Year: 1874

UoTm1ny anu the A0IScfs


Our intelligent and accurate correspondent
in Frankfort-on- Main sends us a most
interesting letter in reference to the recent
celebration of the seventy seventh birthday of
the Emperor of Germany There is q senti-
mental phase about the character Of this ven-
cradle and remarkable man which deeply in
terests us. Old age is always beautiful, just
as the sun has no radiance to compare with
its setting hues Here is an old man, the
descendant of Frederick the Great who was
born when Napoleon was young general
fighting his way to fame, who served against
Napoleon more than sixty years ago, riding
into Paris in the train Of the conquering
army of Waterloo, and more than half a Gen.
tury later leading his own forces in o VIC
torious campaign against the Third Emperor.
A representative of extreme royalism, divine
right and the severest traditions Of rank and
power, it has fallen to him to direct his people
in the completion Of that nationality which
thoughtful men, who love Germany, believe to
be only the first step towards federal repub-
lie extending from the Baltic to the Danube.


Our correspondent alludes to the Emperor's
earnest speech about the Army bill, his reso-
strength, no matter what the Parliament may
do, and makes a felicitous comparison be-
tween His Majesty and Goethe. "More
light" cried the poet, as he died. 'sMore
men!" cries the Emperor, as in the course Of
nature he is about to pass from the scene.
Tho al Int
tanning his army. He has told Europe,
through his Lieutenant, Moitke, that Germany
will have to keep her forces ''ready to march"
for fifty years to preserve Alsace and Lorraine
We think this a terrible price to pay for con-
quest, for it means four hundred thousand
troops in Germany, the same number in
France, nearly three hundred thousand in
Austria, more than two hundred thousand in
Italy and nearly eight hundred thousand in
Russia In other words, to enable the Emperor
to hold two provinces, which are French in
feeling, hope interest and passion, against
their will and in defiance Of the public opinion
of civilization, five European nations are COM
PEELED to keep more than two millions OF men
under arms and to pay annually for their
subsistence three hundred millions OF dollars.
We believe in united Germany, and have
welcomed every step taken by the EN-
peror to consolidate the union; but it really
seems that this is fearful burden to be i'm
posed upon Europe.


Apart from this there is much that is beau
tiful in the character of this stern, upright,
resolute, kindly, narrOw-minded old King.
Men have sneered at him as mere puppet in
the hands of Bismarck. To this he has re-
piled by raising Bismarck to the rank of
prince, by covering him with wealth and digs
nifty, thus showing to the world that priIcely
quality of sustaining Minister Of genius
against all enemies. No one sees more plainly
than the Emperor that the purposes of these
critics was to injure Germany by exciting his
jealousy and leading him to dismiss from his
councils the foremost statesman OF Europe.
This fidelity Of the Emperor to Bismarck is
one of the finest traits in his character He
had but to say the word and the great Chan
cellor would have vanished from view and be-
come an ordinary diplomatist or politician.
But he felt that as King he was above jeal-
OuSlcb, dAu tAitI uo lOut, 10 DloiluICh ScTNcu
Germany and his royal house he did not care
who received the credit from a chattering, gos-
siping world. This and other qualities have
endeared the Emperor to Germany, and, as
will be seen in our correspondents letter. his
birthday was the occasion for unusual festiv-
tiles. The poets exhausted even the German
vocabulary to find adjectives of homage and
admiration, and we see tuneful Germans hail
ing him as the ''hero scion," the ''battle
guider,' ''Germany's safeguard and ''the
highest lord OF war;" To have won this affec-
tionate loyalty from a great people is the
highest honor that can be gained by any king,
and the venerable monarch must be infinitely
cheered and comforted by it as he looks upon
the dark valley into which he must soon de-
scend, even as Barbarossa and Frederick, with
all their triumphs and glory, descended before
him