The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-15
A GERMAN EMPEROR
WAS ONCE MONARCH
OF THE NEW WORLD

L t
It has often been alleged that the
present German emperor, in his ambi-
ton for territorial conquest, has look
ed with covetous eye toward the
shores of the New World Many adj
vocates of preparedness in the Uni
ted States, assuming the role Of pro-
phets, have painted dark pictures of
future in which America will be gov
erned from Berlin and democracy Will
be tverboten.', Admitting the pos
sibility of the fulfilIment of such dire
predictions, it would not be the first
time America has been governed by
a. German emperor.
1t was just $50 years ago to-day on
! January Is. Y1556, that Charles V,
Emperor of Germany, who as Charles
I, was also King of Spain, abdicated
the most powerful of the worlds
| thrones, and, placing the crown on
the head of his brother Ferdinand,
retired to a monastery to spend his
few remaining months in pious exer-
ciSeS and avain attempt to make over
a hundred clocks keep the same time.
He died in 1853, leaving will in
which he enjoined his son to hunt out
and destroy every hereto in his do
minions, without exception and with.
out mercy
Charles ", was the heir of four
great royal clans, which had become
united by a series of matrimonial all
/
Philip of Austria, he became at the
age Of six the heir; presumptive to the
entire possessions of the house of
Hapsburg in Germany, in right of his
paterna1 grandfather, Macmillan, and
to the splendid sovereignty of Bur-
gundy, afterward the Spanish Neither
lands. in right of his paternal grand
m other, Mary. BY the death of his
maternal grandfAth err, Ferdinand the
Catholic, in 1916, he inherited the
kingdom of Spain, now one and undi-
vided, the kingdom of Naples, and all
the bound1ess empires of Spain be-
yond the western ocean. In 1919 he
fell heir to the archduchy4 of Austria
on the death of his grandfather Max
imilian. and was elected Emperor of
Germany. ~
Charles ", was on his arrival at
manhood, the mightiest, the veal
thiest, and in all respects the most
powerful Of the worlds monarchs. It
was his boast that the sun never set
on his dominions. He bore two Eb1obes
two pillars, those Of Hercules, the
boundaries Of the old world, with
the motto, s.Plus ultra or more be-
syond.''
And there was more-much mora
than he dreamed beyond Before
Charles ", was born Christopher Co
1unbus had discovered for him New
World territories of vast extent and
fabulous wealth. Balboa took pos
session for him of the Pacific Ocean.
While the crown of the German en-
pire was being placed upon his head.
Magellan was on the epocha1 voyage
which was to result in the circumnav-
igation of the globe, Cortez was en-
gagged in the conquest of Mexico, and
PedraTias founded Panama. The con-
quest of Peru Of Pizarro, and Of 9TH
er parts of South America, were ac-
compIished during his reign. 1T was
Spain which gained the credit and
the glory and the profit from these
New World expeditions. but Charles.
King OF Spain, was also Emperor of
Germany.
When Charles ". apdicated, his son
Philip succeeded to the crown of
Spain, while his brother Ferdinand
assumed the German imperial crown.
The reign of Charles was marked by
many events of great Importance. The
Turks, now the allies of Germany,
were then at the height of their pow
ser. Under So1oman the Magnificent
the Moslem hordes advanced through
Hungary to the very walls of Vienna,
while the fleets of Turkey command
ed the Mediterranean and threatened
the coasts of Italy and Spain.
Charles strove to be neither German,
Spanish, Flemish. nor italian and as a
result he was not very popular in any
of the countries under his dominian.
He wanted to be the monarch of all
Europe, but all his plans failed, and
when at last, he put aside his crown
he was a broken and disappointed