Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-19
THE GERMAN KAISER.

OF consolidating the mlgnty Uerman
Empire was thing of trifiing moment,
and that anybody might have consum-
mated the work as easily as the Iron
Chancellor. This is not the opinion of
those versed in the history of the in
terminable conflicts to which Germany
has been prey almost since the dawn
of European history. Dissension i'll the
mighty German Fatherland has been a
sort of second nature since the days of
Rudolph of Hapsburg and the more
modern Hohenzollerns.
The personalities OF Emperor William
l. and of Prince Bismarck, taken in con-
nection with French aggression, had an
unspeakable influence in making Ger
man unity possible. The influence of
the Emperor Frederick as Crown Prince
was also very potent. The unitication
of Germany can be regarded as little less
than miracle, considering the history
of that country. When the century
opened the House OF Austria was abso-
lutely in the ascendant. Its princes
controlled the electorates which chose
the Emperors OF the Holy Roman En-
pire-a fiction of the middle ages and of
the feudal times, which was abolished
by the First Napoleon. In fact, until
the battle of Sadowa, Austria was the
leading factor in German affairs.
Southern Germany, a most warlike and
enthusiastic race, naturally leaned to
Austria, being affiliated with the Court
of Vienna by traditions OF diplomacy and
religion. The creation OF compact
German Empire under such conditions
was prodigious achievement of war
and craftsmanship.
Fortunately for the evolution of q
united and invincible German Empire
the Emperor William l. had long sur
vived the impetuosity of his youth,
and had developed personal
character which eventuated as one of
the most august in European annals.
He was bound by ties OF inseparable
friendship with man who had at once
the significance OF Wallenstein and a
Gustavus Adolphus, in the person Of
Prince Bismarck. Everything that the
glamour of successful war and an unsur-
passed genius for affairs could impart to
cause was guaranteed by this auspi-
cious combination OF great sovereign
and statesman of unsurpassed genius.
In the presence of such conjuncture
local jealousies shrank back abashed.
The gulf which separates the present
Emperor William from his grandfather
is almost immeasurable. BY retaining
Bismarck in the direction of affairs, and
showing a becoming modesty i'll the
opening years of his reign, he might well
have hoped to have conciliated all opin-
ions. No name in all German history
has been a mightier one than that of
Bismarck with which to conjure peo-
pie. The young Emperor, however, has
chosen to throw away this cementing
agency, and to stand alone.
In too many ways he has shown that
he regards himself as law unto him
self. He nominally controls the most
powerful military machine in Europe.
If he really controls it there is no limit
to his possibilities. If he were man
he would soon be the uncontested
master of Europe. But is he such a
man?
He is either rash and headstrong
young man or he is portent like Charles
XII OF Sweden. He seeks no counsel and
accepts none. In an important public
speech he announced that while he
would be partial to his friends he would
dash his enemies to pieces. Under no
circumstances would such speech
be wise one. 1t is weighted with
an arrogance which challenges hos
tility. Even if he were as strong
as he thinks he is, such a declaration
would have been unwise in the extreme.
In the absence OF any evidence that the
young German Emperor is man OF
great force and character, such heady
announcements would leave him in the
attitude OF a vaporer.
As it is, the evidence accumulates that
the other constituents of the German
Empire, notably Bavaria, are restlve
under the high-stepping programme OF
William II. He has undertaken to
handle the labor question, with
the result OF tremendous Socialist
successes. He stands today on
a giddy height which may admit OF a
tremendous downfall. There are not
wanting indications that many of the most
sagacious statesmen OF Germany think
that he will be glad, at no remote day,
to call on Bismarck in the words of
Caesar struggling in the torrent OF the
Tiber, ''Help me, 'Cassius, or / sink"
The new Kaiser of the Germans, dur
ing the next decade, will have an oppor-
tunity OF proving either that he is hero
or mailman. The issue will be awaited
with interest by readers Of history.