The Osceola times., 1888-03-17

most careful preparation, he was Sven q seat
and q voice in the Council Of State. In is40,
and after the accession Of his childless brother,
Frederick William the Fourth, 10 the throne,
the subject Of this sketch became known as the
heir apparent and Prince OF Prussia. About
the same time he was appointed Governor OF
Pome rania, and two years later, during the alb
sence OF his brother in England, the conduct OF
the civil as well as the military affairs OF the
Kingdom was intrusted to him.
In March, 1913, when the insurrectlon broke
out IN Berlin, he withdrew for awhile TO En-.
gland in order to escape the popular odium
then fastened upon him OF being an aosolutst.
In the summer OF the following year he re-
turned to Prussia and commanded the army
which was sent to put down the insurrection in
Baden and the Palatinate, o task which, DIM
cult as IL proved. he accomplished in six weeks.
II was while on his way from Nedus Ingelheim
TO Baden, June T. is4a that an unsuccessful
attempt was made 10 assassinate him. In Oc-
tober OF the same year he was appointed Mill
tsry Governor in Westphaa and on the Rhine,
with his headquarters at Coblentz, also Gov
ernor OF the federal Fortress Mayence or
Mentz. About the same time, too, he was
made Grand Master Of the Free Masons, in
which order he, during his whole life, took the
lliveiest interest
Meanwhile, his answering loyalty 10 his
brother the King, as well as his recognized
"a
portant matters his opinions were sought, and
not infrequently his advice taken, or his sug-
gestions adopted. In 1857, when the King was
taken i'll, Prince William acted IN his stead: in
October, 1873 he was formally installed as Re
gent, and was finally crowned King January
1861 Prior to his ascending the throne Prince
William had been recognized as the silent head
OF the party which was striving 10 effect the
union OF Germany, and accordingly In him were
ha h.,,a ,fa fN.rr
patriot. How completely those hopes we're re-
allied, the history of the reign will tell. His
policy from the outset, while far from satisfy
ing the extreme Liberals OF his subjects, yet
showed the grandness OF the mans aims and
ideas, and Indicated plainly the reforms he con
templated bringing about. July IA, 1861, the
student, Osaar Becker, Liberalist extremely
fanatical in his views, made futile attempt to
assassmate the King while he was walking on
the Promenade at Baden Baden. He urged as
an excuse for the deed, the utter incapacity OF
William to effect the union OF Germany, the ac-
complshment OF which, however may now be
pointed to as one OF the notable acts OF a long
and splendid reign.
In 1862 he placed Bismarck at the head OF
his Cabinet as Minister of Foreign Affairs,
and two years later. after procuring the CO.
operation OF Austria in the Sehleswig Holstein
war ach eyed a splendid victory for Prussia HIS
sagacity in selecting able statesmen and skilled
Generals, was only equaled by his unyieldng
support sustaining them against all opposf
ton. His unbounded confidence In Bismarck,
as well as in Won Room and Moltke, was fully
confirmed by the rapid and brilliant successes
attending his forces in the war against Austria.
This wa r, in which he personally took an active
part, extinguished Austria as q German Power
and plaC ed him at the head Of the new North
German confederation with Schleswig-Hcl'
stein. Hanover, TIesse- -Cassel, Nassau and
Frankfort added to- his PrussiaD dominionA
on the cath of February 1867, he opened the
C nstituent Reichstag and on July ! OF the
same year made Bismarck Chancellor.
In June, 1867, in company with his nephew,
Alexander the Second OF Russia, he visited
Paris, and while soiournlng IN that city was
received as the honored guest of Napoleon the
Third, then on the throne Of France From that
time on the friendly relations between Prussia
and Russia were strengthened, especially as
the two Chancelors-llismarck and Gortscha-
kon-were as much in accord as we're their re-
spective sovereigus. As will be seen later on,
this mutual feeling between the two powers
was no small factor in the ultimate victory over
France, and Ia the final realization OF German
Cuity n has been claimed by some writer's that
KIM William, IA his dcrerm l9fi0n 20 have his
dynasty maintain its position The protector
OF the Protestant faith. sought 10
crush out Roman Catholicism. The facts
are, Il appears, that his efforts were not direct
ed against the ire, dom nor the existence Of the
Catholic Church, but only against . dominant
party in that church, which sought to stihe
popular education, forbid free thought and
with the consequences necessarily following
seriously affect the happiness and welfare OF
his people.
The candidacy of Prince Leopold, of Honen-
sollern for the throne OF Spain, and the Kings
objections against further interview with the
French s -ador, Count Benedetti, ~ his
court became L.. lretext upon which the
French Government declared war against Prus-
sta; although the real reason lay In the fact
that Napoleon was far from satisned with the
result OF the war Of 1893, while he also viewed
,he spidiy.growng power OF Germany with
saiousy ard alarm. The south German ooases