The Washington herald., 1913-01-23
GOSSIP ON SUBJECTS OF
INTEREST IN TWO CONTINENTS

tcopyrisht. 1915, by Court Gossip syndicaie)
The true cause why Prince Ludwig,
the sixty-eight-year-old regent OF Ba-
varia, who succeeded his father. the
nonogenarian Prince Luitpold, to the
regency of the second largest of the
federated German states upon the lat
ter's death several weeks ago, has de-
clined to have himself proclaimed King
in place Of his incurably insane cousin,
King Otto, is that he could not do 60
unless the Bavarian Parliament first en-
acted law deposing the mad ruler.
Such a proceeding would create a
precedent that might result in danger to
the monarchical system and to the Wit
telsbach dynasty, especially in these
days of skepticism toward the divine
right" theory, so much ridiculed in these
enlightened times by the equal Fighters.
1t must be taken in consideration, and
Prince Ludwig evidently is wise enough
to do so, that the Social Democrats al
ready possess n majority of the ballot
In several OF the minor German states.
and as ruler of the second largest state
in the federation no one can blame
Prince Ludwig for the stand he has
taken in trying to ward of the possi-
bility of n sovereign being deposed by
Il resolution adopted by the Diet.
Perhaps present-day conditions as to
best, and have held the belief that the
late Regent Luitpold knew what he was
about when he steadfastly declined all
overtures TO place the Wittelsbach crown
upon his old brow. Considering the deep
rooted animosity of the Bavarians "a
strong Catholic country toward Protest
ant Prussia and Hohenzollerns, doubt
very much whether Bavaria would ad-
here long to the federation, with a SOW
he hal ybn r,,iO ha
obliged to make concessions to the ultra
montan party. the strongest element by
far In the kingdom and the Palatinate.
Though both Teutons, men of the same
race and nation, Bavarians and Prus-
slams never have been friendly. This in
eNplicable hatred has cropped out on all
occasions, tbe two countries drawing the
sword against each other at the slightest
provocation. This was done no later than
in 1886 when the Bavarians took up
arms in behalf OF Austria against Prus-
sia. which, after badly defeating the
Austrian army under ''Feldzeugmester''
Loudon' at GItschin and Koenigsgraetz.
sent an army corps to meet the COM
bined Bavarian and Hanoverian forces,
which at Langensalza had to surrender
Strange to say, Bismarck, while annex
ing, as a punishment, the kingdom of
Hanover, let Bavaria go scot free Per-
hGps the Iron Chancellor that early had
his weather eye open" for that union
which he perfected after NapoIeon's de-
feat and Frances "debacle" four years
later.
l recall all this solely to substantiate
MY contention that Wittelsbach and Ho-
henzullern never will be true friends
They may stick to each other for the
sake of their common interest. but only
as long as such interest would demand
or necessitate IT, Not a moment longer
The anti-Prussian fire is ever smoldertnC.
believe me, To prove how deep rooted
this hatred. how inbred and innate this
feeling is IT may not be amiss to re-
peat the well-known yarn OF the Kaiser
and the recruit from Bavaria
Emperor William was questioning the
man as to who was the national and
hereditary enemy. expecting the usual
answer of the German soldier that IL was
France Imagine his chagrin when the
Cnsophisticated youth from the Bavarian
Highlands replied Prussia" There is
similar story OF a Bavarian soldier,
who. after hard days work during the
imperial maneuvers, expressing his sat
isfaction to Crown Prince Frederick
Wilhelm (the affable and very democratic
'Unser Fritz later for a short hundred
days. second German Emperor, of how
ably the latter had led his attacking
forces that day. exclaimed enthusiastic
ally. IF We Bavarians had only heard
such leader in 1856, how badly we
should have whipped those d Prus-
sans.''
The new regent. like his father. Is not
altogether a soldier. In fact. he is rare
ly seen in uniform. He fought the Prus-
slams in 1856 and carries a Prussian bull
let in his side. The German army, TO
which Bavaria contributes the second
largest contingent. interests him little.
But the German navy certainly does. and
it forms one Of the few links of entire
sympathy between him and the Kaiser.
Another is inland navigation, by means
of deepened rivers and canals, despite the
determined opposition of the "agrarians'
In the Bavarian Diet. For Prince Ludwig
Is an enthusiast on practical farming.
That opposition the regent is well aware