River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-03-15

The Emperor died holding the Empress
hand He had been in stu1 or since 3
o'clock. He was delirious for a brief period
at o'clock, during which he Is reported
to have exclaimed: & am a man of peace,
but if Russia forces me to war, shall faith
fully side with my ally, Austria"
Other reports state that the Emperors
last words were: Alexander has promised
me that he will not make war against us
1t is reported that the Emperor also said:
81 am convinced that we ought not to go
to war with Russia, toward whom the most
friendly attitude ought to be adopted"
The Emperor will be buried in the mau-
soeum at Charlottenburg.
At 1899 Prince Bismarck appeared in
the Riechstag and the members rose in a
body The Chancellor. after pause, said:
THE sad duty devolves upon me OF making
TO you an Official communication OF what you
know already, that since s; o'clock his Ma
jesty Emperor William has been at rest with
his fathers. In consequence OF this event
the Prussian throne, and with this, accord
ing to article II OF the imperial constitution,
the imperial dignity has fallen upon his Males
" Frederick Ill. King of Prussia. The tele-
graphic intelligence received by me allows OF
the assumption that his Majesty, the reigning
Emperor and King Will leave San Reno to-
morrow, arriving in due course in Berlin.
During the last days OF his life l received
from the much-lamented King a confirmation
OF the power for work which only left him
with his life, the signature which lies before
me. and which empowers me to close
the Reichstag at the usual time when its
labors are finished. | addressed TO the
Emperor the request that he should sign
only with the nrst letters of his name.
His Majesty replied that he bel eyed himself
still able TO write his own name in full In con
sequence OF this the historical document with
a1e last NafFs as4a ~ MI ~ rs
before me. Under the circumstances
assume that it would be in accordance
with the wishes OF the Reichstag as well as OF
the representatives OF the federal governments
not TO separate just now, but to remain in ses-
sion until after the arrival Of hs Majesty, the
Emperor. / therefore do not make any use OF
the imper al authorization beyond depositing Z
in the archives as a historical document and
requesting your president TO induce the
adoption of resolutions which will reflect the
feeling and conviction Of the Reichstag
at does not become me TO give from this
official place expression TO the personal feel
ings with which the decease of ms master, the
departure of the first German Emperor
fr m our midst, fills me. There is,
in fact, need OF it, for the feel
ings which animate me live in the heart OF
every German. But there is one thing which l
believe / should not conceal from you 1t does
not concern my sentiments, but my expert
ences 1t is OF the fact that amid the sore visi-
tations with which the ruler just departed lived
10 see his house affi eted there were two Cir
cumstances which filed him with satisfac-
ton and comfort. One OF these was
only son and successor, our present SOY
ereign lord had produced throughout the
world, not oniy in Germany but in every part OF
the world I received this very day from New
York telegram of sympathy, showing what
confidence the dynasty of the imperial house
~. sraT oil apff he lie q
legacy which the Emperors long reign be
Queaths to the German people. The confidence
which his dynasty has won will be transferred
10 the nation, despite any thing that has hap
pened."
The Reichstag sitting was an event of
historical importance, never likely to be
forgotten by those who witnessed it,
Prince Bismarck controlled his feelings
oniv by violent efforts He was only able
to force out a few words at time. Some
times he could hardly speak al all and was
obliged to make long pauses to suppress
tears, which he tried to hide by lifting his
portfolio or glass of water
On Wednesday, when his strength began
to fail the Emperor spoke repeatedly to
Prince William about the condition of the
Crown Prince and about political and mill
tary affairs On Thursday he talked with
his daughter the Grand Duchess of
Baden, about the death of her son,
Prince Louis At noon he asked for
Prince Bismarck. who came and con-
versed with him on the political situation
The Emperor spoke clearly, and thanked
the Chancellor for his services to the coun-
try. Increased feebleness soon followed
afterward His voice became feebler and
feeber, finally sinking to a whisper At
D. IN. he was so weak that the men,
bers of the family, Prince Bismarck and
Count Won MOltke. and the servants of the
household gathered around the bed
The Emperor, supported by the doctors,
held the hand of his wife ON one side
and his daughters hand on the other.
Prince William stood alone at the head of
the couch Chaplain Koegel spoke few
words of consolation, to which the Emperor
whispered occasional responses
The Emperor interrupted the Chaplain as
he subsequently read from the Bible with
the words: That's right" and @Good"
When the Duchess of Baden asked him II
he had heard the words of the clergyman
he said @Yes" After the Emperor
had partaken of little food he seemed
very talkative and spoke with Prince WILL
fam, renewing q conversation which he
had had with him within the last few days
He spoke in a clear voice about tho
political situation and military ar
rangements of Germany. He men,
toned that the reforms he had carried
out in the army had been copied in
France. He talked about Russia and ex-
pressed a strong opinion that Germany
would not become involved in a war with
that country. He spoke in the most friend
" terms of the Austro-G German relations,
but it is not certain whether he was con
scious or wandering.
At $50 the patient manifested extreme
Weakness and death seemed imminent