The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-08-15
THE KAISER'S INFLUENCE.
1t Is Due to His Policy of Becoming
Personally Acquainted with
His Officers,

''The Secret of the Personal Infu-
ence of the Kaiser on German Public
Life is the theme of Wolf Won
Schierorand's contribution to the
North American Review. The powers
conferred upon the emperor by the
constitution of the empire are really
less than those invested in the pres
ident of the United States. The
kaiser has no authority to veto W.
wise or unwelcome legislation, nor
can he interfere in the internal af-
fairs of any of the German states,
except that of which he is king. Mr..
Won Schierbrand shows how the
kaiser has usually found ways and
means of effecting his will through
both the Bundesrath and the Reichs-
tag, which are both theoretically in
dependent of his control. William
IL. has made it point to keep in the
closest possible touch with his army
and navy. His military and naval
cabinets daily furnish him personal
details regarding both arms of the
service, and it is said that he knows
half of the $4,000 officers in the army
and all of the 1900 naval officers un-
der his command. Through his civil
cabinet he acquires similarly init
mate knowledge of the citizen pop
ulation, and particularly the govern
Nment officials. Again, the kaiser has
increased his influence by the lavish
ness with which he has INDUCED the
popular passion for titles and decora
tions, and by vastly increasing the
splendors of the court. By such
means William II. has reinforced the
influence of his strong personality,
which of itself commands attention
and, through his sayings and doings,
has impressed itself upon his coun-
try. The effect of the kaiser's infu-
ence upon German affairs has not al
ways been beneficial. Mr.. Won Schier-
brand says:
perhaps the most portentous in
jury, and certainly the most COM
pletely achieved, done to German
public life by the kaiser's personal
influence, is that inflicted upon the
press and periodical literature. The
freedom of the press, guaranteed not
only by the imperial constitution, but
by those of Prussia and the other
German states, has been practically
destroyed by him. The practice of
the courts all over Germany, from
the lowest to the highest, has been,
since the accession of William H.,
growingly and steadily illiberal and
Systematically inimical to the press.
Honest expressions of opinion, when
ever it contravened the kaiser's ideas
and convictions, has been so persist
emily and severely punished that it
may be said to be effectually muzzled.
There has never been any regime in
Germany, so far as the records go,
during which convictions for lese
| majestic and all sorts of press of
| lenses have been even approximately
as numerous. All this is not only in
| consonance with the kaiser's wishes,
but it is in large measure directly
due to him, the appointment of the
judges forming the highest tribunal
in the empire, and the positions lead
ing up to this highest court, being
under his control. The kaiser has
never during the IA years of his reign
pardoned a single one of these Of
tenders against his own dignity, nor
even shortened, in any instance, their
penalty. Besides, he has often ex-
pressed downright hostility to free
press"