The Washington herald., 1910-10-28
BIT OF GERMAN
HISTORY RECALLED

1t seems a coincidence that during the
recent strike riots at Berlin the brother
OF the Kaiser Prince Henry, should be
on a visit TO England, for In 1s4s the
brother Of the sovereign OF Prussia was
also Englands guest during the reign Of
terror in the city by the Spree.
But. OF course. there is dinerence-in
fact. very great difference-in these
two visits. for Prime Henry visited King
George as hts boyhood chum. and the
two had fine time together az Balmoral
all of September and part OF October.
while in 1913 the brother OF Frederick
William ~ of Prussia had to fee for his
life 10 escape the vengeance Of the in
furiated citizens, whose anger he had
aroused by his "dyine-right' tactics at
Berlin.
Who would have predicted in those
critical days that the very same Wilhelm.
PTinz Won Preussen. the heir presump-
tive % the throne CHS brother Friedrich
Wilhelm " being childless) would later
rule over Prussia as King, fight those
( historic wars under Bismarcks tutelage,
which raised Prussia 10 the first power
among the German states; that at Yer
saiiles he would place the imperial Ger
man crown upon his head. and leave
united Germany TO his son. poor "Our
Fritz" who. as Frederick III reigned
only s few months when a merciful death
freed him from his dreadful sunerings.
and 70 his grandson the present Kaiser?
When. In 1876 and 1917. the citizens OF
some OF the South German states rose
in revolt. demanding government by con-
stitution, those historic days. as re-
suit Of which men like Carl Schurz.
Franz Sigel. and a number Of others had
70 fee 10 Switzerland. a republic then. as
now. which sheltered political fugiuves
and thence make their way under all
kinds Of difficulties and prosecutions, dis
guised. 10 London, ard finally 20 Ameri-
ca, the subjects of the King Of Prussia
fell in line. but peacefully and asked for
the same privilege
Frederic William az once promised
them a constitution. He was a fair man.
good hearted. but o. a weak character
tina, king whose lack Of force OF will
caused Prussia to be brought TO the rim
OF an abyss, from which, after years OF
slavery under the yoke Of the great Ma
poleon. its peasants al last freed il. fred
by patriotic speeches Of men like Stein
Gneisenau, and other leaders, who saw
their fatherland bleeding TO death under
the French lash.
Those supplemented but loyal men OF
the soil brought their scythes and plows
20 tho military depots. had them cast
into swords and bullets. and. when or
ganized. fought that terrible ''battle Of
nations" at Leipzig, where, goaded 10
desperation. knowing that they were
Sighting for house and home, they inhict-
ed the first OF a series Of defeats upon
the hitherto invinc'hle Napoleon.
Incidently. the grateful monarch. when
all was over and Prussia free once more,
founded the order Of the Iron Cross. for.
ne said, III was with the old iron Of
plows and scythes that my men saved
our common fatherland. and hence let
It be forever known thar this cross o.
iron supersedes anything in the way Of
decoration given for merit on the field
OF battle
The Prussians. believing in the word ~
their King, Jet the matter OF the con
stitution rest Then the King made the
mistake Of listening 10 his brother who
insisted that 81 was not wise 10 sran-
the populace too much political free
dom
The clouds were gathering fast The
Kings dilatoriness ange-ed the citizens.
but the princes advice iufamed them.
Overnight the city was in the throes or
a revolt which, once begun. stopped at
nothing. Unbeknown 10 the King. who
then already was suffering from that
malady which ultimately caused his death
IN middle age, Prince Wilhelm ordered
the soldiery out, and there was fatal
fighting IN the streets. But. nothing
daunted, the mob marched upon the pal
ace "Unter den Linden" and demanded
10 see the King
The King was IN his bedroom and his
brother, Wilhelm, was With him The
latter was IN a fury at what he called
the impudence Of the "canaile."
'Your majesty" he said. IF YOU will
but say the word. 7 shall throw some
grapeshot into the impudent mob. for
my canon are in readiness in the court
yard"