and
effectively to the pacifcation and adjust
ment of the causes of discomfort, and his
irmness and strength of character appear
to have gained for him then change in
the judgment of the people, as he soon
came to be regarded as an indispensable
adjunct to the greatness of Prussia. 1t
was, notwithstanding, only moderate and
insecure growth in the affections of the
populace, as was eviden-ed when he be-
came Regent on October 9, 1858, though
the measures he secured for the people
should have taught them that in him they
had a ruler who recognized their demands.
Still, however, he was misconstrued, and it
was plain that the erroneous Judgment of
former years was not to be overruled pre-
/ cipitately.
| The reigning King, owing to his mental
condition, was obliged to consent to the
Regency. William, unfavorable to the
policy which had been pursued, appointed
new Ministry of moderately Liberal