New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-02
IMPERIAL SELF-ASSERTION.

The Emperor means tC rule we'll as reign.
That is the meaning Of the German crisis In
that respect it is identical with the former
Chancellor crises-for this will be Chancellor
crisis. too, before II is ended. Prince Bismarck.
the chief creator of the Empire. was dismissed
because his will outmatched and his prestige
oycItowercd the EmperOr's. Count Won Caprvi
was sacrificed because he would not make
himself sufficiently plant Instrument OF the
imperial will. SO in his turn Prince Won Hoheh-
lobe Is to he supplanted for the same reason
that his predecessor was. and for this also, that
he has not succeeded in getting from Parha-
ment the extraordinary naval appropriation on
which the EmperOrs heart was set. My WILL
wrote William II, not many years ago, rs the
supreme law" To that imperious principle he
means completely to adhere.
The first Minister to go was Admiral Hoi-
man. Naval Secretary, who was replaced by
Rear Admiral Tirritz. DR.. Won Stephan, head
Of the Postal Service. died. Dr. B0dicker. head
of the Imperial Insurance Office, who Is to be
credited with the eminently successful system
Of State insurance of workingmen, resigned.
But they were only the advance guard. The
Foreign Minister. Baron Won Biebersten, now
goes out That 'his retirement Is made neces-
sary by his state of health is polite but trans
parent fiction his health being particularly GOOD
His retirement is made necessary by the Elnpe-
rors WILL Just as Prince BiSmarcks. That
is ALL DR.. Won B0ttcher. Imperial Secretary for
the Interior. Vicc-Prcsident OF the Federal
Council. etc. also goes. also under pressure.
Other places will soon he made vacant: ana by
the end of the summer a complete reorganlza-
ton of the Imperial Cabinet will have been Of
fected. What the result will be is matter for
earnest speculation What the aim Is is en-
tirely evident The Emperor Is filling. and will
fill. the places with purely personal appointees,
men commended not so much by service 10 the
nation or by experience in its councils as by
their personal devotion and subservience TO the
EMPEROR himself. The star Of autOcracy Is
much In the ascendant.
Nor is that ALL The new Ministers will be
soldiers Even the new head of the Post
office Department Is a man whose training mas
been in camps and fortresses. Against such
policy the present Chancellor protests in vain.
The Emperor IS War Lord. and his lieuten-
ants must all be warriors. That means an ex-
tension Of militarism not only In the Empires
attitude toward other lands. but In the En-
peror's attitude toward the Empire. when n
few months ago the imperial Parliament refused
the grant he asked for warships, the Emperor
ordered that the construction or the N"SSeiS
should proceed without IT, That Is an earnest OF
the policy he seems determined to pursue lie
holds that he has God-given right to rule the
Empire as he wills, supreme above all Minis
tcrs. Parliaments and people. He proposes 10
surround himself with cabinet Of men VINO ne
lieve in that right and who. by virtue OF their
military training. are ready to enforce II at all
costs. Those VINO oppose me" he declares. i
will dash TO pieces This crisis may there
fore we'll he regarded as "'rhe London Times's'
correspondent says. as meant ito famllarize
"the nation with the necessity for stopping AT
mo measures. even should they involve funha-
mental constitutional changes, which may he
desirable for the purpose Of checking or ne''-
"tralizng the spread Of social democracy" II
is an interesting experiment in government for
these end-Of- 4 hc-century days.