The San Francisco call., 1899-08-23
THE KAISER AND THE FRENCH.

TDAISER WILLIAM has given the world another
n evidence OF his desire to win the favor OF the
French HI has followed his visit to French
naval training ship and his complimentary address
that occasion by unveiling the battlefield OF St.
Privat near Metz, statue designed to commemorate
the valor OF the of both armies.
His words notably strong and clear. He is
reported have said: Il desire that the meaning OF
this figure be generally known 1t stands this field
guardian OF all the brave soldiers of both armies,
French and German, who fell. The French soldiers
who found glorious grave at St. Privat also fought
bravely and herocaly for their Emperor and father
land When our flags are lowered in greeting before
this bronze statue and lutter mournfuly over the
graves of dear comrades may they wave the
tombs of Our foes and whisper that think sorrow
ngly OF their brave dead. With deep thanks and an
upward glance the Lord of Hosts for the guidance
he so mercfully vouchsafed to great Emperor,
we will recall that the countless souls OF all who once
stood face to face in hot encounter will look down
upon us this day from where they stand around the
throne of the Supreme Judge united in eternal
peace
There is in language mockng proverb which
declares, "Soft words butter parsnips, but from
the wisdom OF the ancients there fuller truth
in the saying, ga soft answer turneth away wrath"
The course OF the powerful Emperor of Germany in
perSStently speaking WO1uS IS pound
have its effect upon the minds of the French He may
not lead them to put away the dream of victorious
that will enable France recover her lost prov
nces but he will certainly allay irritation and antag
onism and thus check any desire the part of the
French to hasten the coming of that
According to a story which has been going the
rounds for some time the Kaiser is very eager to at
tend the exposition in Paris next year, and it has
been said all his kind speeches are designed merely
to enable him to accomplish that purpose. 1t is
hardly likely, however that the Kaiser has been
moved by so slight motive 1t is more probable he
desires to visit Paris for the purpose OF conciliang
the French than that he desires to conciliate the
French for the purpose Of going to Paris.
All the great statesmen OF Europe are impressed
with the conviction that the balance Of power that
continent is in state of Unstable equilibrium. An
outbreak in the Balkan States in the Turkish en-
pire may involve the Continent in "a general war and
lead to reconstruction OF the political map More
over the whole structure OF society is insecure The
oppressive burden OF immense standing armies is felt
everywhere and socialism in direction and
anarchy in another tend equally to undermine the
fabric of government.
Under such conditions it is not strange wise
ruler should seek to allay old enmities and make
friends with his neighbors. There are reasons for be-
lievng Russia, power that is as much Asiatic as
European, has been playing fast and loose with Euro
pean alliances for long time The German Emperor
may not have much fear OF Russian alliance with
France, but he have as little confidence in Rus
sian friendship for Germany In any case it is better
for Germany to have the friendship OF France and the
Emperor is doing all he can to attain it.
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