New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-13
THE KAISERS EASTERN JOURNEY.

TIE KAfSER'S EASTERN JOURNEY.
The German Emperor has now set forth
upon his much-talkcdof visit to Palestine
and speculation 10 the intent ana re-
suits thereof rises toward the climax Of
fever heat. Theories are put forward. twenty
to tho dozen IIe meant. says one 10 issue
from the Mount Of Olives call to tho row
crs for disarmament and universal ana per-
petual peace, and thus TO add TO his titles
that Of Prince Of Peace: in which. II is
added. the Car Of Russia dcsignedly fore.
stalled him. TO his great disgust. You may tell
that story 10 tho marines: only do not Let 1t he
TO any MS canny as those who fought at Guam
tarnmo. for they would reject 1t with scorn,
deemng William III too rcvercnt to pose ms
new Christ and too sef-respectng to crave re-
vival of the title Of tho Infamous Godoy. More
rDtiona or less irrational is the notion that he
aims 10 make himself sort Of secular head of
Christendom but neither does that greatly
commend itself to Judgment. One hcsafeS to
believe he would try to usurp the authority Of
the Pope or Of the Gar or Of the Queen or Eng
land the three official heads of the chief 'cs-
toblishpd" divisions of the Christian Church.
A third idea s that hc aims NJ the planting of
German colonies in Syria and rho annexation
Of that province to the German Empire; where
fore IL is explained in order to ingratiate him
self with tho Sultan ho holds himself severely
aloof from the present coercion measures in
Crete. Yes that is almost plausible But what
are France and Russia doing in tho mean time
they who have for many year regarded
SYRIA and all Asiatc Turkey as settled upon
them in reversion?
There NAV be some truth In this last theory;
perhaps an infnitcsimal sclnta Of 1t in one
of the former and some in some Of tho unnum-
bcred others which we have not catalogued
But it really seems as though the bulk of truth
might lie in a certain theory which has scarcely
been mentioned or thought Of. That is. that
the Emperor has no Interior designs Of world
encircling import, but is going to Palestine just
as thousands OF others, great and small, have
gone 10 indulge his personal curiosity or TO
crafty his personal sentiments of devout wor-
ship Why not? Kings and emperors have the
same desire 10 see the world. to gaze upon fine
scenery. 10 visit noteworthy. historic and hal
lowed places. that average men and women
have Why should they not indulge II? The
German Emperor is of particularly nquiring
disposition. He seems TO be trying to see
everything. learn everything, do everything.
What could be more natural than that he
should want to see with his own eyes some Of
the most famous places in the world? He Is,
moreover Of particularly dcvout frame Of
mind, believing unhestatingly In direct inter
course between himself and God. What then,
more reasonable than that he should wish per
sonally to visit the places historically asso
cated with the revelations Of God to man?
Surely We should be able to credit the En-
peror with being man Of like passions with
al nd wi a
passions without any dcep-laid designs upon the
order Of the universe.
The only feature Of the whole tour that
would certainly have had political significance
Is the visit to Egypt on his homeward way, now
said to be abandoned. II was made known
that he would spend twenty days in that coun-
try travelling from the Delta up to the First
Cataract Of the Nile He would nomnaly and
ostensby be the guest OF the Khedve. But
the potent fact remained that Egypt is still oc-
cupied and controlled by the British, and the
British Administrator is the power behind the
Khcdlvlal throne and really superior thereto.
Now. this was the situation: II the Emperor
recognized the British Administrator as the
practical ruler of Egypt, and it was difficult to
see how he could avoid so doing. he would be
giving his imperial sanction to the British oc-
cuIilIOI, anu Ill'il NOulu DO Il pTIpNOuS 0Utuct
TO France. If. on the other hand. he strove TO
ignore the British Administrator. he would give
great umbrage to the British Government. We
have all seen how faithful Catholic s0vercigns
and princes have avoided visiting Rome. lest
by so doing they should give some degree Of
recognition 10 tho Italian Kings occupation os
the city. The German Emperor In visiting
Egypt could not easily avoid giving recognition
10 the British occupation. That would of
course be agreeable 10 the British though of
course no such recognition is necessary to make
their occupation legitimate or TO confirm them
In maintaining 1t. Upon the general sentiment
of Europe, and ultimately upon that of France.
II would have more important influence 1t
might well be, indeed. that it would far OK
coed in Importance all other features Of the i'm.
pcral journey. If the Emperor really does
forego the Egyptian visit, he may show great
deal Of diplomatic shrewdness, but he will d.
vest his Journey Of its chief clemen. of interest.