The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-11
THE KAISER AND DIVINE RIGHT
Asserted He Ruled by tho Grace OF
God.

The kaiser lost no occasion in his
public utterances to impress on his
people that he and his house ruled by
the grace of God alone. Addressing
troops leaving for the front he said:
Remember that the German peo-
pie are the chosen of God. On me, the
German emperor. the spirit of God has
descended. I am his sword, his weap-
on and his vice-regent. Woe to the
disobedient and death to towards and
unbelievers."
In March, 1890. addressing the
Brandenburgers, he said: Il look
to me as a responsibility conferred
upon me by God, and that it is. as 1t
written in the Bible, my duty to in
crease this heritage. for which one day
shall be called upon to give an ac-
count; those who try to interfere with
my task 1 shall crush"
In another speech that same year he
put the same meaning into these
words:
1T is tradition of our house that
we, the Hohenzollerns, regard our
selves as appointed by God to govern
and to lead the people. whom it is
given us to rule. for their we'll being
and the advancement of their material
and intellectual interests"
In 1894. in a speech at Konigsberg.
the browning place of the Prussian
kings. he said: THE successor Of him
| who OF his own right was sovereign
prince in Prussia will follow the same
path as his great ancestor; as formerly
the first king said. My crown is born
with me- and as his greater son gave
his authority the stability of a rock
of bronze, so I, too. like my imperial
grandfather. represent the kingship by
Gods grace"
In 1897. speaking Of his grandfather
at Coblenz, he said: HE left Coblenz
to ascend the throne as the selected
instrument of the Lord he always re-
garded himself to be. For us all, and
| above all for us princes. he raised once
! more a1oft and lent lustrous beams to
a jewel which we should hold high
| and holy-that is the kingship by
| Gods grace with its fearful
responsibility to the Creator alone,
| from whom no human-being, no min
lister, no parliament, no people can
/ release the prince"
| Again at Konigsberg he said: Here
my grandfather placed by his own
right the crown of the kings of Prus-
STA on his head. once more laying
/ stress upon the fact that 1t was con-
| ferred upon him by the grace OF God
alone, not by parliament. not by meet
| ings of the people, or by popular de-
cisions; and that he considered him.
/
/ Considering myself as the chosen in
c4rument of the Lord. without being
misIed by the views and opinions OF
| the day, I go my way. ."
| In an address to the army early IN
| his reign he quoted his grandfather
words, These are the gentlemen IN
whom I can rely" and ten years later
| told the same soldiers, Relying upon
| the army and trusting to God I beg IN
my reign, knowing we'll that the army
/ is the main tower of strength for my
| country. the main pillar supporting
, the Prussian throne, to which God N
his wisdom has called me-"
During the fighting on the somrnc
! in 1916 the kaiser made a speech 10
| carried to war hospital many miles
| said:
TT is the most important grief Of
my life hat I am unable to take q
more active part in this war. u Is my
| earnest desire to take my place in the
trenches and to deal such blows at our
enemies as my sge and strength would
permit.
II could take my place with the
youngest of you aid I promise that
| would leave my mark on the enemy
But the inscrutable Almighty h1s will.
ed otherwise. Into my care has beer
committed by divine destiny the lead.
ership Of our country, its armies and
its forces on land and sea-
My life must be conserved carefully
for the welfare of Germany in order &c
| carry out the duties assigned to me b.
| divine appointment"