Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-03-09
The Emperor.

TIE announcement Of the death of En-.
peror William yesterday was premature.
He did not die till 80 O'clock this morning.
He fell into such state of collapse at FIVE
o'clock that the cad was believed to be near,
but be rallied a. six o'clock and took nour-
ishment and 99iae. The ringing Of the
church bells to announce the administering
of the sacrament, led the public to believe
that the end had come.
Between s and 10. p. M, the Emperor
greatly improved. He repeatedly partook
of soup, and crank one glass OF champagne.
He spoke to the doctors and expressed de-
sire to get up, but was not allowed to rise.
excep. partially, so that the bed might be
rearrenesd. Divine service wac held in the
palace az FIVE o'clock All the members Of
the imperial family, the court digntaries
and the members Of the household were
present. Hundreds Of people stood bare.
headed in the rain outside the palace and
Joined in the prayers offered by Chaplain
Koegel.
In the ab:ence Of precedents, due to the
fact that William was the first Emperor of
the present empire, the succession is deter.
mined by the imperial constitution Of 1871,
which declares that the King of Prussia
shall be the PesideUt of the Confederation
and shall have the title of German Emperor
The succession therefore. ia dependent up
on the constitution of Prussia of 1850. that
provides that the crown, according to the
laws of the royal house, is hereditary in the
male line Of that house iG accordance with
the law of primogeniture aud agDatic suc.
cession. There is slso q provision that if
the King ia minor, or is otherwise lasting.
" prevented from ruling, himself, the re-
gency will be undertaken by that ag
mattel who has attained his major
ity and stands nearest the crown,
By this latter provision William became, in
1853 prince regent on account OF the mental
lines of his brother, King Frederick Will
liam ", and succeeded him on his death,
10 1861, as King of Prussia. The Crown
Prince frederick William is the constitution
al successor of his father as Emperor and
King, but 10 view of hie possibly fatal maia-
dy, complications might have arisen which
would have necessitated regency. But
these we're prevented by az imperial decree
signed November IL aud promulgated yes
terdsy, providing for the representation of
the Emperor and King by Prince William,
son of the Crown Prince, in the discharge OF
the current government business.
The dying Emperor has, in mis- nearly
ninety one years. survived ifty.two Kings
or Queens, eight Emperors, six sultans, and
six popes who we're his contemporaries. OF
these three we're Kings of Prussia Freder-
lex William II, Frederick William III, Fred
elick William "; two were Kings OF Hano
yer. two Kings of Wcrtemburg, four Kings
of Bavaria. three Kings ofSazony, one King
of Westphala Jerome Bonspartel, one
King of Greece. one King of the Begians,
three Kings of Holland, three Kings ofEng-
land, three Kings of France, five Kings Of
Sweden, four Kings of Denmark, three sov.
ereigns of Portugal, Eve rulers of Spain, Eve
Kings of Sardinia, six Kings of Naples, two
Emperors of Austria Zone of whom was the I
last of The former line Of German Empero1s) I
two Emperors Of France aud four Czirs of
Russia. BE has also survived twenty Prssi
dents of the United States.