The German Emperor as Shown in His Public Utterances

890-June

OF THE R

, May

become as despotic as Frederick the Great. What a blessing that we have a parliamentary government!" He had likewise prophesied that the Emperor would be his own chancellor, and he had discovered in his own case that the prophecy was a true one. In the spring of this year, after numerous misunderstandings, Bismarck had himself been forced into retirement, and henceforth his name wi

ulation of matters of common concern and the protection of their interests in negotiations with employers and with the organs of my government. By such institutions the laborers are to be enabled to give free and peacef

cution, though chambers of labor have since been

employees. Dawson holds that unwillingness to mediate lies with the employers. During the year 1905, 406 courts acted as boards of conciliation on 350 occasions, all told, and in only 128 cases were they success

his policy to check the growing disaffection

ough measures for the army are strongly ur

d Gent

islative session of the Reichstag. I earnestly hope that you may succeed in finding a satisfactory solution for the important problems of legislation whi

day as a day of rest for the laboring man, as well as the limitation of woman and child labor in accordance with consideration for humanity and with regard to the natural laws of development. The governments of the affiliated states are convinced that the proposals in this connection made by the last Reichstag can, according to their present content, be given legal effectiveness without harm to other interests. In this connection, however, numerous other provisions have shown themselves unsatisfactory and capable of improvement. To th

, likewise, an organization of these which shall make it possible to use them as mediators in cases o

n recognizes the serious earnestness with which the government is striving to render their status satisfactory, so much the more will they be conscious of the dangers which must arise from their insistence upon extravagant and impossible demands. In

on the matter, among the states of Europe where similar economic conditions prevail, as to how far a general recognition of the legislative problems relative to the safety of the working man can be established and brought to pass. I am compelled to gratefully acknowledge that these suggestions have found favor in all states concerned and especially in those where the same idea was already being agitated and was approaching execution. The co

man people recognize that it is the problem of the empire to preserve peace by cultivating the alliances already concluded for our defense, and the friendly relations now existing with all foreign powers, in order to further prosperity and civilization. For the accompli

n so far as this was possible within the limits prescribed by the law. Nevertheless, what we could do within these limits was so little that we cannot postpone a consideration of the whole question without danger to ourselves. An increase of the present peace str

, during the last months, made progress, thanks to the self-sacrificing activity of our officers and officials who are stationed there. The co

f salary for a part of the officials of the realm, which has long been projected and which has become ever more pressing, can no longer be delaye

sound guarantees for the inner welfare of the Fatherland will then have be

THE NINTH

, Septemb

be remembered that in 1864 Bismarck succeeded in enlisting Austria to aid Prussia in a war upon Denmark, which was at that time deprived of Schleswig-Holstein, the harbor of Kiel,

s under the command of your Excellency [General von Leszc

h a parade means to an army corps. I know very well what arduous preliminary labor is involved, the agitation, the attention, the exertion of the troops. I know very well ho

riegs

elt when my adjutant could call to me that the Emperor had nodded as the compa

you have marshalled before me has a bearing and discipline which I must demand unconditionally from every army corps.

which our armies, united with those o

ctation that here and hereafter, in war as in peace, it will m

TH AGRICULTU

November

faithful subjects. Besides his interest in the sea, he has also for many years been much interested in agriculture; and his estate in East Prussia has been in a sense an experiment station. He prides himself on being a pioneer and in personally su

ies may be inflicted and in the penalties themselves. I next inquired why these women workers-it was especially girls working with the thrashing-machines-were killed, and it usually appeared that the girls were caught by their dresses in the transmission pulleys and so became entangled in them. Then I asked if there were no means of protection there. Yes, indeed, they said, according to the police regulations the pulleys must have a cover or a box must be put over them, but in each of these cases this had not been attended to. There also appeared here, on the one side, a certain indifference either on the part of the owner or of the person who was conducting the work

mployers,

ion as Professor Schmoller. I believe that it is not sufficient that the state should lay upon the worker the obligation to be

the owner cannot burden himself with it then he should have such officials as would have sufficient influence with the worker to make him be careful. We must not forget what, for the most part, such a worker is like and what he knows of machinery. Frequently he knows only that it cuts or that it is otherwise dangerous. A certain grip is shown him-he m

of agricultural machinery that we should work toward proper supervision over

idents in agricultural operations and that particularly in all provinces where horses are employed accidents are frequent. I am therefore p

