The record-union., 1897-05-22

munity. Reasoning is out of the 1ues-
ton, and they can only fall back and
mutter hopes that ideas so wild, so
incoherent, and so disastrously opposed
to advice" may not indicate some local
disturbance of the brain.
The self-confidence, jealousy, and
ossianic ways of the Emperor are not
the less difficult to manage because
there may be below or behind them
solid arguments from self-interest.
There was such AN argument also
when the celebrated telegram was dis
patched to President Kruger 1t is the
speciality of his German majesty that
while the method of his action is con-
stantly dictated by qualities which he
has allowed to grow too strong for him.
the action itself is usually based on
what he conceives to be his interest
and that of his country He not only
wishes for peace but is, we conceive.
especially disgusted at the idea of war
breaking out upon the Eastern ques-
ton, which, however it may be solved,
can. as Prince Bismarck once observed.
offer no temptation to Germany 1t
is one of the many serious perplexities
of the partition of Turkey that no one
has ever yet ventured to point out the
share in the spoil and in the labor
which would be acceptable to the Ger
man Empire. The share of every other
Power, even Italy, could be described
almost to square mile; but there is
nothing which would suit the German
Empire, either as colony or dependency
or province. If the Ottoman ceases to
reign there is nothing for Berlin. and
therefore, says the master of Berlin
let the ottoman go on reigning What
doeS ii matter, except to his subjects
now he reigns? Germany. if Turkey
Went to pieces and We're quietly dis
trlouted, must seek her compensation"
on her own frontiers-that is either in
Denmark which is a Russian protec-
torate or in Austria, which resigns
nothing except under stress of defeat
or IN Holland, which had rather be
anything in the world than a State of
the German Empire The war if II
came. would be a great one. vet at its
END there would be nothing TO no
gained supposing the war successfuI
wherefore let there be no war. even if
IL is necessary to sink the Greek fleet
and occupy the Piraeus.
Ahat is sound policy from the German
point or view, even if it is cynically sell
Hsh and 1t is this union of sound and
Seinsh policy with excessive self-con-
sclousness and arbitrary will. all dis
prayed with certain force and felicity
OF expression, which makes William TT
SO much more interesting than the ma
Joilty oI SoVefelgns. We dare say
tnere are many men like him; indeed
we think We could indicate one or two.
especially in the literary class; but
there is no other sitting on a lofty
throne with millions below who at a
signal Will hurl themselves upon the
enemy he POINTS out. A monarch who.
beng a Christian and a European. can
ike the Sultan, because he also is a
monarch, who will set the world on
1lre rather than not humiiate a rela-
tive because he has transgressed inter-
national etiquettes, and who. being
himself the product of a national upris
ing, can say in the face of Europe that
his one work is to combat the reyolu-
ton, 1s-Well, is at all events a figure
strange enough and separate enough
10 draw the eyes of mankind There
IS no one in Europe except the King of
Prussia III the least like the German
Emperor.-London Spectator