The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-03-09

ne euuucn, though NOT uulilntiy utdlli Oh
the aged Emperor William, who, at this writ
ing, is lying unconscious and at the
point Of death, win leave vacant the throne
of Germany at most distressing time.
The long awaited prize, greater than any
other of the worldly prizes of Europe, will
come to Prince Frederick William at time
when all earthly honors must seem very small
indeed Frederick William Nicholas Charles,
Imperial Prince of Germany and Crown
Prince of Prussia was born in the palace of
Potsdana Oct. is, 1881. Like all the other sci
ons of the House of Hohenzollern he entered
the army at an early age, rising through the
grades by the unusual advantages of royal
birth and military tastes. In the campaign
of 1866, when Prussia humbled the pride of
Austria, he saw his first important service
A young man Of 30, he led a division of 1885,
900 from Silesia. through the passes of the
Sudetc Hills and by a series of brilliant
movements and severe fighting at Trautenau,
Naehod, Skalitz and Schweinschadel joined
the great German soldier, Prince Frederick
Charles in the midst of the famous ANA
decisive battle of Sadowa, and striking the
heart OF the Aus TRAN position, decided the
fortunes of the day. With the end of the
war with Austria, Prince Frederick Will
liam's military reputation was fully estab-
lished.
Whom the Franco-Prussian war opened in
July. 1870, the Crown Prince was on the
Rhine with an army of 100000 men. Again
he advanced into the enemy's country as he
had in the war of 1866 against Austria, and
-, D.s,, orIa ho bad
done once before at Sadowa won with him
the memorable battle of Sedan. Then he
pressed on to the siege of Paris, and wit
messed the first entry of German troops into
the French capital since the days of Napo-
leon when his aged father, then mere boy,
marched in with the armies of the allies.
OF the cf aracter of the Crown Prince in
respect to those qualities which may afford
him serenity in this trying nour when earth
ly honors come to him only to show their
emptiness, it is less easy to speak than of
his military virtues He is said by one writ
er to be dreadfully superstitious. For years
the idea has haunted him that he would
never be emperor, and he has always taken
the most extraordinary precautions against
disease. He is said also to be man easily
swayed, subject to the wies of ambitious
intriguers and ruled by an iron hand by his
wife, the Princess Victoria, eldest daughter
of Queen Victoria. As she however, is re-
garded as an able and estimable princess
except in Berlin where she is hated, the
Crown Princes Difference to her judgment
may perhaps be considered one of the wisest
traits of his character
But aside from these failings. of which a
great mind might be capable, nothing can be
said against "Unser Fritz" The highest
.tribRte to his worth has come from the pen of
Empress Eugene, wife of the unfortunate
Napoleon Ill. No breath of scandal has ever
furnished his fame, eithera as an otficeror gen.
tleman, aud probably the highest testimony
in his favor is the fact that the French, with
all their intense vendictiveness against the
Germans, have never uttered or published
single offensive remark about him, although
he was one of the great leaders of the invad-
lug army of 1870.
Physically, he was. in the days of his
health. one of the finest gentlemen Of Eu-
rope. At Queen Victoria's jubilee, among
all the peers of Great Britain, among the
picked soldiers and princes of nearly every
nation on the face Of the earth, it was the
Crown Prince of Germany. in his white uni
form, to whom the largest share of popular
applause was given.
OfFrederick Williams eldest son, who will
now become Crown Prince, with the pros
pect of succeeding to the throne with melan-
choly suddenness, it is not possible to speak
with equal certainty. Frederick William
Victor Albert was born on San. 81, 1859; but
the twenty eight years of his life have not
developed any remarkable characteristics
that enable his fame to rise above the Cos
sip and scandals that beset European
prince. Like his father, he is soldier, but
as he was but boy when Sedan and Grave
lotte we're fought, he has never been tested
on the field. OF his abilities and his virtues
very different and contradictory estimates
arc made. BY one he is said to give promise
of being distinguished king and emperor.
He has will of his own, it is said; knows
what he wants, and il he follows the advice
of others does SO only because 1t meets his
views or serves his purpose. His judgment