reat pleasure to me to take

E-LOR

March

en her presence in Paris became known to the League of French Patriots and to the germanophobe Déroulède, who immediately started a violent agitation and demonstrations against Germany. The artists withdrew their promises under the pressure of outraged patriotic opinion, and the situation became so tense that the Empress was forced to depart very hastily in a manner that suggested flight. The incident tended to make bad feeling on both sides and reacted unfavorably upon the attitude of the empire toward the former French provinces. The difficulties of circulation were increased, and the regulations about passes were made particularly trying. These difficulties were removed in 1899, but the provinces continued to protest, as they were not given equal rights with the other German states and have not enjoyed them up to the present. In May, 1911, a new so-called constitution was given to Alsace-Lorraine. The executive power is exercised by the Emperor in the name of the empire; the province has three votes in the Bundesrat, which are so restricted that they give very little satisfaction to Alsace-Lorraine and are so far under the control of Prussia that they give considerable dissatisfaction to other German states. The Emperor appoints officials, including the Statt

bons on the situation in Alsace-Lorraine immed

ournals, clubs, and organizations of all kinds have been annoyed constantly by police interference. Their editors, artists, and managers have been brought frequently into court. Zislin and Hansi, celebrated caricaturists, have found themselves provoked to bolder

nce the minds of the growing generation against the 'souvenir de France,' and to impr

an newspapers in Alsace-Lorraine and, in fact, throughout Germany was redoubled in 1911. Parents were warned of the horrible treatment accorded to the poor boys who were misguided enough to throw away their citiz

ols. Last year the Empress of Germany visited a girls' school near Metz which is one of the best German schools in the Reichsland. As she was leaving she t

Alsacian towns have served to turn against the empire many thousands whom another policy might have won; for it must be remembered that by no means all the inhabitants of the Reichsland have been by birt

re has been no Rome in his political vision. As for conceptions of tolerati

asing understanding which my good-will and my interest in the development of your home country has begotten in the minds of its representatives. I am also pleased to accept this assurance that the peopl

ot too distant future our relations may make possible the alleviation of conditions on the western boundary. This hope will be the sooner realized the more the people of Alsace-Lorraine are convince

IN THE

Novembe

The present somewhat striking pronouncement was delivered at a time when his feeling toward the Socialists, who had been guilty of no particular outr

ys frankly that men who serve in the army serve him and his advantage a

re prepared, all that abyss of degradation which they reach when they promise obedience. Like a bold hypnotizer, he tests the degree o

ends everything which can be holy for a man of our time, and men-Christians, liberals, cultured

ing Socialists led him later to tone down his utterances, though on one subsequent occasio

the Regiment

ror to your last breath. You are still too young to understand all this. You will, however, little by little, be made familiar with its significanc

ry of your Fatherland; remember that the German army must be armed against the internal as well as the external foe. More and more unbelief and discontent raise their heads in the Fatherland, a

Breslauer Lokalanze

r Zeitung, the second p

irections and instructions given you. You have sworn loyalty to me; that means, children of my guard, that you are now my soldiers, you have given yourselves up to me, body and soul; there is for you but one enemy, and that is

g from the Berlin paper Das Volk, according

my most high command; you have only one enemy, and that is my enemy! And so I may sometime-which God fo

OR'S FIRS

, July

ovember, 1892, a new army bill was presented, to run for six years, fixing the peace footing at 492,068. All infantrymen were to serve two years. In the debates of 1887 it was announced that Russia was an ally of Germany. The failure to renew the neutrality agreement with that power and the growing rapprochement between France and Russia seems to have been most in the Emperor's mind in calling for an increase. The increased appropriation of 1887 was covered by a tax on spirits, sugar, and grain. The new increase was to be

nfederated governments, it is my desire at the beginning

afety and its future led to the decision to dissolve the Reichstag and, by the calling of new representatives to attain the end recognized as necessary. Since the proposal of this law the political situation of Europe has undergone no change. To my great satisfaction, the relations of the empire to the foreign states are altogether and everywhere friendly and free from any cloud. The organized military force of Germany, however, compares still more unfavorably with that of our neighbors than it did last year. Since her g

ongly expressed during the discussion of the former bill are taken account of, and, in accordance with this, demands made upon the personal

ng, that the bill should be decided upon with all possible despatch, in order that this year's recruiting can be undertaken on the n

the discussion of the bill, the confederated governments will

e question of making good the deficit is still the object of continued discussions. I expect that a proposal will be set before you by the beginning of the next winter session in which is expressed, even more strongly than in the former bill, the principle that the providing of the necess

their contemporaries and which, if they build in the same spirit as their fathers, will guarantee to the generations to come the greatness and the happiness of the empire. To protect the glorious acquisitions with which God has blessed us in our struggle for independence is our most sacred duty. We can, however, on

formal address from the t

nd bestow upon you His blessing to the end that you may bring to succe

AL IN

eptembe

own Prince of Italy, paid a visit to Metz. To Burgomaster

d if I could not come last year, as I wished,[7] I see, nevertheles

se of the cholera scare, the imperial man?uvres had not taken place in the previous year, 18

ps to pass before it. Metz and my army corps are a corner-stone in the military might of Germany, desti

is because as a landholder in Lorraine I could not do otherwise, since my subjects in this province wish to have me there. In token of my imperial favor I extend to the burgomaster a golden ch

