The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-14
THE RUIN OF AN EMPEROR.
.,rDERIcK III, a oBRMIN s<o-
,rrIcE TO BRITIsH ISTEIoUE.

r,s HoheuEoliern' Gradual subn,tsston
80 mi. british wiz when Ne Was
Crown rr,ae. Frederick william. His
prox,...ivo Disioy.ity In the Csuss OF
Great Britain &c the D~etriment or HE
nv. People. a.d His Fad In the serv-
l.. of the Court That Dis Not Spare
Min Even In Death-An Object Lesson
=. IN. Way. or Peace sua Ctviizssis..
ocpi IN the diplomatic and military history
=, ,ec.nt times has been filled BY Fred. Count
Srrsnsenbers. Q member OF the high Prussian
s.huity. He published last summer his"wsr
n,s,y ~ 1866 and 1901" thus giving to the
ID perhaps is most vivid narrative OF the
r,uI,ary events Immediately preceding tho uni
s..,Ion o., Germany. His principal aim I'M
sorb,cdIy was to entertain the German people
Z -nh such a narrative. but he did much more.
, n. incidentally gave them new light on the
I vaccinations OF the power which, in .
I.o,ysm of jealousy, endeavored to lay obsta-
~. in the way Of Germany's triumphal prog.
,.s. on tho i~ntrieues of q princess Of that
nov,r who had been called to a high place In
N. Huhenzollern family circle and was destined
a be an Empress In the now empire, and on tho
Abort. OF the diplomatists OF that power. under
the mask Of peace and the cloak OF philan-
,hropy, TO defeat the uprising OF q great
Atm hUus III t"N SNeeSss 1850" w.
.t,al from the German armiee the fruits Of
,hs victories which they had won In the field.
n. showed how the cold hand Of calculation
"a. stretched forth from the capital OF the
..me power, to use the bonds Of family, the love
AZ home, and tho condolences Of man and wife
n, tho ,enoble ends of an ignobls policy; how
ana most sacred domestic obligations were
.,nlo,ted rs II they were mere items In the
routine OF International business; how a Crown
princes, wa, leo to betray her husband and q
Crown Prince was led to betray his people until.
IN the camp OF the armies, which he was to
direct somo day as Emperor. King. and Com
msnder.in-Chief. he was treated rs . suspect
and often as q traitor. It seems hardly necos-
nary TO name the power thus exposed In its
Ruthless diplomacy, nor the Princess who was
is Intermediary and agent. nor the Prince who
vn her husband and victim. Even had Frank
snberg made his political references In parables,
everybody would know that the power In oues-
ton was England; the Princess, Victoria, now
the Empress Frederick. and the Prince, Fred
srick ILL.,. for ninety nine days German EN-
pero. and King Of Prussia
THE CAUSE OF PEACE AND CIVILIZATION.
The relations Of this unfortunate Prince to his
British wife have been limited In many histor-
zeal works Of tho last ten years. Here and
there. by Geffcken, by Freytag. and by less
Trustworthy writer's. her deplorable influence
z over him has been mado plain. The diplomatic
periis OF alliances with the British reigning
house are referred to by the German publicist
otto-day as self evident. The English profess
t.ons OF peace and philanthropy In international
Affairs arc sneered at by every German editor
who knows the difference between . conference
and a convention 10 diplomatic usage. But the
WHY and tho wherefore Of all this have come TO
-. - --a
l~.ca.lon Of Frank book was It possible
10 fastsn on the present Empress Frederick,
with her clique, responsibility for the decline OF
her husband In reputation and character from
the earlier part of his married life to the end OF
HE fatsful ninsty-nins days on the throne OF
the empire.
Before reading F~rankenberg's statements in
their proper setting In the tragic story Of Fred
sriets life . person should understand how I'M
Il impeaehabie 10 tho character Of Frank enberg's
testimony. aud how fast he In bound by all ira
dtton and prejudice TO do full Justice to the
Crown Prince, Frankenbere IL not only . mem
Der Of the high PrussiAn nobility. but he IL an
oncsr, now retired. . Tory Of Tories. and . per-
sonsl friend OF former princes Of Hohsn.oliern
He was called Fred" by the old Emperor and
the Crown Prince; he was possessed Of the
Grown Princes confidence to . far greater do
gree than was Freytag. He regarded the old
.,rv and . war,Io. 49, ....-.s...
\ wisdom. lie found the Crown PrIno, ov.r
uacious ever amlable, ever gallant. IL Ia some
times a puzzle to the reader Of the :. Diary how
hseodla reconcile these feelings with the facts
which no has revealed regarding the Crown
Princes submission 10 the ,cheminv mind NJ
his wife. 1t may be that Henry Won Poschinger.
| thsdlscree, editor Of the " Diary" for the sako OF
v the lis rims . q waIi N. 81. 5..a -. -. 49,