The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-09
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King Frederick Willlam III DreAtne0 his last
On June z. 1910. and was succeeded by his eldest
son, Frederic William ". This Prince was a
thorough conservative in his political views, q
:urious mixture of the pietist and debauchee.
He had been in perfect sympathy with bis father
10 the latrer's logged opposition to the young
German Liberal party. and his retrograde views
were only strengthened by the growing relations
between the Prussian and Russian courts.
When he accepted the royal crown and sceptre
it was with the firm resolve to withstand the
constitutional agitation by all means in his
power. The spirit Of this resolve may be gath
cred in the following declaration from his lips:
Never" said ne, will allow document (the
Constitutionl to come between God Almighty
and this land-a document to act as q second
Providence that will rule the people with it's
paragraphs, and drive away the old faith" 1t
requires no second sight to read between the
lines, and discover that his Royal Majesty was
simply placing himself par with the Ruler
of the universe. Such views, nevertheless, did
not prevent his leading scandalous private
life, and passing nights in dissipation and drunk
enness. which earned for him the sobriquet Of
Champagne Fritz
Towards the year 1s4s matters approached a
crisis. The outbreak of the revolution in Paris
In Prussia the volcano had been smoldering
since the February Of the preceding year. when.
in response to the nations appeal for consti-
tuition, the King had granted the so-called
''patent"-a hollow concession that could de-
ceivs no one. The revolution in Vienna of Feb.
49, l84s, followed by Metternich's fight, led to
bloody troubles in the streets Of Berlin. It was
at this juncture that Prince William of Prussia
(such was his title since his fathers death) APP
psared upon the scene. King Frederick Will
Jams advisers were divided into two parties.
On the one side the Princess of Wemar and
her friends who, overawed by the clamoring
masses, advocated an immediate surrender to
the peoples on the other side was Prince William
and the conservative courtiers, who insisted
upon q suppression of the outbreak
By the military The Princes auto
cratic nature revolted at the thought
that there should be any parleying
with rebels, and, unfortunately. his sentiments
prevailed. The bloody days of the 18th and
18th of March. 1S48, are not even yet forgotten
in Berlin. and for his ruthless slaughter of it's
citizens the late Emperor was long called the
KartRtscheu prinz (the Cartridge Prince But,
although many a barrcade stormed and
blood flowed like water, the Princes troops
were unable to Quell the revolt and had not the
King accuiesced in the popular demands on the
morning of the goth, he would probably have
shared the fate of his French royal brother.
Inc Kings appearance IN tue SbreotS WIN Jno
national German cockade of black, red and gold,
and his promise OF constitution restored him
TO general favor. Not his brother. The
feeling against William was SO intense that he
deemed 1t best to leave the kingdom for n
while He went to London ION an official mis-
SION and there came in contact with Prince
Albert, Sir Robert Peel. Lords Palmerston and
Russell. After soiourn of few months in
the British capital he found the storm to have
partially blown over athome and consequently re-
turned Finding aconsiituency willing and ready
hsaa o1 ma mo-
lnent as member on June H. 184S, and declared
himself ready to support the constitutional
monarchy to the full extent of his powers.
In the meanwhile the revolutionary fever had
spread to the south of Germany. The Radio al
section of the Frankfort Parliament had
coded and opened its sessions in Stuttgarr.
Armed bodies of revolutionists bad secured some
of the larger towns in Saxony, Baden and the
Palatinate and proclaimed republic. On the
appeal Of the fugitive Grand Duke of Baden the
King of Prussia resolved TO Interfere. and an
army of intervention sent against the in
surgents under Prince Williams orders. On
June H. 1849, the Prince held council of war in
the fortress of Mayence. and the following day
lis troops marched into the Palatinate The
campaign thai followed was short and decisive.
After q number of skirmishes with the different
iusurgent detachments, ending with the latter
being driven over the Rhine. the Prussians
cupied the fortress of Landau and in their turn
crossed the Rhine at Germersheim. They then
started in southerly direction. their objective
point being Stuttgart, ssas of the insurgent gov
eminent. Their march was oostructed as much
as possible by the rebels. but after four sue
U5stadt aud Durlach. Prince William entered
the Wurtamherg capital
From Stuttgart the Prince marched to FRI
burg another hot bed of revolution, and invested
the city after two obstinate engagements at
Bisch weller and Kupnenheim. There renamed
bat the fortress OF Rastadt IN Baden. in the
hands of the revolutionary party 1t was de-
Tended by the brave and energetic Colonel Tiede-
manu. hero OF the war of 1872 and a small
army of patriots. Lack of munitions and pro-
visions comDelled its surrender after few
weeks siege aud the revolution became q thing
of the past
The next few years of Prince Williams life
were comparatively unevenuuL 1.-THE close or
the South German cAmpaign his royal brother
appointed him Goveruor-geEera OF the Rnenish
provinces and Westphalia and his rule there was
characterized by patience and benignaney He
took particular interest In Masonry and sue
eeeded in being elected grand master OF the Ma
sons OF Prussia. His political views underwent a
certain change in the direction of liberalism and
the Kings ever-grow wing tendency to assert abb
solute rights over the LandtAg met with his
dsapproval. The KING is may be here said,
wss slowly driaking himself TO death. Always
. slave to good wine and alcoholics the events OF
1854. by Infringing his but poorly developed
mental faculties, only increased his love for that
kind of Indulgence. His constant chickering's
with the representatives of the people, and the
irritabiity consequent thereon threw him ever
aud again into tha arms OF Baechus. Finally
his condition Alarmed even the pietistical eyco-
plants who had encouraged him In his obstinate
was called upon for counsel. AS the King only
grew worse the Prince Oct. %, 1851
cepted the regency OF the kingdom for the
term OF three months from the hands of the
Landtag. This term was afterwards twice
nswed and the Kings condition remained
the same or rather be was found TO he hope
lessly insane from the effects of hard drinking,
Prsnse William was finally de:lared permanent
Reeent ON Oct Z 1858
On Jan l. 1861, Frederick William w ex-
pired. and the Regent succeeded to the throne.
He was sixty four years of age, tall ma
iesfic, handsome old man, with irOn-eray hair
and Whiskers. Time and experience han effaeed
znaeh that hard aud relentless In his nature.
and had impaired air Of beneSolenee that
cADffwafsd from the start His coronation at
EcenigsbeFg, Oct. 10, 1861 was attended with