The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-28
WARLIKE AND MEDIEVAL.

WARLIKE AND MEDIEVAL.
The speech of Kaiser Wilhelm, the
pith of which was reported in the dis
patches yesterday morning had quite
warlikc and medieval tone. lie is the
God-ordained monarch of Germany. and
particularly of Prussia: and the people
have nothing to do with him, save to
recognize and obey! He does not oh.
tain his title from them, but direct
from God himself; so that any who may
be disposed to criticisc him thereby
criticises work of God, and those who
rebel against him rebel against God.
All that is quite medieval, and reads
strange enough in these modern
times.
The Kaiser followed up his theme by
saying that it was the duty of all Ger
mans to give their first thought to
rengthening the Empire, and espe~
cially to making it so terrible in war
and so .warlike in pcsce that none
would dare to provoke or attack 1T,
There is, of course, a basis Of sound
former proposition that the ruler is
ordained of God and not of the peo-
pie, and that he may do as he will
with this tremendous engine of war,
the peril of the situation is evident.
And from the comment of German
newspapers, that peril is fully realized
in Germany; and the cry goes up again
as on a former occasion when the En-
peror INDUCED in wild and sensational
talk, to put HIM under the guardian
speak in public and officially only
when he is permitted, and then to say
only those things that are drawn up
for him to say. And that is evidently
II wise and safe course, both for the
Kaiser and for the German people.
But the curious inconsistency of the
working of the Kaiser IS mind appeared
when he spoke of the "illustrious
Queen Louise under whose anxious
and fostering care the foundation for
Germany's military strength and glory
was laid. Curiously enough, he drew
from the life of the warlike and pub
lic-spirited queen a lesson to German
women not to meddle with public mat
ters, but that their real task is "in
quiet work at home and in the family, -
1t is curious indeed for anyone, even
so erratic an individual as Kaiser
Wilhelm, TO make this sudden shift.
He holds up Queen Louise as great
example for German women and for
the German nation. Queen Louise was
essentially warlike, and her influence
in public affairs and in public life
of Germany was supreme for century.
In fact, it is supreme now. Her in.
fulencc was for militarism, for the
Strengthening of the fighting force of
the German people. Her mind revolted
at the subsection Of Germany by Ma
poleon, and her whole being was de-
voted to the founding of military
system even against Napoleon s de-
crees, that would make Germany a
great war power. She was the high
patriotic German Of her time. the one
most Influential in bringing about the
development of the military strength
of the German people; and yet, curl.
ously enough, her figure, her example,
and her qualities are brought forward
by the Kaiser as an Illustration of the
need for German women 20 keep out OF
public life, to remain quietly at home
and attend TO their household affairs.
But suppose Queen Louise had modelled
her life upon that ideal What, then.
would there have been IN her life and
estimation of the German people and
especially in the estimation Of the Ger
man Emperor? 1t is, on the contrary,
precisely because Queen Louise did not
do the things that the German Emperor
says women should do, and because she
did the things which he now says wo-
men should not do, that she was great,
and is so Justly honored by the Ger
man people.
1t is we'll enough for the German
Emperor to inculcate the home vir-
tues, and to impress them upon the
German women, but clearly he should
take r different example than Queen
Louise to enforce his point
The speech has caused good deal
of unensiness in Germany, and is like
iy to disturb Europe more or less until
It's echoes die away. Doubtless, how.
ever, the muzzle will be quickly put
upon the Kaiser now, as it was before
when he gave his incendiary interview
to the London Telegraph. And then
we shall hear no more from him, ex-
cept in the way Of official routine,
for another period Of years.