New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-05
EMPEROR dND EMPIRE.

Current incidents exhibit In an interesting
light some phases of the German Emperors re-
]ationship to the German Empire. To the pres
orvation of that empire the Emperor processes
and unouestionably cherishes the most profound
dcvo,ion # was in reference to It that he said
in his mperlal rescript on the death or BIS
morck: "What he created will maintain ana
develop" OF his sincerity and zenl In making
that pledge there can be no DOUBT. lei his
methods OF doing the work are In some essen
tal respects so different from those OF bismarck
MS inevitably to provoke contrast and serious
speculation
The point at present most IN evidence Is tha'
of Prussianism against Particularism. II must
be borne In mind that the German Empire Is
purely federal All its component states are
sovereign and independent, the tinest princi-
pality or duchy as much so as Prussia ITSELF
and the petty prince or grand-duke as much so
ms the King of Prussia. The only special priv
lege enjoyed by Prussia Is that her king Is
German Emperor. But that gives her no au-
tbor;tv over the other States. This was always
scrunulousIy recognized by Bismarck. Much or
his attention and many Of his most Impressive
utterances were directed toward maintaining
the rights of the States. for he was convinced
that thus. and only thus. was the harmonious
integrity Of the empire to he maintained Ana
In his ef-wrtten epitaph he described himsell
not as a Brandenburgcr nor as a Prusslan' Dut
as a German-'a faithful German servant or
Emperor william H.
Now. the present Emperor rightly or wrong
". Is reckoned to have exactly opposite tenden-
cies. He is a Hohenzollern, a Brandenburser'
n Prussian, and he is in the habit OF making
that fact conspicuorsly evident. For years he
has been suspected of desiring and even trying
TO Prussianlze the empire. and to make the
other States vassals instead Of allies. This sus-
melon has aroused against him no little antago-
nism. ,espaelally in the important States Of Ba-
varia Wtirtcmburg and Baden; so that the pos
sibility of their secession from the empire mas
actually been discussed. And now. at this mo-
ment. the Whole empire is set by the ears by
the Emperors acts and words concerning the
regency of Lippe-Detmold. 1t seems to be wide
" thought that he has tried to impose Prussian
dictation upon the domestic affairs Of that small
but sovereign prncipality, and the alleged fact
is sharply resented, not only In LAppe-Detmold'
but throughout the empire.
Particularism may not be the truest Imperial
ism But neither Is Prussansm. And nothing
can he more certain than tnat agSressINthesS VII
the part of the latter will arouse the former to
greater intensity 1t is almost inevitable that
such conflicts should arise in federal empire
with hereditary Emperor who Is always SOW
ereign Of one of the federated States. They are
to be minimized. If not avoided, only by wise,
prudent and generous statesmanshp. such
craftsmanship Bismarck exercised with note
worthy success The Emperor now seems to
have adopted n different course. Whether it
will prove equally wise and equally successful
remains to be seen. Upon its so doing unques-
tionaby depends In great measure the future OF
the German Empire.