New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-13

Of existence and has. in consequence, escaped
from becoming the centre Of opposition and Of
intrigue against the Government of the day
This is the role which inevitably falls to the lot
of every Empress and Queen Consort who does
not pursue the same tactics as Empress Eliza
beth and even the estimate Empress Victoria
Augusta of Germany than whom there Is no
more truly devoted mother and honest woman
is gradually developing into the same KIND OF
political ntrguer as her mcther-in-law. the EN-
press Frederick. her husbands grandmother'
old Empress Augusta, as Queen Marguerite OF
Italy Queen Pia OF Portugal, the late queen
Sophia Of Holland. Queen Nathalie of Servia,
and last. but by no means least. Empress Eugene
Of France.
PREY TO THE UNSCRUPULOUs.
1t is probable that each of these illustrious
women has been prompted By the same motives
as those which cause the young German Empress
to interfere in politics namely an anxiety TO as
sist their husbands. and to prevent them from
being deceived and even betrayed. 1t Is a praise
worthy desire, and one which does creoit 10 the
excellence OF the heart Of these royal iadies'
Unfortunately, however. they do not always pos
sess the same mature judgment. the profound
experience and. above oil. the knowledge OF
craftsmanship that form part and parcel OF the
indispensable equipment OF those who are the
constitutional. and in the eyes Of the nation the
responsible. advisers of their consorts They are,
therefore, in many instances a facile prey Tor
designing and INSCRIPTIONS persons with the
inevitable result that their well meant EFFORTS,
designed to help their husbands. degenerate INT"
mere intrigues which obstruct and hamper his
Government and impair the prestige OF his court
Until now 1t has been accepted by the people at
o;oit,. tha n Germany.
that Empress Augusta Victoria Of Germany was
a perfect nonentity in political matters. an illu-
sion which the widowed Empress Frederick con-
trbut cd in no small measure to create by the
sarcastic manner in which she used habtually
TO refer TO the dulness OF her daughter
in-law's intellect. But this is very far from be-
ing the case and few save those at the Court or
Berlin have any idea Of the part which she
played in the dismissal of Prince Bismarck.
From her earliest childhood she had been taught
TO regard him as the enemy Of her house. and
when. in 1SG4 at the close Of the Prussian war
with Denmark. which had been undertaken for
the express purpose of recovering from the lat
ter the Duchies Of Schleswig and fiolsten for
their rightful owner. her father they were re-
tanned by Prussia. which declined to surrender
them It was to Bismarck that the Duke. the
Duchess and their children very Justly ascribed
this indefensible act Of spoliation and injustice.
BISMARCK AS A BUGABOO.
The manner I'm which the Iron Chancellor was
viewed in the home of the young Princess twho
is now Empress OF Germany may best be gath
cred from the fact that whenever her nurses and
governesses were DESTROYS OF putting a stop to
her naughtness and OF frightening her into
obedience they would eXcaim bismarck COM
ing Wow. Wow" This childhood impression
has continued to such an extent even TO this
day that whenever the Empress shows any signs
Of reluctance to comply with her husbands
wishes. or betrays irritation, the Kaiser is in the
habit OF springing upon her the familiar old cry
Of "Bismarck's coming. Wow! Vow" which at
first always makes her start as In her infancy
and grlhood. but then causes her TO burst into
laughter and restores her to good humor. In
1892. when General Caprivi having differed with
William on the subject of the new education
laws had written to tender his resignation OF
the Office Of Chancellor, the Empress at once in
dited an autograph letter in which. with express
sions OF mingled pathos and dignity. she APP
pealed to him strongly not to desert her hus-
band. subject the latter to all the anxiety and
trouble and even odium Of another Ministerial
crisis that he at once travelled down to Hubert
usstock where the Emperor staying. and
and woul remain in office Two years later.
however. she Witnessed the overthrow Of Count
Caprivi with even still greater signs of satsfac-
ton than that of Prince Bismarck. and through
her personal entreaties contained in letters
which she addressed her relative. Princess
Uohenlohe induced the latter to withdraw her
opposition which until then had stood in the
way of the Princes acceptance of the office OF
Chancellor.
BARONESS HEYDEN'S VACCINATIONS
This IS merely destined to show that the En-
press does take an interest and even an active
part in politics. Were she a woman of great
penetration and Of strength OF character that is
to say above the possibility Of being made the
instrument and tool of designing persons. the
harm would not be great. But. unfortunately.
this is not the case. and people at the Berlin
Court ascribe the part which she played In
bringing about the downfall OF Chancellor Won
Caprv to the influence welded over her by a
lady Of the name Of Baroness Heyden who Is
regarded as chiefly responsible for the Counts
withdrawal into private life, and who Is the
head of that Court cabal which comprises
among its numbers the Eulenbergs and their
friends Needless to add that the name OF the
Baroness Is connected with the present scandal.
which. originating in the trial of a newspaper
correspondent Of the name Of Baron Won Lut-
zow for libel has developed into cause
celebre" the fact having been brought to light
that the cabal In question has been utilizing
the detective force to involve the Minister of
Foreign Affairs in difficulties for the purpose
OF driving him from office The Minister. dur
Ing the course OF his cross-examination. was
forced to admit that he himself had previously
made use OF the detective force (Which l need
scarcely point out is paid by the naton) to spy
upon the Baroness Heyden the Eulenburss and
the other members Of the Court clique and that
It was only because he had declined to con-
tinue to the chief OF the detectives the subsidies
which he had been in the habit OF paying him
out OF the secret fund Of the Department OF