The Portland daily press., 1888-03-08
KAISER WILLIAM.
His Life and IlIustrlous Services to
His Country.

The Emperor William was the son OF
Frederick William III, King Of Prussia, and
Princess Louise Of Macklenburg-Strelit
Born on March %, 1897, the early years Of
the future ruler Of the Germans witnessed
the wonderful rise and military success o.
Napoleon. 1t was on the day Of the En-
peror's birth thai the young Bonaparte left
France to assume the command Of the army
In Italy and William was still child when
jena was fought and Prussia overthrown.
But the successive campaigns Of the allied
Powers against the -ench afforded school
in which the Prince received a thorough
training in the art of war. He was an apt
pupil and participated in the victorious cam
paign of 1914, accompanying the army on its
march from Leipsic to Paris. The year fol-
lowing he was on the battlefield Of Waterloo
and witnessed the success which resulted In
the restoration of the Bourbons to the thrcne
of France and the Punishment Of the En-
peror Napoleon to st. Helena.
Waterloo, fought and won, was followed by
period Of transition lasting for nearly half
a century, during which Prussia remained a
feeble, misgoverned State, overshadowed by
Austria During this time, King William
from 1910 to 1S4S occupied the post OF gov
ernor Of Pomerania. The breaking out OF
the revolution of 1S4s forced him to fly to
England. But in May of the same year, he
was elected a member OF the Constituent
Assembly and returned to his native coun-
try in time to take his seat in the Assembly
at Berlin, ON the eighth of June. Then fol-
lowed his elevation to the generalship of the
Prussian army, acting against the revolu-
tionary forces Of Baden, in June, 1S49.
In 1853, when the mind of his brother, the
king of Prussia, gave way, the Prince was
made regent. Almost his first act as ruler
of the Prussians was to dismiss the Kreuz
or aristocratic party and adopt liberal pol
ICY His regency lasted nearly three years
or until the death of his brother, Fredericb
William IV, Jan. 2, 1861, without issue
whom he succeeded under the title OF VIII
liam l. AT Kenigsbog, on the 18th day OF the
following October, the king placed the crown
upon his head, thus formally beginning his
reign. He was already an old man, bred
rather to the profession Of arms than the
art Of governing. and at that time prince Of
marked unpopularity. But the short COM
ings of his domestic policy have been recog-
nized as faults rather of the head than OF the
heart, and the illustrious services which ne
rendered to the Fatherland, uniting Germany
under Prussian leadership and making oi
her an empire more powerful than that over
which Charles V. held sway, won the eonh-
dence and love of the German people, who
recognized the unselish patriotism and the
many homely virtues of their Emperor. II
he Kept Germanyin the saddle it is because
he believed that what had been won In bat
| tie must be maintained by standing armies
| No sooner had William seated himself upon
| the throne of Prussia than he began CON
| test with the Chamber OF Deputies which
/ grew more and more critical until aftel
| Count arck-Sch9nhausen had been
| appointed prime minister in 1862, the feue
/ Threatened to end In civil war. Fortunately
/ the aggressive war on Denmark waged by
| Austria and Prussia diverted the attention
/ Of the people from home affairs and, afte
| its conclusion, the kings wise and firm exer'
| else Of his power prevented further trouble
| The war with Austria soon followed
/ Military preparations had been going OF
| for many years and in 1866 everything wa
| ripe for resisting the supremacy which Aus
| tria had so long maintained over her weake
| neighbor. An ultimatum was sent to tn
smaller states in the North Of Germany ant
an immense army was set in motion. Wa
was declared against Austria June II an,
| after short campaign, in which the Kin
aud the royal princes took part, Austria wa
| compelled to make humiliating place.
In 1867, King William became the head o.
the North German Confederation comprisin
% states, representing a population Of %,
100000. The war with Austria was followe'
within five years by the war with the French
The story of that struggle, during which vic
tory following victory resulted in the crown
ing of King William as the emperor OF Unit
ed Germany in the palace Of the trene
Kings, January Is, 1871, is still fresh In tn
minds of the public.
1t was in the hall Of the mirrors, at NeI
sailles, surrounded by representatives Oh I'M
different regiments before the surrendere'
French capital and beneath the standards
the victorious armies that Bismarcks .plal
was realized and William was proclaimed
Fmneror OF Germany. The meeting OF Tn
emnerors OF Germany. Austria and Russ
taotx Mace in Berlin In the autumn OF 1872.
In october of that year., the Empero
served as co-arbitrator of the San Juan boun
dary question which had been submitted &
him bv the English and American govern
ments. In April, 1873, the Emperor yisite'
the Car at ST. Petersburg and in the fall 0
that year paid visit to the Emperor Of Aus