The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10
THE ENIGMA OF GERMANY.
ENGLISH SPLEEN VENTED UPON
EMPEROR WILLIAM III

tectttes-Nhuy UnsolNeo Muruer mystertes'
LONDON. Oct. LIT Is the fashion in this coun'
try Just now 10 divide the daily output OF ma.
tionsl spleen between the German Emperor and
Secretary Sherman. 1t is an equal compliment
TO each, and, perhaps, each merits 1t equally.
Certainly in the case Of the Kaiser most of the
things for which the English people abuse him
should be counted to him for righteousness
while in tho case of tho Secretary there can
scarcely be two opinions-outside OF England.
Tho chief effect of anti.German bad temper
In Great Britain has been to emphasize and
make presminent in Europe the striking person.
ality of William H.. until he has become tho
figure Of the hour. and half Christcndom Is
puzzled whether TO regard him as an erratio
and obstinate prince or as q great ruler. He has
beaten Lord Salisbury horse and dragons in
the latest phase of tho Eastern question, and
there is an awful suspicion in England that he
IL In n fair way to consummate his desire for a
great continental combination against British
aggression and British Interests" generally.
Nobody knows what the German Emperor
will do next. He is an enigma among men as
we'll rs among monarchs. His worst defect is
ono which alone would make him q dangerous
man in his position of almost unlimited power
and responsibility. He possesses no sense Of
humor. That is a European war cloud in itself.
Its corollaries are too numerous to mention,
and all of them serious. Nobody in Europe
talks about peace so much as the Kaiser, but
MS DISCUSSIONS OF mat SUBJECT usually make MS
listeners shiver with apprehension. Inc woro
IN MS vocabulary means 'lnuictiveness anu OPP
preston as witness MS recent enorts MS peace
maker between Greece and turkey.
But 1t is not my intention 10 characterize
emperor Wiiiiam. MY purpose ID merely 10 cali
attention TO the bitter hatred or him through
out England at the present moment, and then to
quote the extremely interesting description of
MIN and OF MS pohcv winch has Just been given
10 the Lonoon puoiio oy an English writer.
tteaders OF TINS correspondence Will not nave
aorsot.eh inc strikihg picturesot american iiie'
anu ai'er"oio il ur@co- iurkien war scehes'
"hich came from the pen OF ". w. steeVens 10
the Columns Oh tne Ddtp Mdt. Mr. SteeVehs
u mo" ehsaReo oepicting Sermans anu Inc
1ermahs IN u series OF articles entitieo ohaer
inc iron heel. ne Is as uhpre'uoicoo IN ne
OBSERVATIONS 10 any hhRish "riter oouio OK
pecteo 10 De- anu' at all events, MS coneeptons
OF men and events in the fatheriand are
Bketcnes OF absorbing interest," ms tor IN
stance ABOUT the halsers personality as seen
hrst IN the streets OIL Berlin inc other Jay:
A"iaho miuoie SIZE s''ine oonstraineoiy
ana ooit uprisht' d oeau Seiio" skih' naro-
pehcliiea orows' a stralsht, mastertul nose. lips
9ammeu close together uhder dark moustache
pointing s1raish' upward 10 the whites OF MS
eyes. race at once repuisiVe ana palmetto 80
narsn ana stony was IL, 30 erlmly solemn. A
iacei whicn no ihdi'iouai feature was yer!
marx nut which aitogether was black as thun-
DER. he raised MS gloved hand In q stin. mo
Cnahical saiule' anu turneo MS heao lmpasslve-
~ from lett 10 right; nut there was no courtesy
IN .he saiute' no hent IN the eye no smile on the
Lish' hiouth ior MS ioyel supJects. no looked
ike a man without Joy. without love. without
ply. "l.nou. nope ne looked nke q man VINO
nau he'er iausheo, ike a man VINO couio never
steep. a man might wear such " race VINO felt
himseif turning SLOWLY into ice.
ne was gone aRain. anu the crowd was mood
Ing the street behind hin. 'Ach,' sighed an old
Aaoy IN Grape, pity mat ne always looks 80
Cross. 30 oinerent from our oear, dear old
Aaiser. anu 3D." moro tnan ono gray head
snake as she spoke, not angrily. but with q
kinoly ana oven touching regret But all the
oioer men are not quite so sparlng In their con-
domination. The young-I am speaking now
only OF the well-to-do-are often ecstatic In their
aahiiralon: ne ID herman through ana through,
they Will tell you; ne means to make Germany
Inc only nation on earth, they tell you. though
'hey 10 NOT tel you now. Even their elders VIII
own that ne Is q rousing speaker. 'He hits the
nail on the mead; MS speeches thrill US all
throuRh wneh we reao Them In the newspapers.
men, perhaps they Will tell you an anecdote OF
MS readiness. One day as he rode through q by
etreet nc came ON a score OF Soclaiistlc workmcn.
Eignteen LOOK on thelr caps reluctantly, re-
maincd covered. Wheeron the Kaiser rode
straight up ana saiuted them till their caps
cane OH lot sname' IL not TOT loyalty.
mat was well and kingiy done. But that 10
almost the only action l have heard of him
which might win his peoples personal love.
me young may admire MIN and trust in him.
nut he Is not the beloved sovereign his grand
ialher was-hot even what MS father was. The
Old Kaiser came to his study window every
morning OF bis life to greet his people; the pres
ent Kaiser began by. shutting a gate OF the royal
palace that had always stood open. 1t was a
small thing. but 1t was noticed. The old Kaiser
ana ohser frltz had a smile and a CHEEKY word
Tor the meanest OF their subjects; this Kaiser
mas sometimes a machine-made salute. and
always a scowl. lie seems to despise his people.
anu even the Germans dislike too obvious q
show or scorn, even in a Kaiser. What has he
done I they ask. His father and grandfather
Enf 1rnA rnn