Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-23
is WILLIAM APPALLED, AT THE PROS
PECT?

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We believe there may be something
in the report from Berlin which says
that the young emperor is very anxious
to conciliate Bismarck, and draw him
into his counsels. The prince regent OF
Bavaria would be the very person of all
others that would be selected by William
to interview the Iron Prince on the sub
iect of reconciliation. That distinguished
nobleman has always kept up his friend
ly relations with Bismarck and he is
greatly esteemed by the emperor. 1t Is
natural that the latter should begin to
feel the weight of empire growing
heavier and heavier. He has been rush
ing things at tremendous rate and
keeping up a round OF exciting work
and scenes that would tell before long
on more virile constitution and more
elastic spirits than even he possesses.
But added to the extraordinary diff
culties besetting his throne at the pres
ent time, partly from his rashness and
greatly from the critical posture of
European affairs, he is confronted with
shortness of crops that must newt
ably bring widespread distress amongst
his people. Already the reports of
famine come up from the peasants in
the corn-blighted districts. The
note of distress that reaches
the capital from the country is
repeated under the very. windows
of the palace. for the poor of Berlin are
feeling the pinching pangs of hunger.
Numberless heads of families have been
unable to obtain work for many months,
and they and theirs are glad when they
can manage to get a meal of potatoes.
This brings the desperate state of the
masses under the very eye of the
monarch and his government.
A ruler who would be willing to face
war with all its calamities, will shrink
from the contemplation of his people
goaded to desperation by famine. With
this double weight upon his shoulders
it would not be astonishing if William
should want to turn to the friend OF his
grandfather and father-to the man of
iron will coupled with consummate
statecraft-for counsel and advice.
The crisis is, indeed, one to appal the
the strongest nature, and how it is to be
met is problem that will try the wis
dom of much wiser heads than the en-
peror's. The army must be fed, and
that will tax the energy and resources
of the government to the utmost. If.
however. gaunt famine stalks abroad
through the agricultural districts, such
scenes may be looked for as appeared in
France just before the great revolution.
The h1nger-driven hordes will become
reckless bandits in their determination
to get food. Is Germany prepared and
able to avert such scenes by supreme
effort that will secure supplies for it's
famishing people? If not, we may rest
assured that the acts of outlawry now
reported from southern Russia will be
repeated in parts of Germany.
We know that neither William nor
Bismarck will do what they ought to do
at this crisis-reduce the military estab-
iishment which is now crushing the
country to death, and set the whole en-
ergy of the government at work to avert
famine and relieve distress.
1t will be said that by doing SO they
would leave Germany at the mercy of
France. Although France is far better
able to pass through crisis of short
ness in crops than Germany, yet she is
not so well off that she would dare at
such a time as this to inaugurate war.
She is ruled by able and conservative
statesmen, who would be glad to relieve |
the strain upon the country by reducing |
the army if it could be safely DONE. If |
Germany would lead, France would |
quickly follow; for she, too, will have |
walls of distress to listen to from all |
over the land.
Does it not seem like a paradox he |
yond the power of human conception to |
see nations armedt to the teeth and ready |
to go to war with each other when gaunt |
famine is abroad and death is asserting
himself in every hovel and on everv |
roadside? Perhaps there might be the |
CHASTITY explanation that war would be a |
blessing at such time; for the more
men killed in battle the less mouths
there would be to feed, and the more
food there would be for those who are
now starving.
But in whatever way one may look at
the prospect presented by Europe, it is
sad and hapless picture No doubt
Germany will pull through the crisis,
but not without scars that will last. Yet
we can readily believe that it would
hardly be possible during such an ordeal
Tor William to overlook the fact that he
has statesman at Varzin whose coun
sells would be worth having at so critical
a conjuncture. so