The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-26
SPEECH OF WILLIAM II.
THE REICHsTAG OPENED WITH
POMP AND BRILLIANCY.


fsther-He VIII Emulate the Peace
full Rule of His Ancestors, and Guilt
vate Friendly Relations With Other
Nations.
BERLIN, June 25.-The reicbstag was
opened to-day with pomp and brilliancy.
After divine service in the court chapel the
emperor was escorted with great ceremony
to the white hall of the old castle, where he
declared the session opened. Throughout
his speech the emperor dwelt upon Ger
manys pacific disposition. His speech in
full follows:
l greet you with deep sorrow in my heart. |
know you mourn with me. The fresh remem,
brance of the heavy sufferings of my deceased
father. and the affecting fact that have been
called upon TO ascend the throne three months
after the death of his Majesty Emperor William
L., VIII exercise a similar effect upon the hearts
OF all Germans. Our sorrow has evoked warm
sympathy from all the countries of the world.
Beneath tine burden of these things l pray COD
to give me strength to accomplish the high
duties TO which his will has called me. Obeying
this call have before my eyes the example or
a peaceful rule which Emperor William l.,
after bitter wars, left to his successors and to
which my late fathers rule. corresponding in SO
far as he was not prevented from executing his
designs by his illness and death, have sum
moned you in order to declare in your presence
that as king and emperor am resolved to pur-
sue the same path by which my deceased grand
father secured the confidence Of his allies, the
love Of the German people and good will abroad,
! also. with Gods help. will strive earnestly TO
accomplish the same end. The most important
duties of a German emperor lie within the
province Of assuring the military and political
safety of the empire abroad and watching over
the execution of imperial laws at home. The
chief of these laws regards.
THE IMPERIAL CONSTITUTION,
70 defend and guard it in all the rights which it
guarantees TO the two legislative bodies of the
nation, to every German, and also in those
which it assures to the empire and the confed-
crate states and their sovereigns. In the legis-
lation of the empire have TO cooperate more
in my capacity as the king of Prussia than as
German emperor. But in both capacities it
will be my endeavor TO proceed IN the same
spirit which my grandfather began And es-
pecially Will appropriate TO myself in its full sig
niicance his message of Nov. II, 1881, and shall
continue to strive in the spirit of that document,
so that imperial legislation may afford to the
working people that further protection which,
in accordance with christian morality, is needed
by the weak and oppressed in their struggle for
existence ] hope that in this way it may be
possible to arrive at an equalization of the I'M
healthy social contrasts, and l cherish conf
dence in the belief that for
the care Of our domestic welfare
l shall have the clearsighted support of all true
friends of the empire and of the allied govern
ment without division or party differences.
also hold myself bound to support our national
and social development within the paths of
legality, and sternly to oppose all efforts, the
aim and tendency of which shall be to under
mine public order.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
In foreign politics am resolved to maintain
peace with every one so far as it lies in my
power My love for the German army, and my
position in it would never induce me to attempt
to endanger the benefits of peace unless the
necessity for war is forced upon us by hostile
attempt on the empire or one of its allies. Our
army will assure us peace, or If peace be broken
it will enable us to fight for it with
honor that, with Gods help, will be possible for
it to do by reason of the strength il has derived
from the army laws you recently unanimously
voted. To employ this strength for offensive
wars is lar from my heart. Germany needs
neither new military renown nor any conquest
since she finally won for herself By fighting the
right to exist as a united and independent ma
ton.
OUR ALLIANCE WITH AUSTRIA
is publicly known | shall hold fast to it with
German fidelity, not only because it exists, but
because | see in this defensive compact a
foundation for the maintenance Of the Euro
pean equilibrium and also legacy from Cor
man history the PurP9Srt Of b which the
man people sanctions, and which cor
responds with European International law as
it has undsputedy existed since 1866
Similar historical relations and national needs
now bind us to Italy. Both countries will
maintain the blessings of peace and work out
in the quiet security OF new won unity the per
fections of national institutions and the promo
ton of their welfare. Our existing agreements
with Austria and Italy will permit me
to my satisfaction to maintain my
personal friendship with the car
and the friendly relations existing for a century
with Russia, which corresponds with my own
feelings and GermanyS interests In the con-
scientous care of peace, shall devote myself
equally readily to the service of the father
land as to the care of the army, and rejoice in
our traditional relations to foreign powers,
through which my endeavors in behalf of our
peace will be enlisted.
Trusting in God and my peoples ability for
their Defense entertain confidence that it will
be permitted to US for an indefinite time to de-
fend and assure by peaceful efforts what my
two predecessors now resting in God, won by
arms,
At the conclusion of the address the
emperor shook hands with Bismarck, who
then kissed his majeSty's hand.
AT the close Of the proceedings Baron
Lott proposed three more cheers for the
emperor and when the procession left the
hall the members were still cheering loudly
The emperor was pale and his voice be-
trayed much emotion. As he proceeded his
voice became much firmer. The first ap-
plause greeted his reference to his
| imperial duties. The applause was
| renewed when he announced the adoption
of the programme of 1891, and grew in vol
ume on his closing with assurances of peace.
The reichstag was formally opened at $3.50
O'clock. The president, in his speech, re-
| ferred to the grief of the country at the
death of Emperor Frederick. He CON
cluded by invoking Gods blessing on the
new emperor. In response to call of
the president, three cheers for Emperor
William were heartily given. The
president and vice president were reelected,
and the house proceeded to draft an address
in reply to the speech from the throne.
AS the speech was uncontroverial, the
address in reply will be colorless. The ses-
sion will close as soon as the address has
been adopted.
The passage in the emperor's speech con-
corning Russia is regarded as condemnng
| all efforts to weaken the Austro-G German
alliance.
The Kreuz Zeitung says that DeGiers,
the Russian foreign minister, desires to
arrange meeting between the emperor of
Russia and the emperors of Germany and
! Austria.
Panama Canal Shares Decline.
ID