The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-06-05
THURSDAY. JUNE 5, 1871
ENEa A GENTLEMAN

War propaganda led most OF US
TO thirk OF Kaiser Wilhelm as
anything but a gentleman, YET
writers who knew him say he was
a gentleman and i very brilliant
one. Always he denied the guilt
of Germany in causing the first
World War. but like the child wiki
a new toy. he had a powerful mill
tary machine which he naturally
wanted 10 try and he tried il. He
may not have been technically at
fault. but he was quite human in
his struggle for power and fame.
II was his habi to praise those
he liked and IL say little against
those be disliked. He was bold
and ambitious ruler. but he lived
a quiet life OF seclusion after his
downfall. Ousted from power he
was a commoner with viewpoint
quite different than the Kaiser.
That explains differences OF opin-
ion between those who knew him
before and those who knew him
only after he had fled from Ger
many.
We sang Rngs Of hate during the
World War. but now that the man
we blamed for the war is dead we
relent and quote friendly writings.
Poultney BiEelow Is one Of these.
The Kaiser has r.ean record and
challenges honest investigation"
says Bigelow. He gave Germany
80 years OF peace. Moreover,
those years were prosperous ones
and also replete with national ex-
pansion in every field OF modern
civilization and culture.
yet the press OF the world ap-
pears TO have conspired against
him. Perhaps his very virtue rails
ed his enemies, ror he has been
almost alone amongst great mon.
archs in his obedience TO the law
OF conjugal chastity.
On Feb. 2. 1870 Bigelow says
the Russo-Finnish war had caused
the exiled emperor to write him
suggesting that Germany and the
Allies make peace and join in a
war against Russia.
The magnificent stand OF the
Firms has smashed the MIN bus Of
Bolshevism and set people thinking
with the result that the wish for
peace Is gaining ground" Wilhelm
wrote. THE belligerents should
stop lighting and join their forces
TO help the Firms. They should
fight in one line TO rid the world
and civilization OF Bolshevism."
On his return from a visit 10
Doom in April 1887. Bigelow said
thesformer Kaiser did not 'radiate"
much enthusiasm for the present
Germany. After another visit a
year later. Bigelow represented
his friend as dependent upon Hitler
for money 10 pay his household ex.
penses. He said an accountant
went to Doom to check ali his
bills.
Bigelow gave a glimpse OF Will
helms life in exile by asserting he
does not set half as good a Ia
Bile as most OF my neighbors al
Malden-on-Hudson N. ". Usual
ly he merely has soup. joint and
a simple pudding at dinner, but he
never complains"
During the latter visit the two
old friends spent a day trimming
trees.
We like to think OF the deposeo
leader as a quiet country gentle
man enjoying his trees and biz
garden. but al the same time il :!
hard TO forget his part in thu
World War. And with that thou h
in mind we shed no tears over thu
fact that he was forced down e
the level OF people about him whit
frequently made a meal OF soup
More soup and less glamour baci
% 1914 would have changed histor,
then just as II would now But al
leaders seem TO follow the sam,
course. No matter how poor the,
may have been. or how inconspicu
Gus. the taste Of power and publ.t
confidence brings disastrous trans
formation and another war is IN
der way as soon as new genera
ton OF young men is raised TO fgh;
The naughty. arrogant attitud,
OF the old time royalty is pardon
able In a man like the Kaiser wit
was born and raised in that atmos
phere. He knew nothing else. I
is the more to his credit that h.
camo to appreciate the advantage
OF democracy for the people OF BIZ
nation. even though late.
.. Many German people will fee
Genuine sorrow as the forme
Kaiser goes TO his final rest.