New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-08
TIE EMPEROR WILLIAM

One OF the great figures OIL INC LWVPe"
stage is passing away, beloved by his people,
honored by all nations. The Emperor William
found Prussia a feeble, mIsgovened otaic'
oycrshadowcd by Austria. lie lived TO take
nm the sword of Frederick the Great and by
striking down the rival State TO make Germany
under Prussian leadership the strongest Power
on the Continent. He found the Fatherland
geographical expression" lie left her more
powerful than she was in the days of Charles
the Fifth. In his youth he served in the clos
ing campaign against Napoleon He lived ito
mt Germany in the saddle and to overthrow
a second NapOlconic Empire that menaced the
peace of Europe.
If we analyzc the Empcrors career we shall
find along with many homely virtues and ster-
ling qualities of character two clements which
enabled him to render these GROWING services
to his country and to the world. The first was
his patriotism. lie honorcd the Fatherland;
he loved his people. The shortcomings OF his
domestic policy have been many and serious
hut these have been faults of the head, not OF
the heart. 4 thorough soldier before he was
King or Emperor, his place was at the head OF
his armies in their arduous campaigns; but
when his country was once united and strong.
he sought TO make the people industrious, pros
pcrous and happy. If Germany has been kept
in the saddle fully armed and ready for battle,
il has been because he believed that what had
been won during his reign must be protected
for many generations, and not because he
wished to make the Empire troublesome and
neddlesome on the Continent. Almost as use
full to the Fathcrland as his patriotism was
that rare talent-sagacity in the choice Of adj
yisers. No monarch since the First Napoleon
has displayed equal judgment in selecting Min
listers and Generals. Bismarck was called to
his councils soon after his reign opened and
Moltke was placed at the command Of the
armies in the great campaigns. Without these
two men Germany could not have been what
it is to-day. TO the Emperor belongs the credit
OF discovering them, of placing implicit con-
fIdence in them. and OF keeping them in his
service.
II seems almost invidious to speak OF the
shortcomings of the Emperors policy; but in a
world where events move rapidly and where
without pause new figures take the place OF
the old, the lessons and warnings Of every great
career must be pointed out while the impress
sions of the magnitude of the public services
and deeds are strongest and freshest. The
German States have been united, but the people
have not made any marked advance in consti-
tutional and Parliamentary government. Uni
versal suffrage was granted as tradition OF
Frankfort, but it proved barren privilege.
II has not taken away from the Rechstag the
rcproach Of being little more than debating
society. II has not made the Kings Ministers
responsible to the representatives OF the people.
IL has not secured to those who exercise the
common privilege Of citizenship those fnalien-
able rights which were eloquently advocated
by Stein and solemnIy affirmed in the Frankfort
Constitution. It has not made Parliamentary
government reality nor converted democracy
INTO a progressive force. In all these respects
Germany lags behind Italy, Austro-H Hungary,
France, Belgium and Holland. Military pres
ticc has not satisfied the political instincts Of
the nation. Something has been lacking. The
smoke has lifted from the battle-felds; tho
people are disenchanted; emigration has como
on apacc the Fatherland has not prospercd
Tn the struggle for actual power the Chancellor
has steadily improved his position. and tho
people themselves have made little progress in
political government. There is a lack OF what
Matthew Arnold terms "civic courage"
1t will require wiser generation than ours to
adjust the balance between the Emperor's vast
public services to Germany and his shortcom-
ings as constitutional ruler. Certain it is
that the Fathcrland to-day forgivcs him for
all that he left undonc and honors him for all
that he did TO make her what she is-united at
home, powerful abroad. Her sons will unitc
on both sides of the Atlantic in grief. The
Oldest of modern kings draws near his end after
his many labors. his last hours embttcred only
by the sorrowful thought that his noble son,
a soldier through and through like himself. was
not destined to survive him long.