The German Emperor as Shown in His Public Utterances

888-Octobe

FICIAL ACT O

drichskron,

ter a reign of only a few months, died on June 15 of the same year. The present Emperor, who was born on January 27, 1859, was, therefore, t

evidence of this desire on his part and will quote characteristic sayings of his ancestors to the effect that the army is the "rocher de bronze," that it is "

pire, even including the Prussian nobility, this close relationship with the army has never been clouded by even a momentary estrangement. More than any other one subject, army reviews have provided the occasion for his speeches. If but a few of these are given here it is because his sentiments in this regard have suffered no change and these addresses are largely repetitions of his sense of satisfaction and the expression of his good-will. That he intended to be the virtual leader of his own host is per

THE YEAR OF HIS

ge

lives ever in your hearts, you are called upon to suffer another heavy blow through the death this morning, at f

es me at the head of the army, and it is from a heart stirre

r I know what a sense for honor and duty has been implanted in the army by my glorious a

tands before the eyes of all of you, the glorious war lord, worthy of all honor-a spectacle more beautiful than any other and one which speaks most tellingly to our hearts; I would direct your gaze to my dear father,

or one another, and so shall we hold together indissolub

be mindful of the fact that the eyes of my forefathers look down upon me from that other world an

ll

richskron, J

Y PE

, June

ts in his character with disapproval. However that may be, it is true that the people regarded Frederick in a different light from that in which they have come to regard his son. In reading the speeches of William II one is conscious of the fact that he is speaking from a certain eminence, that the Emperor never forgets that he enjoys the advantage of position. He has, therefore, put between himself and his people a certain distance which did not exist in the case of his father. The father treated his subjects as if he were one o

, he accomplished his royal duties seemed to leave room for the hope that he would be spared still longer to the Fatherland. God has willed it otherwise. To the royal sufferer whose heart was moved by all that was great and beautiful, only a few months were allotted in which he might display upon the throne th

following the example of my father, to be a righteous and gentle prince, to foster piety and the fear of God, to maintain peace

to their kings. I, too, count upon this fidelity, which has ever been preserved inviolable toward my fathers in all times of trial and danger; for I am conscious that I reciprocate it whole-heartedly, as a faithful prince of a faithful people, and that we are

ll

, June

LARATION

June 2

nd expresses the hope that he may further develop friendly relations with Russia. In this he was to achieve but little success, and a few years later the agreement which bound Russia to observe neutrality in case Germany were involved in war was allowed to lapse, much to the disgust of Bismarck, who at that time had been superseded by Caprivi. Frederick the Great had warned his successors that in the future, in case Prussia wished to wage any war, she would first have to assure herself of the neutrality of Russia. Bismarck had followed this policy and had established it on the basis of an agreement. As the relationship to Russia was to be of particular consequence, it will be interesting to have before us

capitals. Bismarck, who planned his foreign relations on the basis of race psychology and possible future clashes of interests, opposed this strenuously. The visit to St. Petersburg (19th to 24th of July, 1888) gave rise to certain unpleasant scenes and was only returned by the Czar in a very perfunctory manner fifteen months later (October 11, 1889). The effect of the friendly attentions shown the Czar on this occasion was doubt

ancellor were to disagree. The former felt that he could easily master the situation, as may be seen from his remark to Bismarck: "Leave the Social Democrats to me." He was doubtless sincerely concerned for the welfare of the laborer and recognized in it one of the sources of the prosperity of the s

d Gent

r the death of his Majesty, Emperor William I, I am called upon to mount the throne, arouses the same feeling in the hearts of all Germans, and our grief has found a symp

uccessors when, after serious wars, he ruled with a love of peace. This same example the reign of my

s King, to follow in that same path by which my late grandfather won for himself the trust of his allies, the love of the German people, and the

pire within. The Constitution of the empire forms the highest of these laws. To guard and defend it and all those rights which it secures to both of the legislative bodies[3] of the nation and t

srat and

ly do I take to heart in its fullest application the message published by him on November 17, 1881,[4] and shall proceed in that spirit to bring it about that the legislation for the working population shall make more secure the protection which, in accordance with the principles of Christian ethics, it can aff

drastic measures of repression. He was now to initiate a policy of attempting to kill it with kindness. In spite of certain admirable provisions, this too was to fail. The Social Democrats had learned from bitter experience that they did not enjoy the good

l claim. In our attempts to this end we are sure of the support of all the affiliated governments and count upon the support of the Reichstag without distinction of parties. To this end a draft of a bill for the protection of laborers against accidents, which was presented by the affiliated governments in the previous session, will be reformulated in view of the discussions held in the Reichstag and will be offered for further consideration. As a supplement to it, a project will be brought forward which proposes a similar organization of the funds for laboring men's sick insurance. But those, too, who on account of age or infirmity are no longer able to wo

and social development proceeds according to law and to meet with f

allies, forces war upon us. The army is to make our peace secure; yet if that should, nevertheless, be threatened, the army will be able to re-establish it with honor. And it will be able to do so by reason of the strength which it has received from the last army bill, w

public opinion of the entire German people supports this alliance, and it is founded upon the European law of nations, as it prevailed undisputed until 1866. Similar historical relations, and the fact that we have similar national needs to-day, ally us wi

ersonal friendship for the Russian Emperor and the friendly relations which have existed for a hundred years with t

e as in the care for our army and rejoice in the traditional relations with for

t for an appreciable time we may be allowed to preserve and strengthen through peaceful labor w

