Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-19
GER MANY'SBIRTHDAY
TVtnty.FiIlh Anniversary Of The Pro-
ClamatiOn Of the Empire.
CELEBRATIONS IN BERLIN.
Imperial Ceremonies I'm the White
Hall of the CastIc-Banpuets OF
students and Veterans-address
from the Kaiser.

BERLIN. January is.-To-day. the
twenty-hfth anniversary of the procla-
nation Of The German empire. was OBJ
served as an absolute holiday in Berlin
and other German cities. Services were
held in the churches and synagogues
in the city, and public buildings and pri-
vate houses were decorated with flags,
the effect Of which, however. was greatly
marred by drizzling rain and fog which
prevailed
Besides Imperial ceremonies in the
white hail OF the Sch;oss, there We're
many foasts and ceremonies. public and
private, throughout the city. Professor
Weinhold delivered an Grafton at the
university this afternoon. and the Acad-
envy Glee Union gave concert
This evening $500 students met at a
banquet at the Frledrichstein brewery.
and there was also a veterans banquet
at Concordia Festsalle, which was fol-
lowed by "tableaux yivants' representing
events OF the war Of 1870. Four thousand
tickets were sold for the tab.eaux.
Prince Luitpold, regent Of Bavaria,
wired his congratulations to the Emperor
from Munich this morning, TO which the
Kaiser made a suitable reply.
The ceremonies I'm the white hall Of the
Schloss were most impressive. The I'm
perial and Prussian ministers. together
with a number of other exalted PERSONS
assembled in the picture gallery Of the
palace and proceeded to the white hall
Shortly after they reached the white
hall Prince Hohenlohe announced the
coming OF the Kaiser, attended by the
Castle guard. with flags and STANDARDS,
and by courtiers bearing the Imperial
sceptre, crown. sword, etc, upon cushions
The Emperor seated himself upon the
throne. where he was surrounded By the
Prussan princes His Majesty then de-
livered a message to the Ministers, ID
which he said he recognized the duty
which devolved upon all Of perfecting the
defensive strength Of the empire ana
protecting its independence.
AMNESTY TO PRISONERS.
special edition OF the Reichsanzeiger
which was issued for the purpose TO-DAY
Publishes a decree granting amnesty 10
civilian prisoners who are undergoing
sentences. requiring the payment OF less
than $50 marks fine or six weeks I'M
prisOnment.
who are undergoing punishment for lese
majestic.
A new order has been created In honor
OF the occasion, the decoration consisting
Of a gold portrait Of the Emperor ,
grandfather. William l.. with the inscrip-
ton: In memory Of William the Great.
The decoration is to be worn upon d
ueck-chain.
The first recipients Of the order were
the Emperor. the Empress ex-EmDress
Frederick. the Grand Duchess of Baden,
the King Of Saxony. the Countess Wal
dersee. Prince Bismarck. Dr. MIGUEL
Minister Of Finance, and Freiher Won Aer-
lepsche Minister Of Commerce.
The Emperor has bestowed the order or
the Black Eagle upon former Ministers
Campausen and Dclhreuck.
The Emperor. speaking from the
throne in the White Hall. discoursed AT
length. expressing his heartfelt thanks
for the great benefits which the past
quarter OF A century has conferred upon
the empire. recalling memories OF INC
period which called the empire into exist
ence. and vowing TO continue the Work
which his grandfather. Emperor William
J.. had begun.
PRAISE FOR BISMARCK.
His Majesty especially mentioned the
work OF Prince Bismarck in creating or
the empire declaring that his reward
could not be too great. lie promised 10
work increasingly 10 complete the IN
ternal institutions % the empire. and
10 strengthen the bonds which unite the
German races Germany he said, m
stead OF being in danger from other
states. will continue in the future as
IN the past, a strong pillar Of peace.
The Emperor to-day sent an auto
eraph-letter to Prince Bismarck at
Friedrichsruhe. thanking him for his
services 10 the empire. and promising 10
have a life-slze, full-length portrait or
the Prince as a souvenir OF his memo
rable efforts in behalf OF the Emperor
and the empire, and TO assign the picture
10 a place Of honor in the official resi-
dence OF the Imperial Chancellor.
The Emperor. after concluding his re-
marks IN the White Hall, swore solemn
oath over a banner 80 years old 10 guard
the empires safety at home and abroad.
The members OF the Conservative and
antl-Semite parties met to-day ana
passed resolutions OF thanks for the foun-
dalton OF the empire, and expressing the
hope that IL may live FOR many years.