The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-10-25
other countries, will readily call tc

other countries, Will readily call TO
mind, If only dimly, a circumstance
which occurred at a banquet held at
koenigsberg, Germany, in August 1910.
at which Emperor William, self-invit-
ed made an address, and arrogated
himself to the Office of divine dele.
gates and in that character avowed
mis- determination to rule in his own
way, regardless OF the views or opin-
lens of the hour.
MY grandfather" he said, again
by his right, placed the Prussian
.rcWn on his head and again proclaim
ed 1t to be bestowed on him by Gods
grace alone and not by parliament, as
'semblages of the people or resolutions,
and that he saw In himself this
chosen instrument of heaven and as
such he regarded his duty as regent
ruler,
This news did no reach the news
papers at once, as was noticed and
commented on at the time. having had,
in accordance with custom in the mat
ter of imperial deliverances, to be
submitted to the revision Of his
majesty or q member of. his suite be-
fore it was issued.
This fact precludas the idea that it
was a rash expression or unconsidered
opinion, while the assumption that it
was the result Of ~post-prandial excite
ment is equally excluded thereby. as
well as by the familiar fact OF ths
kaiser's lifelong abstemiousness.
The newspapers OF that day were
aroused to an earnest discussion of the
speech and the sentiments expressed.
The serious Vossische Zeitung, the
'Tageblatt, the Post and other German
papers pointed out the constitutional
character of the kingdom Of Prussia
in the empire and enquired whether
the chancellor, DR.. Won Bethmann-Holl-
veg was priory to the emperor's pur-
pose of delivering such a speech. They
predicted that would lead to a renewed
discussion Of the emperor's constitu.
tional position when the reichstag as.
sembled.
The strongly m~onarchist Taegliche
Rundschau, the ~favorite journal Of
army officers said:
This speech means a storm e
before has Emperor William set into
such clear relief, his romantic. his me-
dieval manner, his nonresponsibility
to mans judgment, his not being
bound by the constitutional co-opera-
ton Of the people and ruling by Gods
grace, against all those convictions and
feeling which today determines our
existence as the state.'
why" said the Rundschau, Should
the emperor choose this moment to
emphasize his ruling by Gods grace
and his own right. when 1t will nour-f
ish anti-monarchical agitation and
good monarchists be thrown into a
condition of tragic disruption?"
The organo of the landed nobility, the
D%eutsche T~ageszeitung, thoroughly ap-
proved Of the declarations of the en-
peror.
A Berlin correspondent at the time
commenting on the striking utter
ances of the emperor said:
I'm addition to a r~ecteration of his
firm belief in the divine right of
kings the kaiser laid a lance against
lit lboN Il " WOLuCh
and there are indications that the dia-
course will have a deep political erec,
upon the country"
Now the pertinent question is, have
the smouldering embers Of the fires re-
built by that speech, broker out in d
fresh blaze that is sweeping over the
countries of Europe in a cruel and de-
war, the like Of which has
seldom beer saen in that land of pc.
Iriodical cloudy disturbances?
But letus leave the gloomy presence
of Europe's troubles and thoughts of
her sanguinary war and take a stroll
with Alfred Thorne amid the crisp and
sweet air and the v~ariagated foliage
of a blithe Iowa October not so
pretty and blithesome as usual this
e axcept in the past few days. But
give memory to the past, the golden
Gays of other seasons Forget h war