The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-24
CARES OF AN EMPEROR
William of Germany Convinced That
He Will Be Assassinated.
Prediction That He VIII Die by an
Anarchists Bullet.

Emperor William Is firmly convinced
that he Is doomed to die by the bullet of an
anarchist. This has been predicted to him
not once, but number of times, and, as
he is not particularly discreet at times,
there are quite large number of people
who are aware not only Of the existence OF
the prophecy, but also of the extent to
which he has permitted his mind TO be
impressed thereby.
1t is no mere modern prediction, due to
the severity which he hns displayed of late
toward the socialist element, but dates
back to his twentieth year, when he was
merely Prince william, when his father
appeared to be In the best Of health and in
the prime of manhood, while his GRANDPA
ther, old Emperor william, seemed destined
10 remain on the throne for many years to
come.
Tho matter not only forms a constan.
topic of discussion but likewise of CORE
spondencc, between the emperor and his
friends, and the bullet from the anarchist
revolver that Is 10 put an end 10 his exist
ence seems TO be n subject of daily thought
and preoccupation. Not that Emperor Will
liam is afraid. He has many faults, but
cowardice is not among them. The senti-
and bitter impaticncc and anger at the idea
of not being able to grasp by the throat tho
foe who is lying in wait for him.
When he first ascenSsd the throne, he
believed for timc that he might succeed
in averting the peril by means of propitiat-
ing the socialists ard by removing some
of the grounds Of their discomfort. 1t was
that which induced him to organize the
labor conference and to project a series OF
measures OF so radical n character In the
direction of state socialism as TO alarm not
only his constitutional advisers, many Of
whom resigned rather than consent there
TO, but also several soveTei rus, such as tho
rulers OF Austria, Russia, Saxony and Ba-
yaria.
Finding that his efforts TO win the good
will of the socialists were utterly useless
he turned against tholn, and ever since has
been waging the bitterest war upon them.
In his eyes thoy constitute the chief peril
70 the empire, the stability of which he Is
convinced would be gravely impaired by
his disappearance, and there is not n single
speech that he over makes, no matter what
the occasion, where he docs not ring in
and lay stress upon the necessity of being
prepared for the foe not from beyond but
from within tho fronticr lines OF Germany.
IL Is not alone pose, as many people be-
licve, that causes his face 90 assume set,
stern and even forbidding expression when
he rides home through the streets OF Ber-
lin at the head of bis troops. Nothing is
more remarkable than the contempt, nay
even almost the abhorrcnce, thea Is appar-
ent in his glance and in the Sewn drawn
corners Of his month when he gazes at the
populace that lines the sides OF the streets.
and which Is often shCuting itself hoarse
In his honor. He feels sure that the bullet
will come from among them some day,
perhaps not before populacc and troops are
arrayed once moro faco TO face in sanguin-
nry conflict with one another. as they were
IN 1SlS. Those who live In his intimacy
know the true meaning uf the almost fierce
manner in which he burls his half smoked
cigarette 20 the ground and rattlcs his
saber in the scnbbard, ms II burning to
draw it against tho canaille by whom he
believes he IS doomed.
Let me merely add that presumably with
his consent and certainly with his knowl-
edge, the most elaborate precautions arc
taken 10y the police % preserve him from
just this danger and whereas his father
and grandfather were won't 10 stroll about
unattended through tho streets Of Berlin
and Potsdhm, the present emperor is never
there on foot, and when riding through
the public thoroughfGros Is always accom-
panied by n number of policemen in and
out Of uniform. - Marquis lie Fontenoy In
Now York Recorder.