The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-15

1HB IMPERIAL ES1G3A.
Though william II. has been upon the
throne Of Germany long enough to enable
ons to form N intelligent Judgment Of the
policy and purposes OF an ordinary ruler.
be remains an unsoIved enigma The dip
Iomass and masters OF ssate-craftin Earope
have been bafi,ed in their efforts TO fathom
him. and even the all-knoxing correspond
ents Of the press have been unable 70 agree
in regard 10 him with even the usuas degree
o. unanimisy. One thing in regard 10 the
young emperor is. however, generally &C
knowledged. Hell not the mere staggering
trooper that be was supposed to be. Those
who at the time of his fathers death be-
lieved that Germany was about TO have .
ruler who would forthwith plunge Earope
into war. have been disappointed. Wiz
liam is . soldier and has . soldiers in-
stincts. He is proud OF his army and
jealous OF It's reputation, but his course
Thus far has not been such as TO justify the
belief that the military instinct dominates
his character. On the contrary. it is evi-
dent that be has ideas OF peaceful govern
ment which are quite decided and which
even smack of originality.
The emperor has surely made his person.
Atty felt in the imperial government
During the reign Of his grandfather. and
during that Of bis father as well. Bismarck
was the German government He DOM
mated IT 80 completely that Bismarck's
viii and the government were popnIarly
regarded as one and the same. The first
twenty years Of the existence of reunited
Germany were covered by the reign Of Bis
marck. William and Frederick were the
nominal rulers. but Bismarck controlled
them Is completely Is ever Mayor Of the
Palace controlled Frankish king.
Soon after the accession OF William III. to
the throne it became apparent that he
would not submit to the complete domina-
ton which his predecessors had known.
He betrayed his restlessness in many
ways. His public uttcrances were such Is
Bismarck would never approve of. and
those utserances gave the tone to the gov
eminent. William assumed what was. Tor .
German emperor. new and startling posi-
ton on the subject Of socialism. He pro-
fessed the greatest interest in the welfare OF
German workingmen. He began to strike
at some established customs, both in and
out OF the army. with all the real OF Q re-
former. He became IN imperial radical.
Bismarck, Of course, was highly dis
gusted ct the attitude assumed by his SOW
ercign. Between two such men--one mas
teriul, decided and accustomed to rule
without question. the other restless, impa-
tient of restraint and exulting in newly
acquired powers break must come. 1t
is probable that IL came long before the
world was aware, for Bismarck was natur-
ally tenacious OF q power held so long and
50 firmly. A situation so strained. how
ever. could not long endure. Europe was
amused one morning to hear that Bismarck
had retired from the governments, and the
next morning was still more amazed to
hear that he had assumed an attitude Of
quasi-opposition.
The emperor. however. was not dismayed
by the detection OF the great Chancellor.
He found head for his government who
would be more amenable to bis wishes and
assumed the direction of affairs himself
Predictions Of speedy disaster to Germany
and to Europe were heard on all sides
Thus far. however, the disasters have not
taken place. Peace prevails and the people
OF Germany are evidently awakening to the
fact that successful government without
Bismarck is possibility.
In the meantime the young emperor Is
possessed OF power greater than has been
possessed by any other man since the
downfall Of the great Napoleon. He Is at
the head of an army which has never
known defeat aud which, In the opin ion of
the most eminent military critics. is able to
meet successfully any force that could be
brought into the field against IL. He is the
ruler of great and consolidated EN- pire
and the leader of people who are proud
OF the strength OF their nationality and in
whom the military instinct is largely pre-
dominant A man whose impulses, char
acterissics and aspirations are almost en-
tirely unknown. he is the arbiler OF the
peace Of the world.
II is not strange that there should be
much speculation concerning this un.
known quantity in the problem OF state
craft IL Is not stranee that men should
wonder whether the young emperor is to
be great military leader. wise and
peaceful ruler, an ordinary emperor of the
commonplace latter day type, or a reck-
less distarber of the peace OF the world. II
is not strange that ali Earore should be
interested in every WORT that he ut,ers and
in everything that ne does, or that every
scrap OF iafor nation which tends TO throw
light on his character should he eagerly
sought
That William Is ambitious everybody il
agreed. he is Hohenzolleru. proud OF
his family and anxious to take place in
history beside the greatest OF its sons. The
world does not know. however. what le-
enlisr form his ambition may taxe. Time
alone viii disclose whether be Is eager for
purely military glory ike that OF his grea,
ancestor. FredeFick, or whether be desires