Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-03-15


| thanks, and also to assure him that Ger
| many would not soon forget the service he
| had rendered by maintaining his strict
neutrality during the progress Of thu
war between that country and France.
| The treaty was ratified March and g; the
Emperor William left Versailles on the
| 9TH, entered Berlin on the 18th, AMI on the
/ 21st of the month he formally opened the
first Reichstag of the new empire. The
definitive peace with France was signed at
Frankfort May 10, and on June appeared
the Emperor's proclamation Incorporating
Alsace-Lorraine with the empire. August
49, 1879, ne unvailed Ban1ePS colossal mon
ument of the national hero Arminius, OH
the summit of the Grotenburg, near Det-
mold
Shortly following that event he e.
changed friendly visits with the Emperor
of Austria, and in October was at Milan to
return visit of the King Of Italy. The
significance of his desire to cultivate the
friendship of Victor Emanuel was, that
he left no stone unturned that would aid
him in his prolonged and bitter contest
with the Roman hierarchy. And this pol
icy was still further carried out in 1876,
when he Joined the Emperors of Austria
and Russia in a project OF reform suggested
to Turkey for the pacification of her then
revolving provinces.
In 1877 Bismarck, whose foreign policy
had made him famed as one of the best
skilled diplomats in the world, now found
time to turn his attention to a few domestic
problems and to undertake their solution.
The two most important Of these were first:
The adoption of protective system which
should protect Germany's commerce and
trade from the powerful competition OF
foreign countries; the other was tho taking
of steps to improve the condition OF th1
working classes. The latter movement was
started by the Socialists, and in spite of all
opposition in the shape of stringent reStric-
tive laws, so gained in public favor that the
willy and polite Bismarck saw that the Gov
eminent must itself sanction and direct the
proposed reforms, or be forever alienated
in the hearts of its people.
In these struggles, which can here be
only alluded to, Kaiser Wilhelm was stead
fast in his support OF his Chancellor and
Minister, and in the most solemn manner no
at various times proclaimed his faith in the
correctness of Bismarck's social anu politi-
cal views. But King William. a ruler,
did not always find his policy approved by
his people or his Cabinet; but firm in his
belief that he was keeping within the limits
of the constitution and conscious of his
deer-Seated interest in the welfare Of all
his subjects, he called about him IN IN, as
advisors, who did understand and approve
of his measures, and with whose assistance
he established national policy which
un4OCU dull mus pldCOQ IL 1IIlOAS5
the leading Powers on the globe.
Says DR.. Moritz Busch: king William,
the German Emperor, created and recog-
nIzed constitution by giving them his
approval. He has faithfully observed them,
has always ruled constitutonally; but he
has never consented to be mere royal
figure head without any will of his own
and in whose name ministers govern who
are mere creatures and servants of the ma
jority in Parliament. He will not let him.
self be metamorphosed into n mere prin- |
ciple, but is determined TO be a living |
Prince, standing in direct relations to the |
people and its representatives"
In his personal appearance Emperor |
William was man of large and powerful |
frame; the features of his lace being square |
and massive and all Indicative of the firm |
ness of character which ever marked his !
conduct man and Sovereign. Always |
of active temperament, yet strictly |
temperate and simple in his style of liv !
ing, he managed to preserve a naturally |
fine and robust constitution to an advanced |
age, holding to the very last a rare ply |
steal vigOr together with uncommon in
tellectual powers. His private life was quiet |
and passed without useless ostentation or |
dis play.
When in Berlin he occupied a small pal |
ace at the corner of Inter den Linden and |
Opera Place; his presence here was made |
hHOHA W INC pCOPIO NY uC4ollHo 1IOll
roof Of the palace the red flag with tho |
Landwehr Cross. He rose, ordinarily, be- |
tween six and seven O'Clock in the morn
ing, and instead of indulging until ten in
the luxury Of morning gown and slippers,
dressed at once and Immediately after
breakfast went to his work which occupied |
him by far the greater part of the day His
favorite place of a bode was at his rustic
castle at Potsd am, and upon which he
more money than upon his city
residence in Berlin. Weisba6en, Ems
and Gastein were his favorite health re-
sorts
He was friend of the chase, and in his
younger days always participated in the
grand hunting parties formed for his pleas
ure. and in which he invariably came out
with the record clinging to him of being a
skilled and lucky sportsman. He was mar
ried June II, 1879, to Augusta, daughter Of
Grand Duke Charles Frederick of Sake
Weimar, and who still survives him. She
was born September 81, 1911. His son, the
Crown Prince that was, now the King and
second Emperor of United Germany, Fred
erick William Nicholas Charles, was born
in 1881 his daughter, Princess Louisa, was
born in December, 1888, and in 1856 became
the wife Of Grand Duke Frederick of Baden.