Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-03
Emneror William and Bavaria.

Emperor William duu bhVuIlt.
The cablegrams have good deal 10 say
about the strained relations between En-
peror WILLIAM of Germany and the Bava-
rians, growing out of the refusal in turn Of
the Regent of Bavaria and his brother TO
nccept the position of chief inspector of
the imperial army and WILLAM's alleged
act of retaliation in writing in the Golden
Book" of Munich the words, "SupremG
ler regis uoltu.tas "-the Kings will is the
highest law.
The offer of the inspectorship of the
army to the Bayarian Regent. and upon
his defamation to his brother, is said to
have been prompted by desire on the
part Of the young Emperor TO bring Baye-
ria and the empire closer together But
Just here is where the trouble CON-
menced, and WILLIAM seems 10 have made
mistake number one, which, If the night
Interpretation has been put upon his
Munich legend. was soon followed by
graver blunder.
The Bayarians, especially the people Of
old Bavaria. are exceedingly jealous OF
Prusaan influence and of any effort to CEN
tralize too .much power in the imperial
crown. This Is not matter Of recent date
and the kingdom occupies different atti-
tude towards the empire from that of any
of the other divisions of it. During the
Austro-Prussan war of 1866 the Bavarians,
forgetting the debt to Prussia their King
incurred in 1s4s. cast their lot with Austria.
They shared in that conflict. which at Sa-
81 Il L., g. No hnt
entertained by the House of Hapsburg of
becoming the head of a great German
empire. In the Franco-Prussian war. how
ever, Bavaria sided with Prussia against
the common enemy of the Fathorland and
In November, 1870, entered the confedera-
tion of Northern Germany, which subse-
quently recognized the King OF Prussia as
the head OF the new German empire. In
deed it was LOUIS OF Bavaria who pro-
posed this recognition TO the other Ger
man states.
Yet Bavaria retained greater degree OF
independence than any Of the other men,
bers of the confederation. Prominent
among her reserved rights, and one which
she is disposed TO guard very carefully. is
the position occupied by her military
establishment. Her army. though subject
20 the imperial system of organizat on, is 4
separate part of the military force Of the en-
pre-. and in times of peace Is under the CON-
maud Of the King. II can, therefore, be
readily understood that WmLIAN's
overtures TO the Regent and his
brother were not calculated TO impress
the Bayarians favorably and that the pa
triot party were not likely to allow to pass
unimproved the occasion these oyeFtures
Afforded tor warning the people that a
cherished prerogStiyc Of the kingdom was
threatened. Still less likely was il that
that party would fail to put the most sig
nifcant Interpretation upon the Munich
legend.
Nor is that al. IL can also be readily
understood that wide difference between
the Emperor and Bavaria might prove q
serious matter to the Imperial Govern
ment. Bavaria, next TO Prussia. has the
largest number Of votes in the Bundesrath
and IL consequently second only to Prussia
IN influence as q member Of the confed-
GRAFTON. Willie under the Constitution
abe could not form any combination that
would affect the right Of the house OF
Voherzollern a. the head OF the empire,
aha might secure q coalition that would
intsrfere materially with WuLIAn's gene
raj policy. IL viii therefore DO exceed
indy interesting to watch developments
both In the parties In Bavaria and IN the
Federal Council