The sun., 1891-05-15
The German Kaiser Overrates Himself.

Tho German Kaiser Ovcrrates Himself.
We arc not surprised to hear that the
Grand Duke Of Mecklenburg rcsents the ar
rogant and silly speech made by Kaiser Wn-
LIAM II. on a recent occasion. Smarting
apparently under BIsMARCK's election in the
Geestemiinde district in the teeth OF the
Governments opposition. the Emperor
seized an opportunity Of declaring that 81 he
alone was master OF the realm. and that he
would tolerate no one at his eide whose
views were not conformed to his" The
more one ponders this assertion the moro
preposterous It seems. II WILLIAM II.
really had autocratic powers, he would be
stupid to brag Of It; but, as matter OF fact.
neither as King Of Prussia nor as German
Emperor does he bear the slightest resem-
blance to an autocrat. An autocrat Is q
potentate who can tax his subjects at viii; /;
bat WILLIAM II. cannot exact kreutzer
from any German citizen. or even. from q
Prussian subject, without the formal assent
of the peoples representatives.. ...r
In his capacity Of King Of Prussia. VIII.
LIAM II. is constitutional sovereign. 1t is
q true OF him as it is Of King HuMBERr In
Italy. that he reigns, but does not govern.
All legislation must emanate from the Prus-
sian Parliament, which consists Of an upper
chamber or House Of Lords. and Landtag
or Chamber Of Deputies. The civil admins
tration OF the kingdom Is in the hands OF
Ministers directly responsible to tho lower
House. That principle is now impregnably
established. It is true that for four years.
between 1862 and 1885, BISMARCK persisted
in acting as Prime Minister in the face Of
repeated votes Of censure. Year after year
he went on levying taxes without authority.
the Landtag refusing to pass money BILL
Yet no one knew better than BISMARCK,
as he has often since acknowledged, that he
risked his head: nor does any one doubt
that, had K6niggratz brought defeat in
stead Of victory to Prussia, he might have
suffered the fate Of STRAFFoRD. It is i'm
probable that any other statesman would
crisis by the iron Chancellor; nor should
1t be forgotten that BISMARCK himself
fastened to obtain ON act OF indemnity from
the Prussian Parliament. while 1t was flushed
with elation at the splendid outcome Of the
Austro-P Prussian war. He could not have
made more distinct and solemn avowal Of
his previous violation Of the law.
In Germany. outside OF his own kingdom
Of Prussia, WILLIAM II. has very limited
powers. In war, to be sure, he is Com
mander-in-C Chief OF the German armies, but
In peace he Is nero fgurehead, represent
ing through imperial Ministers the collect
i've interests Of the confederated States in
their relations to foreign powers. All legis-
lation on imperial concerns must proceed
from the concurrence Of the Federal Council
and the Reichstag. and Prussias delegates
to the former body arc appointed. not by
WILLIAM H., In his role OF Prussian SOW
ereign, but by the Prussian Ministers; while
Prussias representatives In the Reichs-
tag are chosen directly by tho people.
Even, therefore, in the narrow and care
fully defined field Of imperial affairs
tho personal volition of the Emperor
counts for very little during times
Of peace. As regards all those matters.
legislative, administrative, and judicial,
which in the State OF New York would be
dealt with at Albany. with these WILLIAM
II. has absolutely nothing to do In the king
doms Of Bavaria. Wurtembarg. and Saxony,
In the grand duchies OF Baden. Hesse- Darn
stadt, and Mecklenburg, in the Saxon
duchies. and other smaller yet partially
Independent princpalities. The slightest
attempt Of the young Kaiser to encroach on
any Of the reserved rights of these States
would provoke concerted and vehement re-
sistance which might possibly result In the
disruption Of the German empire.
When. therefore. WILLIAM II. vaunts him.
self as sole master OF the German realm. he
utters the thing that is not. Il was FOOLS
speech, the bravado OF q silly boy.