Emperor William

The emperor of Germany died last Friday. In some respects lie was a very rernarkable man. He lived to the great age of 91 , although ten years ago his face and arms were filled with buckshot from the gun of a socialist, and other attetnpts were made to assassinate him. He was a man kingly in appearance, of a perfect constitution, and of a simplicity and cheerfulness which relieved him from the severe effects of mental and physical strain. Coming to the throne of Prussia distrusted and opposed by a large element in his kingdom, he became the idol of his people, and did a great work in uniting the Germán people. He had a military education which began in the last campaign against the great Napoleon, and he rose rapidly in his profession. His brother being king of Prussia without children, William entered political life as crown prince. At that time the democratie spirit was spreading rapidly in that little kingdom. William then, as ever during his life, believed in the old dogma of the divine right of kings. He made himself extremely unpopular by opposing the liberal party and by upholding despotic power. The king was offered the crown of all GermaDy, but declined because of his fear of Austria. William approved the declination because the crown was offered by a popular assembly. He believed that kings secured crowns rightfully by conquest or by divine right. His unpopularity was so great that he retired to England for a time. Twenty-eight years ago, the king of Prussia died, and William took the crown. He was 63 years old, an age at which most men cease active work ; but he was just entering upon his great career. It was his theory that tbe parliament had no right to debate any question relative to the supplies for the army. The army belongs to the king. But his parliament thought differently. Popular liberty was in the air and the people were longing to breathe it in. There was a great Btruggle which added to the king's unpopularity, when, in 1862, he dismissed his ministry, and made Count BiBmarck prime minister. These two men than began that policy which humbled Austria and France, and united the many Gei man states into the great power known today as Germany. By a masterly policy in foreign affairs, they drew the attention of the people away from home affairs. The pride of the people was so touched that liberal grants of money were made for the army. All reading people know how William and Bismarck built up the greatest military system that the world has ever seen. Back in 1857, when he was regent, William had brought three remarkable generáis about him, the best known of whom is Von Moltke. They were very geniuses of military organization and discipline. Under the diplomatic victories of Bismarck and the blaze of glory about the magnificent army, the Germán people forgot their dreams of liberty and almost worshipped the grand old autocrat who was the cause of their national greatness. In 1871 when he was occupying the French royal palace, he was crowned emperor of united Germany, the strongest military power of the world. It is idle to speculate whether the enaperor's snccess has or has not been best for the Germán people. The uniting of the Germán ,states into one great power, seems Lo have conferred some advantages. But the question is now, Shall the aspirations of a large tion of the Germán people for a more liberal form of government be longer stifled? The Germán parliament now contains a small but strong element which looka to a constitutional monarchy if not something more liberal. So long as Bismarck remains at the head, the oíd policy will not be reversed. But the new emperor, Frederick III, should he live, may pursue a different conree, as it is popnlarly supposed that he is in sympathy with the liberal side and is willing to grant a constitution in which the rights of the people shall be protected. A Detroit daily, in a long editorial on a subject relating to Mr. Blaine, spoke of the warm friendship between him and Congressman Reed of Maine. A prominent Ann Arbor citizen says that tc happens to have positive knowledge of the fact that Blaine and Reed will hardly speak to each other.