OF THE R

November

d German states and in cultivating the acquaintance of foreign rulers. His main purpose, as he tells

ted benefits, it had failed to disarm the Social Democrats, and the party had continued to increase. They complained that the proportion of the cost borne by them was too great, and, as they had been previously and were soon again to be treated as enemies, they were

d Gent

re have experienced in the course of the present year. The sorrow over this loss will never be wholly extinguished during the lifetime of the present generat

xists in you to the same degree, I give you my greeting

, with absolute trust, devoted to the empire and its institutions and find the pledge of safety in their union. From such testimony you have doubtless come to the conclusion, no less satisfying to you than to me,

the customs union of the empire has now been realized. I see in this the blessed fruit of our combined efforts. May the expectations which we count upon

commercial policies, I stand ready to meet their proposal. The negotiations have been conducted through the offices of representatives from the states bordering upon Switzerland, and their result consists in a further agreement through which the treaty regulations for

nstituted in the last few years, with your co-operation, in the way of tariffs and internal revenues, surplus receipts may be expected, and upon this basis we shall not only be prov

is not yet relieved, nevertheless, as I look forward to the possibility which has lately appeared of a greater utilization of certa

will be laid before you for your decision. It is to be hoped that the enfranchising of associations with

remedy. The necessary preliminary investigations for this have so far progressed as to make it possible,

however, of the executive power to strive with all its faculties toward the mitigation of existing industrial grievances and through organized measures to emphasize the fact that love of our neighbor, which has its foundations in Christianity itself, should be a recognized duty of the entire state. The difficulties w

nt has known for a hundred years that the fulfilment of this obligation must begin with combating the hunting of slaves and the trade in negroes. I have, therefore, sought and concluded an

y the sorrows of a war, even of a victorious one. In this conviction I have looked upon it as my duty soon after I ascended the throne to greet not only my affiliated rulers within the realm but also the friendly neighboring sovereigns. I have sought to find an understanding with them concerning the fulfilment of this trust

AND THE ST

, May

sh and Westphalian coal districts between the miners and their employers. He personally received delegations from both sides. Th

eir wishes in person. You have, however, placed yourselves in the wrong, because your agitation is unlawful for no other reason than the fact that the fourteen days of warning have not yet expired, after which

workers have seized upon organs of the authorities and upon property which did not belong to them and have even, in individual cases, offered resistance to the militar

r and peace, or should the agitation ally itself with the Social Democrats, then I should not be in a position to reconcile your wishes with my good-will as ruler. For, to me, every Social Democrat is synonymous with an enemy of the realm and of t

e your comrades to reflection. Above all, however, you must not, under

THE KIN

, May

e to Berlin to return the Emperor's visit. A state banquet was held,

people our heartiest thanks for the proof of the fri

at they have been able to conduct themselves with hono

her Majesty, the Queen; to the health of your brave troops as well as to the unchanging friendship with the house of Savoy, w

FLEET AND TH

ay, Augus

een Victoria. On the same day he was present at a regatta on Sandown Ba

man?uvres of the fleet, which I consider the finest in the world. Germany possesses an army which answers to her needs, and if the British nation posse

NGLIS

t, Augus

to have begun in colonial and commercial rivalries in the last decades of the nineteenth century and to have been sharpened by events in China and especially by the Boer War. The situation became more acute after the Morocco incident, in 1904-5, and when on that occasion England sided with France she was by a large portion of the German people definitely aligned

mander-in-chief of the English army, as a member of the 28th Regiment, since this sa

ad been sealed in blood, my honored gran

ver the possibility of counting upon volunteers is doubted,

the Prussian and British blo

AR AT

October

onsider so," but to many there will seem to be something matter-of-fact in the Czar's reply, which is printed below. This friendship between the rulers of the two neighboring countries w

e continuation of the friendship which has existed for more than one hundred years betwee

ied in French

artage entièrement les sentiments que Vous venez d'expr

AN ENGLIS

s, Octobe

much impressed by the sight of English ships. He recalls the memory on many occasions. As will be plain later, he early conceived the idea and realized the necessity of a powerful fleet. As this is

my earliest youth, when as a boy I ran about on the wharves at Portsmouth, I was much interested in British ships. My inspection of the ships to-day has afforded me great satisfaction, and I co