The San Francisco call., 1896-02-24
Must Preserve the Hallowed
Memory Of the Great Emperor
Against All Corners.
NAVAL INCREASE AGITATION
DR.. Peters, the African Explorer
Heads the Movement to Extend
Germany'S Possessions.

BERLIN, GERMANY, Feb. 23.-The En-
peror favored the nation with two of his
characteristic oratorical performances last
week: The first and most notable one was
given on Thursday, upon the occasion of
the annual dinner given by the Governor OF
Brandenburg to the Brandenburg Diet, a
function which his Majesty always graces
with his presence and piatitudes. On this
occasion. apropos of the silver jubilee of
the empire, the Kaiser, after making
fiowery and sentimental reference to
heavens special grace to the empire and
the imperial house, proceeded TO inculcate
in the minds of his hearers the lesson of
the duty of the nation in the future.
"What we have Witnessed" said his
Majesty, ''and what has been effected we
owe solely to the great Emperor William
and his trust in God. All the celebra-
tions in commemoration of the victories OF
the German arms which were held in 1895
eliminated in the glorifcation of his per-
sonality, which becomes nothing less than
holy to US. 1t is our sacred duty to pre-
serve his personality and hallowed mem
ory against all corners"
The Kaiser's adulation of his grand
father has never run to greater lengths
than upon this occasion, nor has his ex
clusion of all reference to Prince Bismarck
and the ex-Chancellors co-workers in the
foundation of the empire been more
marked. Nevertheless, his Maiesty's ut
terances were dutifully and fervently ac-
claimed. The address delivered by the
Emperor upon the occasion of his swear
ing in of the naval recruits at Wilhelms-
ko-- ~, aIo L
marks upon similar occasions in the past
Speaking of the German navy the Kaiser
said that although it was small as COM
pared with the navies of some of the other
powers. it was still in progress of growth.
The absence from his remarks of ANYTHING
more encouraging to the hopes of the
Chauvinists than the foregoing utterances
caused great disappointment, and espe-
cialy to those who are exerting every pos
sible effort to extend the colonial possess
sions of Germany. Those standing fore
| most in the endeavor to forward Germany's S
colonial interests, led by DR.. Peters, the
African explorer, have entered into an agi-
tation for an unlimited increase of the
German navy.
The annual meeting of the Berlin branch
of the German Colonial Association
elected DR.. Peters president of the asso-
ciation, ousting Prince Arenburg, whose
loyalty TO the colonial cause, combined
with his moderation, has commanded gen.
eral respect for him. The expanding fer
vor of the colonial enthusiasts, however,
demanded more energetic and pushing
lie ader, and their views have found an ex-
ponent in DR.. Peters, who is fanaticaI
advocate Of a greater Germany and a
policy of persistent agitation for the in
PRODUCTION in the Reichstag of navy bill
demanding large increase of ships, men
and guns, and it is widely believed that
| his course is prompted, at least indirectly
by the Emperor.
Some OF the speakers in the budget COM
mittee which was dealing with the colonial
| estimates last week strongly condemned
the attitude assumed by DR.. Peters. His
defenders in the committee attempted to
explain away some of the objections to
him, but they were met with criticisms
which they could not combat.
Some of the doctors critics reminded
| his defenders that the Government was
| paying DR.. Peters 600 marks year for do
ing nothing, while he was spending his
leisure time In agitating policy to which
the Ministers of State were nominaIly op-
posed. On the evening following this dis
cusslcn IN the ommittee, DR.. Peters, ad-
| dressing the Berlin branch of the German
| Colonial Association, justified his attitude
and declared that he had been prompted
in his course by Duke John of Mecklen-
burg -Schwerin, the president of the Ger
man Colonial Society, who, he said, had
| informed m him that S,nno l.. 4
thrown its whole energy into the Transvaal
question it was bound to support the EN-
peror in his efforts to strengthen the power
of the nation beyond the seas. Therefore,
he said, the central committee would
make the question of increasing the navy
the leading plank in its platform.
The National Zeltung in an article on
the subject warns the colonial agitators to
leave the question of increasing to the
Reichstag, where it belongs. The Borsen
Zeitung asserts that the colonial depart
ment of the Foreign Office has written a
letter to DR.. Peters, pointedly drawing his
attention to his duies as an imperial Off.
Ger on half pay.
Whatever may be the private aspira-
tions of the Emperor and his Ministers
there is very little prospect that the agita.
tion of the colonial party will be success
tui in moving the public. which at present
continues to be satisfied that it is sutfi-
ciently taxed to meet the expenditures in.
volvsd in maintaining the army. Even il
extensive ship-building were meditated by
the Government the German yards would
be unable to undertake the work, as thew
are already fully occupied with work
which will keep them going at their full
capacity for two years to come.
A branch of the German Colonial Soci-
ETY. was inaugurated in Hamburg on Feb
ruary Il with great eclat. Duke John of
Mecklen burg -Schwerin presided, and reso-
lutions were passed declaring that an in
crease of the number of German cruisers
was imperatively necessary. Hundreds OF
applications for mem bership were received
at the meeting.
Prince Bismarck received at Friedrichs-
ruhe on Saturday deputation of Conserv.
atlves and others, styling themselves the
parties OF law and order, from the Saale
district. The ex-Chancellor was in his
usual health, and, in reply to an address