The Washington herald., 1912-03-19
Crown Prince of Prussia.

dislikes which, by the way, are both very
pronounced. the future German Kaiser
appears TO be extremely aristocratic and
looks upon Prussian institutions. and
especially the "Junkerthum." as the
backbone and sinews of the German en-
pire. He actually blames his father. the
Kaiser. for not being Prussian enough.
This. OF course, shows his lack of the
knowledge OF the true situation, and he
Is bound TO find cut his error when he
ascends the, throne and learns TO appre-
ciate the many difficulties that beset the
Hohenzollern Kaiser as the ruler over
the other federated German states and
the actual hatred OF some of the Ger
man rulers and peoples toward every
thing Hohenzollern or PrussiAn.
II is fact, well understood in Berlin.
that among the populace OF the small
towns and the countryside in Bavaria.
mainly so N the highlands Of the Bavar-
ian Alps, II is toss-up whom they hate
more, a Prussian or a Frenchman. In
fact. the only state upon which Prus-
sia's ruler, in his capacity as German
Kaiser. can count upon absolute loyalty
to his house. Is the Grand Duchy of
Baden, whose sovereign married a daugh-
ter OF the first Wilhelm.
Only when the fiippant heir to the Ger
man throne will WELD the scepter HIM
self will he begin TO understand why
his father sometimes acts as he does.
He will have to do likewise when in need
Of support OF some important measure
in the Bundesrath, which Prussia alone
never could carry. For. while by virtue
Of her greater number OF Inhabitants.
eNa1N LIZ N.z.-N
that council, yet IL has not enough TO
the federated states. Friedrich Wilhelm
will find out what IL means to be EN-
peror and have his hands tied. More
than that. II he is Just and fair. he
will not fail to marvel at the forbearance
and the tact of his father, which carries
him safely over many a rock of internal
strife.
We know now that the crown prince
is rather demonstrative in expressing his
sentiments. On his return from the coro-
nation OF King George, for instance, be
spoke Of the fall OF the city of Fee in
Morocco as an event that must necessi-
tate a demand for compensation from the
German empire. What makes this out
burst so much more surprising is the
lact that he said all this to a French
man. a member Of the stan of Ambassa-
dor Csmbon What he really fears is that
his father might fall TO the ground be-
tween two stools" that OF the rising
German democracy and the Prussian
s-istocracy, which latter supplies the
bulk OF the officers OF the German army.
He maintains that their mutual opposi-
ticn remains unregulated from above"
by hesitation and inconsistency in the
government
Friedrich Wilhelm takes after the
Schleswig- Holstein side of his house, that
means he takes after his straightforward
mother. He is gehtlemanly, moral. and
open in his domestic and his military
life. very musical. but his mind is not
large. ne is altogether devoid OF shrewd-
ness. and carries military patriotism to a
dangerous extreme. He fails TO observe
that there is a democratic wave in Ger
many no less than in other parts OF the
world. Those born to the purple are no
more revered and admired as deml-gods.
The common people have learned to value
them at their true worth. Small. indeed.
is the number OF rulers who can count
upon genuine loyalty among their sub
Jects, and who are truly beloved.
II is not to be doubted that the hearts
Of the German people went out toward
the youthful crown prince and his young
and fair consort OF the good old House
OF Mecklenburg. Both are very popular
but neither seems to understand that they
have to live up TO the standard placed
upon them by the true blue and loyal
Teutons.
A little story is making the rounds Of
the clubs Of the Thiergarten section OF
Berlin to the effect that Crown Princess
Cecilie, when advised TO pay more heed
to public opinion, laughingly replied: We
can do just as We please, because we are
both so very popular" Well. "si non e
vsro o bene trovate."
No doubt, they are very popular and
this was once more fully demonstrated
at the birth OF their fourth son. Almost
everybody in Berlin discussed the glad
some tidings and at the "Stammtische"
of the "Kneipen' on that memorable
evening many a ''Seidel' was emptied
''aUf das Wohl des juengsten Hohen-
zollern." The Kaiser, of course, appre-
ciates these demonstrations greatly. and
TO show his gratitude to his loyal SUBJ
Jects he ordered all public school ses-
sions to be suspended the next day. That
was neatly done and one may imagine
the JOY Of the BerlineEe children and
how full Of gratitude to their Kaiser they
were for giving them a day of.
Lord Rosebery is incomparably the
greatest orator in Great Britain. but he
is also master OF revels In a banquet hall
where he represents the genuine comic
spirit Of English pleasantly which is
so distinct from the American talent for
the ludicgous With his passion for
reading and his exquisite art in the use
of Apostle Illustrations and quotations
he prefers the platform and a literary
theme. but seldom is heard as a post
pIandial orator.
What is known as the House of Com
mons style with conversational tone,
felicitous phrasing, and cynical humor.
has been introduced with the coffee and
cigars, but political leaders in England.
with but few notable exceptions, are not
the most acceptable after-dinner speak
ers. Mr.. Balfour, with his halting de-
livery and habit of reconstructing his
sentences midway, is trying to the
nerves. Mr.. Asquith is more fluent. but
his delivery is dry and his humor, when
ever there is any. forced. Mr.. Lloyd
George and Lord Hugh Cecil are too Sc
rious for social occasions, and Mr..
Churchill needs the tonic effect OF a
popular audience and the swing Of a
broad platform IN order to speak to the
best advantage. While Mr.. Birreil Is
not a match for any of these debaters
in Parliament he Is superior to the best
at any public dinner.