The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-16
A Strikingly Accurate Characterize
ton Of the Young Man on
Germany's Throne.
He Fully Appreciates His Position
and Will Do His Own
Ruling.
Tho Emperor's Future is Not Clear, But
He Stands Ready to Face All
Dangers.

Curiously enough it has been left to d
Frenchman to give the most generally ap-
proved characterization of Emperor Will
liam II. of Germany and his reign. In q
recent copy Of the Paris Figaro Ernest La
visse, q celebrated feuilletonist, described
in q letter from Berlin the young emperor
and his mode of action 60 keenly, SO cpl
dramatically, and altogether SO correctly
that most of the German dailies are now
reproducing the article for the information
writes NJ. Lavisse, "has the greatest appre-
citation of his own happiness, the keenest
faculty of finding roseate atmosphere in
which to breathe. OF all rulers, he prob
ably derives the most satisfaction from the
mere act of ruling. He does not conceal
his delight in life and being emperor. He
shows it on land, at sea, ana ON his ar
mored ships as he rides under the starry
heavens and loses himself in transcendental
dreams. The delight which he frankly
expresses. together with his youth.
lend this prince a most fascinating
charm. For many years Europe has not
seen on any one of its great thrones man
of 80 years. The dignity of such a position
was the exclusive property of mature men.
In the person of William H., might and
youth combine in a charming paradox. It
to rule as his forefathers ruled while they
were creating Prussia bit by bit with their
own royal hands. The minute he became
persuaded that Bismarck, too, desired to
rule, he dismissed this mighty man. His
action, which appeared so extraordinary to
others, was exceedingly simple in bis eyes,
and he executed it simply. His property
was in the hands of another. He merely
took it back. Everyone was astounded be-
cause in the last speech from the throne to
the reichstag he did not mention the retire
ment of the chancellor with a single word.
not an event of worldwide importance. It
amounted, he thought, only to this: A
Hohenzollern, who had become emperor
and king, had only chosen to administer
his own Office.
II saw Emperor William for the last
time on Easter Sunday in 1889 in Berlin.
He made curious impression on me. Ber-
lin is very great, wholly modern, and rap
idly growing CITY. In material as we'll al
in spiritual matters it is very progressive.
It has a cool reason and cold heart. Po-
litically it is radical or social democra alto.
It is quite irreligious. As I saw this en-
peror by the grace of God ride through the
erect, his head thrown back, the features of
his face proud and immobile, patronizing-
ly bowling to the shouting crowd on each
side, felt that saw before me an anarch-
ronism-to be sure living and triumphant
anachronism. but none the less an anach.
Believe me, this title is no empty title to
William II. He believes it frankly and sim
cerely. Prussia has q constitution which
grants the subject certain liberties, but the
King has from God higher charter, which
permits him to suspend or to encroach on
<bo IN K0anivahnro Wil1ia m
I. took his crown with his own hands from
the table Of the Lord This unique table
is not mentioned in the inventory of the
parliamentary Is.Iia furniture of the Prussian
Germany has political parties in the par
lament. With them the sovereign must es-
tablish modus vivendi. The tactics of
Prince Bismarck to this end have been con-
demned. Others must be introduced. 1t is,
therefore, necessary to come to some under
standing with the reichstag for the purpose
of creating parliamentary majority. EN-
slider himself obliged to have such a major
ity in order that he may rule as he wishes.
He rules because it is his Office to rule, and,
in his opinion, his right. He appears to
have no regard and little eyesight for party
divisions. He has-unprecedented per-
cial democrats to eat at his table. He has
no idea of the regular lawful tactics of an
organized opposition. When he devotes
himself to the thought Of political oppo-
nent, it is only for the purpose of seeing it
smashed on the spot. He, therefore, and
he alone, will ever bear the brunt of the
battle. It is his province to settle all
questions of the day, to look at the causes
and the remedies. All questions, however,
cannot be solved in Germany after his fash
ion. The reasons for existing institutions
there lie much deeper than in most other
countries. With us the labor question is
every mans business. The government and
solution. They all know that they will not
come to their goal in day, but that to-
gether they will help their country toward
better things. The emperor of Germany,
however, has made the labor question his
own exclusive property: He wishes to an
large. Undoubtedly Emperor William II.
has few modern attributes. The questions
that interest him are questions of the times.
But he will never answer them in the spirit
of modern civilization. A man can appar-
emily live as the rest of us mortals live, ride
on the railways and on the steamships,
know the statistics of the working people,
discuss learnedly concerning the present
price of anthracite coal. and yet be the con-
temporary of a century that is past.
William II. speaks of the triple alliance
politely, but not enthusiastically; Perhaps
NC uuUS ~ a DICK uuuDcI. 10 compel
Austria to enter q combination with her
conqueror, and then to honor Italy with an
invitation to join the two great middle
European powers, were easy bits of diplo-
macy-too easy, in fact. But to carry on
colonial politics in the same region with
England, to visit the queen of England
and the czar of Russia, to review the En-
glish navy in the uniform of an English ad-
miral, and the Russian army in the uni
form of Russian officer, to strive at once
for the friendship of the whale and the
white bear. as Prince Bismarck said, that
is fine, that is inspiring, that is impossible,
that is the goal of William II.
''The future of William II is no clearer
to-day than it was two years ago. The
young emperor has made his debut in his
tory, n t with brilliant deeds, but with
brilliant purposes. He attracts public at
tention to wonderful degree. He is the
favorite with public opinion. He deserves
these honors on account of the philanthro-
py of his dreams and on account of his de-
termination as expressed to Jules Simon to
do mankind good rather than to terrify it.
further and most particularly in view of
his apprehension of approaching dangers.
Let these dangers come. The emperor will
not stand aside. He is brave to thu point
of recklessness. He has supreme confidence