“The anarchists and socialists, and the turbulent and vicious among our German-American fellow-citizens, were more or less miserable over the celebration of Kaiser Wilhelm’s ninetieth birthday, last week; but decent Americans of German origin or free-born may well have taken pleasure in drinking the old gentleman’s health. No earnest republican can unreservedly admire even the best of emperors—or, indeed, wholly understand the imperial idea. But, since there are emperors, it is desirable that they should be good of their kind; and there is no kingly ruler in the world to-day who is a better man, after his own pattern, than the white-haired old soldier who has just ended his ninetieth year.
“And even the Anarchist who would not drink the old Kaiser’s health ought to reflect—if an Anarchist can reflect—that he has little right to complain of the good old Kaiser when he cries out against the government of Germany. Wilhelm is Emperor, in truth; but in Germany there is to-day a higher than the Emperor—the Emperor’s humble servant, the Chancellor of the Empire, a stern, shrewd, stubborn, overbearing, foxy, sinister, loyal, fearless old man, named Bismarck, who holds the government of Germany in the hollow of his hand, and is the one arbiter of peace and war in all Europe. It is this original and powerful man who practically stands for Germany in her dealings with other nations; and it is he who to-day holds the balance of power in Continental Europe. His fame will outlive that of the honest old Emperor. Kaiser Wilhelm will figure in the school text-books with Henry the Fourth of France and Elizabeth of England; but Bismarck’s name will live forever in the literature of politics; and even in fiction as a type more strong, deep and subtle than any in the annals of statecraft. We use the name of Machiavelli in familiar comparison—but whom shall we ever compare with Bismarck?”—Puck, March 30th, 1887.
FREDERICK III. OF GERMANY—THE END OF A BRAVE LIFE.
PUCK, June 27th, 1888.
It will be well for Germany if, in the doubtful years that lie ahead of her, she has not reason to regret the loss of the brave and high-minded man whose sad reign came to an end two weeks ago. Frederick the Third inherited his father’s strength and his lofty sense of duty, yet his character was made at once broader and gentler by his better understanding of the spirit of his day. He was eminently the man for the hour, and the courage with which he enunciated his principles and took his stand for tolerance and modern ideas, under circumstances which might well have served as an excuse for inaction, showed that he would not have been unequal to greater emergencies. Had he lived, he would have made the most of peace, as his father made the most of war, and his talent complemented that of William, and was singularly fitted to the duties from which he was so soon taken.
