The record-union., 1895-06-22
Special to the RECORD-UNIoN.

HOLTENAU, June 2I.-After visiting
the Russian cruiser Rurik at $3.50 to-day,
Emperor William laid the last stone Of
the Baltic and North Sea Canal, in the
presence of many thousands of specta-
tors. The weather was brilliant and the
ceremony took place in the open air, and
not adjoining the sluice as at first con-
templated, aud the lighthouse standing
near the spot showed three reliets of
Emperor William l., Frederick William
III. and William Ii. Under the relief
medallion Of William l. is black
marble tablet. on which is engraved in
gilt lettering:
"His majesty, William l., laid this
cornerstone OF the Baltic Canal on juno
l. 1879 and accompanied his blows with
the hammer by these w ords: In honor of
reunited Germany, and to her perfect
welfare, in token of her might and
power
The lighthouse and the block of
masonry into which the Emperor placed
the finishing stone were surmounted by
enormous sca1fOldings, rising IN d semi
circle and atfordlng seats for about Ii, 900
people.
AS the Emperor approached the stone
Baron Won BuOl- Bereuberg, President
OF the Relchstag, addressed him as fol-
lows:
MAY it please your majesty to con-
summate an enterprise, the grandeur of
which, from mechanical and industrial
point OF view, has never been equaled on
German soil. We now see the completed
structure, which has long been planned,
and the accomplishment has been ar
dently admired by German hearts. This
structure was first created to strengthen
the defecsive streng b OF the nation, but
which Will now promote German trade
and commerce. We may thus be per-
mitted 10 indulge in the hope that the
successful accomplish shment of the work
will permanently and in he fullest meas
ure fulfill the further object OF providing
profitable opening for international
trade.
May your majesty graciously deign to
take the mallet have the honor of pre-
senting in the name of German national
representation and give the finishing
stroke by consecrating the enterprise.
May Gods blessing accompany this ac-
tion."
Taking the, msllet the Emperor said:
I'm memory of William l. the Great. l
chrsten this canal the Kaiser Wilhelm
Canal
His majesty then tapped the stone five
name of the tribune God, in honor OF
Emperor William, 10 the veal of Ger
many and the welfare of NATIONS"
The most elaborate arrangements were
made for to-day's ceremonies. The
enormous grand stands were filled to
their utmost capacity. In the center of
the semi-circle was q brick tower and a
nigh flagstaff, the first surmounted by
the German flag and the latter by the
heraldIc eagles and the German standard.
Behind the spot where stood the COM
memOrative stone was dais upholstered
in crimson and gold. BY IL O'clock the
grand stand was filled.
The Emperor. accompanied by the EN-
press and four children, arrived ashore
from the Hohenzollern in a barge flying
the imperial standard. His majesty wore
q guarde du corps uniform. and the EN-
press was dressed III heliOtrOpe costume
and carried primrose-colored parasoi.
FRENCH PRESS COMMENT ON THE EN-
PEROR'S SPEECH.
PARIS, June 21.-The newspapers gem
orally regard Emperor Williams speech
at Hamburg as inspired by desire to be
agreeable rather than expressive of his
real sentiments.
The kstu6eL declares that it is neces-
sary for the realization of the wishes ex-
pressed by the Emperor that France and
Germany should he reconciled. j. e., that
the question of Alsace- Lorraine be set
tied.
The SOLieJ remarks that is spite of the
pacific tone of the Emperor's utterances.
moroso persons remark that peaceful
festivities have sometimes preceded terri
bic wars.
The HaphaeI, referring to the same
su bject, says that European peace is the
sole object of the Baltic and North Sea
Canal.
According to La Pdiz. Emperor Will
lam desires peace, but the republic alone
can give universal peace to the brother
hood Of nations.
The Siccie submits that the peaceful
language OF the Emperor is consistent
with the dispatch OF a wreath TO London
on the anniversary of the battle of
Waterloo.
According to the Rddical, the simplest
method of assuring peace is for Germany
to surrender what she owes to war, APP
parently referring to Alsace- Lorraine.
The Petite RepUbGqUe expresses the
opinion that to credit the utterances of
Emperor William at Hamburg, vessels
OF commerce should have been convoked
at kiel, not warships.
The Gd regrets that Germany does
not admit even that there is an Alsace-
Lorraine question.