The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-11


jutants on duty and also handed over to
the civil cabinet.
If pardon is demanded for judicial pun
ishment the respective court of justice or
the state attorneyship is questioned on
the matter and have to decide whether
the petitioner is worthy or not, for unless
it is an extraordinary case. in which, for
example, an honest man is driven to
crime by poverty and adverse circum-
stances, the petition cannot be considered.
Besides these petitions for pardons
considerable number of requests are sent
in to the civil cabinet, which are gener-
ally shameless demands for money, very
ing from small sums to hundreds and
thousands of marks. People of all ranks
and conditions, from the poorest laborer
to members of the best and first families,
beg for temporary assistance from the
emperor; now in tone of humble en-
treaty, again In an arrogant, even threat
ening manner. Asking the kaiser for 30
600 marks to set up some mercantile busi-
ness, which would be paid back to the en-
peror from the profits, is not the worst of
such petitions. If these requests were
granted without further ceremony twenty
to thirty millions year would not suffice
to satisfy them.
So each request for pecuniary aid is cara
fully examined by the civil cabinet, which
secures the services of the land. provincial
and district courts, of the police, clergy,
etc, in the matter.
If it is really a question of undeserved
misfortune or urgent need, the case is laid
before the emperor, who decides the sum
to be gwen.
sums, shameless demands of thousands of
marks cannot be taken into consideration
But they are none the less very numer-
Gus.
The petitioners never allow an import
ant occasion OF any kind, sad or i0yfuI
event IN the royal house, to pass by with
out making themselves heard. On the
emperor's birthday he is overwhelmed
with letters OF entreaty, written under the
semolance OF congratulation but closing
with petition.
There is the same begging going on on
the birthday of the empress or one of the
imperial princes, and it has been much ao-
gravated by the amiability of William 7
who, in his goodness of heart. could mot
refuse petition. Each congratulafor re-
celyed at least a compensation of six
marks if he declared himself in need of
support, and In this way some people drew
an annual income writing a congratula-
year.
Under William II. it was decided "a
tnelr number was increasing TO be legion.
not TO pay them, and it was STRIKING how
soon they decreased.
Wnat demands are made on a ruler can
De seen IN the following petitions. which
viii reveal 10 you, in all confidence of
course. On the occasion of the emperor's
golden wedding an applicant wrote:
.Castlng myself before the steps of the holy
.nfone, overlooking with grace and mercy on
tnis rare event of a golden wedding, which, as
set, mas not been noted in natural history and
Wnlcn Will be discussed and quoted by our chill
crSns children in the twentieth generation
take. "
And an invalid, in need of a pension.
gives the following analysis of his situa-
ton:
1t is certainly dreadful for me to be fed TO death
oy the state, like q MANNED reptile, but my ease
II one that should be known, as have made both
the campaigns. am assured that your majesty
i good, noble man, Tor. pardon my saying IL
majesty, you resemble my old uncle and pe0nIe
who bear any resemblance to him cannot but he
good But, most gracious rnaiestv allow me
one question: What has become Of the tension
law OF 1871 and It's results? have also deSeryad
metal But the law has not done in dntv
whleh has caused my fami. Y and nyseIf ~ So
Ter the greatest tortures to this dny Ana - T
,r. y1n 70 neip ms to my rights, for it surely
nust pe re lei 70 your majesty TO get rid of my
e'erhAl correspondence in regard to nv reouest
Inc saddler, Peter L., is very plain in bis
demand Tor Jingling coin. He closes with
these words: i'AA
And so look 70 you for a speedy rerlv and
peg your malestys portrait, engraven on a med.
a., Ior ny family. II ii pleases your majesty.
. D1e nAs 20 nave the money in gold, as true
peet pEyre
A c&penter writes:
Yes, your majesty, you can do everything IL
you.please; one word from my all gracious am.