Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-03-10
rRE SITUATION IN GERM4NT

military leader and a ststesman--and al
r the same time patriot and a Christian.
with popular sympsthies-a man who loved
his people and who was beloved by them
peacefully breathed his life away
III the imperial palace at Berlin. at half
past eight o'clock, on Friday morning,
March Q, 1855. Tie last utterances of the
great soldier-the greatest and the best
monarch OF his time-were expressive Of
peace and good wilt but also of faith and
loyalty to Germany's ally. Austria
As the breath left his body his Oldest son,
the crown prince, became the Emperor
Frederick I'LL. but takes to the throne Of
the emplre broken physical constitution,
and, at best, but short lease of life. The
sbles; medical experts of Europe differ IS
70 the disease in his throat, but no one of
them ventures to hope for his recovery. He
assumes the burden OF the ruling OF one of
the greatest OF the worlds empires, with
the feebiest physical powers and mind
undoubtedly greatly affected by his phys
icsl weakness. That this is 50. is. 30 far as
for the German people, for the new
emperor Is unquestionahIT a worthy son of
his father-s soldier who has shown his
qualities IS a fighter and military leader,
In the field, with his father. and who has
shown himself to be a good and strong man
In other lines.
His successor-at an early periods to
be, ~ FAR as human probabilities indicate. his
oldest son. the Prince William, who leaned
over the form of his grandfather during
his last hours. and who seemed to feel and
appreciate the supreme gravity of the stu
alton. About this young man there are
conflicting opiniuns. We have already
quoted from hi. u.terances sufficiently to
show that there Is enough in his head. OF
sound principles, in morals. patriotism and
statesmanship, to make of him a great and
safe ruler IL he will abide BY the dictates Of
| bis heart and his conscience. All Chris.en-
| dom will hope and pray that he will. But
Germany must hereafter, be only an enl-
plre In its greatness, not an empire. solely,
because its emperor Is an absolute sover-
and strong and their government must
become essentially a popular government.
II is quite evident that the late emperor
foresaw this: and il is quite evident that his
grandson also foresees 1t.
II is now. and 1t will henceforth be. i'm
possible that any man-whether emperor
or premier-shsll rigidly rule the German
people. There Is the same condition of
things in Great Britain. Queen Victoria
has but little more, II any, power than the
president of the United States, and We pre-
dict that II the prince OF Wales reaches the
throne he will find that he has even less,
and no one need be surprised, who lives 10
see the death OF Queen Victoria, to see the
people change to their already popular form
OF government to a nominal and real re-
public. What the friends Of Germany de-
sire-and her sons and her well-wishers
abound In all portions Of the civilized world,
and especially are they numerous in the
UnitedStates--is that the government of Ger |
many. whether under An emperor in name !
or q premier In fact, shall BE- of, and |
from, and by the people. Only such q
government can endure the test and strain |
which the coming years shall put upon IL.
The American people mourn In common
and mingie their tears with the people of |
Germany. The death Of such man as the
Emperor William afiicts and bereavss the
civilized world Ii Is not at all probable
that this generation will see his like again.
He was q man OF gigantic mold, hero in
the field OF battle. q great-hearted and
sreat-mlnded man In the councils OF state.
and he seemed to be greater and more he
role on his desth-bcd than he had shown
himself to be at any previous period Of his
life.
We give herewith a brief sketch OF the
life and career of the great emperor He
was the second son of King Frederick Will
liam III and Queen Louise, princess of
Mecklenberg. and he was born March %.
17a7-dying. Friday, March Q, 1883. a. we
have already said In the foregoing, and at
the age of al. The young William had al
ready distinguished himself In the wars
with and overthrow of Napoleon BonapaTt.
In lsiS-lsl+, and became known rs an er
thusi.stic soldier and as a man Of popular
sympsthies. In 1870. on the death of his
father. his brother. Frederick William ".
became king OF Prussia, and he the prince
Of Prussia. as heir prssumptive
On the outbreak Of the European revniu-
tions in Ists he WAS compelled 10 leave the
o >untry. and went 10 England. In the
spring OF the following year. however. he
suppressed the revolution in Baden and
the Palatina.e. In 1855 he wss
made regent OF Germany. and king in
1851, when our American civil war first
broke out He went to the throne in De-
culiarly nDfavOrable circumstances. The
people are said TO have been especially ir-
riiated by the reorganization of the army
which he deemed essential to the elevation
OF Prussia. The feeling against him was
only increased By the appointment Of Bis
marck as president of the cabinet. After
the war with Denmark in 1854. however.
and particularly after the brilliant VIC
tories over Austria and her German allies
under the personal leadership of the king.
the tide Of public sentiment turned and the
king and Bismarck and MoIike were the
idols Of the people. Prussia steadily
forged ahead. In 1867 William put
himself at the head of the North
German confederation. The war with
France lls70-7l) resulted in the German t
princes uniting in offering King William
the imperial crown of Germany. A new
contest then arose between the emperor
and the church and the emperor and the
popular party. The emperor, however.