The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
WILLIAM y. n. AND COD.
Tho German Emperor's Latest Uttsranes
as to the Relations of the Two Personsges
A.. IL

Tho German Emperor's Latest Uttsranos
as to the Relations of the Two Porsonages
Fro- a. Wilmington ko-ntro H,~,
DRESDEN Dec. lo.-William II has iuss made
an interesting contribution 10 . book which 10 in
course Of preparation by a Leipzig publisher
and which is 10 be called the Il olden Book Of tho
German People at the End Of the Century This
Is what the 6 ermAn Emperor writes:
by Gods grace is the King therefore also hcis
responsible only the Lord alone. lie Is permitted
TO choose his way and his works only under this
point OF view This terribly heavy response.
bniiy. which the King bars for his people. gives
10 him also a claim upon the loyal COOPERATION Of
his subjects. h-reior- every ono Of The pcople
must b. penetrated with conviction that he Tor
himself is c2,TesPonSib!o ITnr,rGntTo'aTh} for
-Mityernntwortlich" il = di6cult word 10 under
stand as II Is uscd by the Emperor. il evidently
equally or Likewise responsible 10 God with the
King b'causc the Empsrors proposition IL that
ans ans wcrsbis to God' !, probably mans ,ha. ali
Other. zach in his own station And degree, for the
wrfarc Of the fatherland. and that this Joint re
sporsibility Of tho people IL in sense taken up
by and concentrated in the PRISON Of the King.
who bic TO cd both for himself and also
10 od. and the King is responsible 10 one but TO
God: but by virtue Of thus bling chosen by God AZ
pet that all the people will cheeIiully and help
fully go along the way, which, the King, under
his SfTlSr oil a bUTClhl SlcCtDn DS LOO anu oil MS
personal responsibility TO G I'd, may point out
One may say one OF two things Of this theory
Of tho Emperor that IL is the theory Of a mystic
or that II is mrdirval. II one regards II merely
as a medieval revival. then 1t Is nothing moro
nor less than the old divine right Of Kings
right by the WAY, which never has been proved
TO no divine. and which, from the nature Of tho
case. never can b.. When any man. whether
10 say that he IL the direct agent of God. speci-
fically chosen for the work in hand, We may he
iirve him or not and may even conccde
that his work Of that elevated and perfect quality
which one mig hit expect from a man who lad bs n
directly chosen by God but beyond this VIC can
not go. Tho pr't-nson in the last analysis Is
merely a. naked human statement made by a
mortal ike the rest Of us. Moro than this, tho
old doctrine Of the divine right Of Kings Ia no longer
n working theory in human governments. Kings
and Other rulers over notions exist in these days
because they are Of public use 10 the PEOPLES con-
ccrncd. and Tor no oth"r reason. Substantially
oil tho Kings o! our time exist md rule by virtue
Of the consent Of the majority OF the governed
and most living Kings understand this fact as
well ~ other people
But II tho Emperor Williams proposition Ia
regarded az that Of a mystic, there In something
u b. said for H. There arc few responsible and
ca bic rulers or executive officers in the world.
and for that mater few Of what call successful
men who do not feel. and for the most part ac-
knowledge that In some mysterious manner
Gods hand IL In their work. Some name this
mystriously guiding hand Providence; some
name Il Destiny: some, Fat. Tho names used
make no difference with the thing meant All
mean the Same remote. supernatural Power.