New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-02

THE MESSENGER OF PEACE.

Probably no other monarch In so short a time
ever acquired so many ncknames as William IL.
He has been dubbed william. the Second to
None" "Imperator-Tmitator." william the
Speaker" william the Smaster," wilhelm
Mester H. william the Wanderer." or, less
respectfully. Wandering Willie
As William l had been called the "Greise
Kaiser" or Venerable Emperor" and Frederick
III the "Weise Kaiser" or "Wise Emperor, so
William II had not beer year on the throne De-
fore he was called the REESE Kaiser or "IraV-
elrg Emperor" Indeed. he we'll earned tnat
distinction. rs who would not who spent 1879 days
of one year in travelling. and In that time COW
cred 10 900 miles? within that period HIS
Majesty had swept across Germany, Austria
Hungary, Italy. Switzerland. Sweden and Nor
way. Denmark and England while In his own
Empire there was not an important town IN
which. during this time. he had not reviewed
or alarmed garrison. presided AT banquet, at
tended n wedding or n fur raj. unveiled monu-
mont or d,ne something else TO keep his sub
jects on cdge-always. OF course. with the ac-
compartment Of speech He was
bird OF passage-not however. stormy
petrol but rather dove bearing the
olive branch Of peace. Or. % change the hgnrc'
a shuttle weaving the warp OF peace into the
WOOL OF tH' European Ib"flS. iH'S t'i'"'~ -
assuredly due to him. Military busterer though
he Is. "War Lord" on land nd sea. his influence
has been invariably peace on that score.
Europe and all the world owe much to him.
His foreign policy has, indeed. been far more
successful than his dealings with his own people,
Until the last year II was almost above criticism.
But in 1895 a serious error-to speak mildly
marre1 it. That was the amazing compact with
France and Russia to rob Japan of the fruits OK
her war with China. That was an undertaking
unworthy Of a great civilized power. II was a
pcrilous thing. too and might easily have been
disastrous. II did actually. as Mr.. Lowe says.
make Germany the laughing stock OF Europe.
Since then, and since this book was written. the
Emperor has made one or two other foreign ven-
lures which are almost equally open 10 criticism.
but with them not now concerned. The
portrait oe the Emperor In his relations TO the
world al large az drawn by Mr.. Lowe. is that OF
a powerful sovereign who is earnestly DESTROYS
Of keeping the peace and who has thus far been
cminenty u'cessful In keeping II.
So We with his biOgrapher, must leave him for
the present, with possibilities OF such a future as
lies within the hopes Of no other living monarch.
Throughout his career. thus far traced. the
note Of self has been predominant. Self-con-
sciousnass self-will. sef-prde. self-conhdence.
self praise and indeed. what not Of qualities
and attributes and manifestations Of SELF? Not
all though for we havc not perceived In him
one SYMPTOM II sef-sacrifce or Of self-abnega-
ton and too often the supremacy royal quality
II sef-controi has been conspicuous by It's abb
sence The latter may vet come and tn" former
may vet be modified by time and experience.
There may BE- more attractive figures upon the
stage to-day than his n Mr.. Lowe has sketched
We're revealed the future years there is not one
~ carth'a rulers whose career we should more
eagerly scan than that Of William II. King Of
Prussia and German Emperor