The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-09
WILHELM'S LIFE AND SERVICES.
BIOGRAPHIOAL.

The Kaiser's Percentage and Early Life--His
Career Up to tho Date of His Marriage.
Wilhelm Frederick Ludwig, King of Prussia
and Emperor of Germany, born in the
palace of the Crown Prince, at Berlin, March
% 1897. He was the second son of Frederick
William III, of Prussia. and Louise. daughter Of
the Duke of Mecklinburg- -Strelitz. He entered
the army, nominally, as first lieutenant of the
Royal Guards, on Jan. /, 1906, but of course
saw no service at SO tender age. In 1914 he took
part in the "Camnaign OF France" in which
Napoleon was overthrown and forced TO abdI-
cate. being present at the battles of La
Rothiere, Bar-sur-Aube, and La Fere Cham
penoise. He entered Paris with the victori ,us
allied armies March 81, 1914. as a captain in
the Royal Guards. From this time until the
death of his father, June T. 1840 he was en-
gagged in military studies and routine duties.
The only event of importance in that period was
his marriage with Augusta. daughter of Karl
Frederick Grand Duke of SAKE Weimar-E Eisenah.
He sat in the first united Diet, in lS47,
and took an active part in the ATTEMPTED sup
preston of the liberal riots in 1s48. On account
of unpopularty caused by this he withdrew to
England for taree months in the spring of that
year. Returning, he took q seat as Deputy
in the National Assembly. and in the following
southern Germany whose head was Lorenz
Brentano. since of Chicago and ex-Representa-
tive in Congress. and whose armies were COM
manded by Gen. Franz Sigel, so well known in
the late war of the rebellion. For eight years
he passed quiet life as military governor on
the Rhine aud in Westphalia, and as governor
Of the federal fortress of Mentz. During this
period he paid much attention to Masonry, and
was elected grand master OF the Masons of
Prussia On Oct %, 1867. Frederick William
w having become incompetent to manage the
affairs of the kingdom, through dissipation and
illness, Prince William was elected Regent, for
a term of three months, by the Landtag The
power was renewed three times, and Oct. z,
1858, was made permanent. As the death OF his
brother on Jan. 2. 1861 he assembled the throne,
being then sixty-two years of age. From the
first his central thought was the unity of Ger
many with Prussia in supremacy His choice of
Ministers was singularly wise. ia fact Bis
rnarck, Won Room, and Won Moitke have
eclipsed their master in public estima-
tion In 1864 be secured the cooperation
of Austria in the Schleswig- -Holstein war against
Denmark, and secured the release of Denm arks
claims over those provinces by tho treaty of
Vienna, Oct. 80 1864 BY the convention of
Gastsin. Akc. IA, 1865, Schleswig was temporal
riiy and LAuenberg permanently assigned TO
Prussia Uniting with Italy, in 1866. the COM
bined armies broke Austria as aGarman power,
and William was left at the head of the North
German Confederation, with Seles wig Holstsin,
Hanover, Hesse Cassel. Nassau and Frankfors
added 10 bis dominsons as King of Prussia. He
cultivated friendly relations with Alexander. OF
Russia. and these we're made Of practical service
IN the procurement of German urity by like
friendliness between the Cha ncellors Bismarck
and Gortehakoff. The successful Franco Prus-
slap war Of 1870 brought the attainment OF his
highest embitiou. On Jan. Is. 1871. at the Pal