The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1888. THE KAISER'S MANIFESTO.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1875, 23 June 1888, Page 2

The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1888. THE KAISER'S MANIFESTO.

The new Kaißer's manifesto ib not very reassuring, though he talks of respecting treaties and proclaims for peace. His cry is for the army, not for the welfare of his subjects, and ikis quite evident he has m view the troubl/Ag of the peace of the Empire and tae Continent as soon as he feels his power more thoroughly. The new German Emperor is military m his instincts, and has a leaning to the achievement of glory m the field of battle. He says m his manifesto : — " I and the army belong each to the other. We are born of one another and will stand together m peace or »torm." Such an announcement coming after the sage and peaceful utterances of his father falls ominously upon the ear. When the old Kaiser Wilhelm was breathing his last, just a little over three months ago, he exhorted "Fritz Lieber," to adopt an amicable attitude towards Russia and other Powers, and " Fritz Lieber " as soon as he found himself Emperor of a powerful nation issued a manifesto that he would rule m the spirit of his father, and that it .would be one of his first duties to maintain the efficiency of the army and navy, especially the latter, as it had important daties to perform m assisting to maintain colonies" which would be acquired as fields for German immigration. Ho was careless of glory, and it would be his constant aim to secure the comfort and best interests of his people. He said also m his proclamation :— " I shall make it my whole endeavor to continue the fabric m the spirit m which it was formed — to make Germany a centre of peace. To my faithful people I offer my unbounded confidence, for I am convinced that, on the basiß of the unbreakable bond between the sovereign and his people, which, independently of every change m life or State, forms the unalterable inheritance of the House of HoheDzollern, my crown rests henceforth as securely as the devotion of ray country to the government to which I am now called, and of which I now solemnly promise to be the faithful King, both m happiness and m sorrow. God grant me His blessing and strength to carry out tin's work, to which my life shall henceforth be devoted." No word hero of martial glory and being bound up m the army. In the two manifestos there is a striking dijOfarenpe, One philosophical and full of anxiety for the peace and prosperity of the Empire, the ofchor with no reference to the people but only to the army. '[ Vxibqv Fritz " had no liking for martial display, and though he perved his country m the field and did his duty manfully, it was not military distinction he sought to secure to himpelf, bqt only the settlement pf the country m peace, once the enemies of hi» Fatherland had been subdued. Peace may still bo maintained, but it will be very slight profocation which will disturb and overturn it when those who are m power m Germany now are only too anxious to engage with France who has shown a disposition to be pert to a nation, who, but a few years ago, broke her down almost entirely.