Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-03-17
THE GERMAN EMPEROR DEAD.

William l., Emperor of Germany
and King of Prussia, died at $50
Friday morning, of last week, and
by the law of succession Frederick
William, eldest son of the Emperor,
succeeded to the throne with the
title OF Frederick Ill, Emperor of
Germany and King of Prussia.
Queen Victoria's daughter, the wife
of Frederick, now becomes an En-.
press. Emperor William died peace
fully, surrounded by the members of
the royal family, with the exception
Of Frederick, who was not permitted
by his physicians to hasten to the
deathbed of his father lest the or
deal might have serious result on
the malady with which he Is affect
ed. The new Emperor and Empress
will reach Berlin tomorrow. The
last official act of Emperor William
was signing the order proroguing the
Reichstag. All nations send condo
lence to the bereaved royal family.
His triumphs were the most COM
plete which fall to the lot of man.
Sadowa effaced the humiliation of
centuries, and his grand entry into
Paris in 1871 marked the downfall
of the dynasty which hundred
years before had robbed Prussia of
her provinces. Had King William
been content with the usual tributes
paid to the victors, he would have
saved himself and his country much
consequent anxiety, and the latter
probable disaster hereafter; but it
would have been too much to expect
that human nature could resist the
temptation to seize what the Ger.
mans regarded as their own, and
Alsace and Lorraine we're again In.
corporated with Germany. But the
elimination of his extraordinary
career was when he was crowned
emperor Of an United Germany,
more powerful and greater in mater.
ial resources than the empire over
which Barbarossa ruled.
He saw clearly that Prussia's re-
demption could only be effected
through the army, and he, therefore,
devoted himself to perfecting that
machine. His people thought they
discerned in this tendency towards
abs9lutism and contempt for hu-
man rights. They were only par.
TALLY correct. The army was with
William the means of restoring Prus-
sia's greatness, and the absolute will
of one man was, in his opinion, just
as necessary. With this idea always
to the fore, he came in time to re-
gard everything as subordinate, and
the so,called rights of his people as
obstructive and even vicious in prin.
ciple.
Like other men who have impress
ed themselves on their times. Empe-
Tor William made mistakes, and
grave ones too; but not of the heart.
His principal fault was in not recog-
nizing the rights of the people,
whom he so dearly loved, to actively
participate in their own government,
and it is this which threatens great
er disaster to the empire than all
other dangers combined. His gov
eminent was so nearly absolute that
in the popular commotlon which may
arise over his successor the safe
guards of the empire may be broken
down. While Prince William has
been designated to act for the Grown
Prince during the latter's absence.
the states of the German Union will
scarcely tolerate his actual accession
to the throne, unless they are allow
ed some say in the matter apart
from an imperial decree. The Ger
man people are too robust and intel.
ligent to be kept longer in leading
strings. Respect for the aged EN-.
peror held back the leaders of the
masses; but should the Grown
Prince be incapacitated, no such
scruples will restrain them.
Mornh IN 1893