TION O

October

f the battle of Leipzig the Emperor, in the presence of a large number of princes, including the young King of Servia, turned over flags to these troops. His statement that the only pillar upon which the empire rested was the army was strongly resented by many of his loyal subjects of the empire who happened to be merely peaceful merchants or farmers or laborers. The Emperor was doubtless

ious victories under the eyes of the great, heroic Emperor, his father, and to cover the flags which were consecrated in 1861 with glory. They were nailed to their staffs in the rooms in which the history of Brandenburg and Prussia is immortalized in paintings. The monuments of the rulers and of the generals who created the glory of Prussia have looked down upon them. These flags have now been brought before the monument of the Prussian King who focussed the eyes of the world upon them in years of fierce conflict and whose last breath was a wish of blessing for his a

ror Fred

f unconditional obedience toward the war lord against all inward and outward enemies. Even as heretofore, may the blessing of the Most High rest u

REC

ecember

the recruits for the guard. He is inclined to talk to them usually in very simple language, as here, for insta

ning the defense of the Fatherland. You wear the uniform of the Emperor; you are thereby preferred over other men, and take your rank equally with your comrades of the army and navy; you receive a special place and assume obligations. By many you will be envied because of the uni

against the Romans. They had climbed over the mountain and found themselves suddenly face to face with the huge masses of the army. Then they realized what a difficult moment was before them. They first prayed, giving God the glory, and then, bound together with chains, side by side, they fell upon the enemies

ING OF A

March

ons. The present is a fair type of a number of the shorter speeches. Very soon they were to become occasions in which he was to broach the

n to the enemy. The names of the ships which belong to the same class are taken from the old Germanic sagas. Therefore thou also shalt hark back to the ancient time of our ancestors, to the powerful divinity who was worshipped and feared by all our German seafaring forefathers and whose mighty realm stretch

TO B

sruh, Mar

the Emperor's policy with regard to labor legislation. With regard to the attitude toward Russia there was likewise disagreement, and Bismarck opposed the Emperor's visit to Constantinople. But aside from these questions of policy, there were deep psychological incompatibilities. Crabbed age and romantic youth could not live together. Furthermore, the Emperor wished to take the credit for initiating and carrying through his own policies. He was not content to be a shadow king. Bismarck, after nearly forty years of service, was not willing to be a puppet chancellor. He insisted on the form of cabinet government decreed in 1852. The Emperor's disposition of mind may be gathered from the following extracts from a speech delivered shortly before Bismarck's retirement, and it should be remembered that at this time Bismarck was far from being an enthusiastic supporter of certain measures then taking shape in the mind of William II. On the 5th of March, 1890, the Emperor announced to the Brandenburgers: "All those who wish to help me in this work I bid heartily welcome, whoever they may be; but all those (whoever they may be) who oppose me in this work I shall smash to pieces" (zerschmettern). Bismarck was f

Hig

rst duty is to do honor to its comrades, to its old officers, whose efficiency made it possible for it

ecially that standard which reminds us of the fame of Brandenburg and Prussia, which dates from the time of the Great Elector and is consecrated by the blood shed at Ma

o to wield; the symbol of that great, powerful period of building whose mortar was blood and iron; that weapon which is never dismayed and which, when necessary, in the hands of kings and princes will defend against internal foes that unity of the Fatherland

ghness, Prince Bismarck, Duke of

eplied wit

y military position with regard to your Majesty does not permit me t

HE EMPEROR W

June 2

making possible competition with other nations. Although the Emperor William Canal was an idea of Bismarck's, his name is not here mentioned. Emperor William II ha

the Great, I baptize the ca

ing words: "In the name of the Triune God, to the honor of Emperor Wi

this toast a

d you all, the guests of the empire, most heartily welcome. We wish to express our inmost thanks for the interest you hav

of this undertaking. In the past century the Eider Canal was built, which, while it affords a wonderful example of the ability of that day, still, as it was intended only for the passage

way of its accomplishment. Joyfully and confidently the affiliated rulers of the empire, as well as the Reichstag, followed the imperial initiative, and for eight years the work was industriously carried on which, as it approached completion, aroused in ever-increasing measure the public interest. What technic on the basis of its great development has been able to accomplish

of the canal to the peaceful trading of the nations with each other, and it will give us great satisfaction if its increasing use shall prov

I have the right to see in it the complete justification of our efforts directed toward the righteous maintenance of peace. Germany will also place the work inaugurated to-day in th

iendly sovereigns and powe