KAISER AND GOD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 907, 29 August 1910, Page 5

KAISER AND GOD.

HIS' CHOSEN INSTRUMENT. GERMANY MUCH UPSET BY A NEW SPEECHNO RESPONSIBILITY TO MAISj. By Telesraph—Press Association—Oopyrleht '' (Eec, August 28, 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, August 2". The Kaiser has made a . remarkable speech at Konigsberg, tho great fortress town in East Prussia, which has caused a flutter throughout Europe, 'and has aroused much concern in Germany as to its meaning. Referring to the ■ connection of his grandfather with Konigsberg, tho Kaiser said it was there that the Emperor William I. had placed the . crown of Prussia on his "own head. That crown was conferred by tho Grace of God alone, and not by Parliament or popular decisions, and the Emperor was tho chosen instrument of Heaven. Continuing, the ■'Kaiser said:—"We. must always keep our 'armaments ready and in a state of perfection in view of the vast progress which has been. made by neighbouring Powers." The Emperor then touched on tho position of women, and remarked that the EmpresVs Court, which was associated with , Konigsberg, taught women that their principal task did not lie in public meetings or in seeking to attain proposed rights wherein women would emulate men, but in the quiet work amid their homes and families. i Finally his Majesty summed up his conception of his position as head of tho German Empire. "I regard myself," he declared, "as ; an instrument of the Lord, and without heeding tho-opinions of tho day .1 go my way, devoted solely to-'the prosperity and. peaceful developmentof the Fatherland." The speech '. has aroused protests, tumult, and criticism throughout Germany! It is condemned by the monarchical press a,s furnishing fuel for the AntiMonarchists and Radicals. "The Democrats, on tho other hand, regard it as pitting the Grace of '. God against the people's will. ' .The Kaiser crisis of/1908 is recalled when, Prince Bulow. apologised for the Emperor's. statements' in the interview .published in the London "Daily Telegraph." '~'■' The "Vossische Zeitung" (Liberal) says the speech, which is. a protest against tho idea of disarmament, must excite much attention abroad, and cause a painful commotion. ... '■

GERMANY'S'AMAZING RULER.

'.. , .' PAST INDISCRETION. : The Kaiser's .indiscretions aro' ; notorious. . A ; recent writer 'said .of hiin':— i "The Sphinx is easier to understand than the Kaiser; and.woman is an open book as compared with him. And it really isn't difficult for the Sphinx to be mysterious. Its greatest mystery is its silence. . But' the Kaiser isn't .'silent. He makes speeches. Many of' them:. Even grants interviews.' And still leaves us puzzled. There has never been anything like it. He reconciles in his person the the most incongruous traits. Ho is the most impulsive of reigning monarchs. There can bo no doubt about that. Yet ho is almost Machiavellian iii. "premeditation. That telegram to Kruger was impulsive, yet carefully, calculated, and prepared at the Foreign Office! Shrewd ob-servers,-say that the historical interview in the London 'Daily Telegraph' had been no less; carefully launched. And that the hubbub attendant upon its publication furthered some far-seeing plan. At the time, it will be remembered, a cyclone broke loose in German editorial ink-pots. And, behold! William, the imperious, humbly, bowed his. head!- Perhaps he ■smiled to .himself somewhat sadly. But he said nothing. '. ~ . And,.then, suddenly, it began to dawn upon Germany that the Kaiser's gravest indiscretions are often his shrewdest coups." The'Kruger Telegram. In 1896,- on-hearing that the Jameson .Raid had failed, the Kaiser sent his famous telegram to President/ Kruger, congratulating him upon maintaining peace and preserving his. independence 'without appealing'to the help of friendly Powers." The immediate result of tho episodo ■ was the almost instantaneous mobilisation, in England, of a special service squadron, and the expedition with which the arrangements were carried out afforded a display of naval activity and resource;which caused the Germans to reflect upon their own naval shortcomings. He followed up the above message by a succession of inflammatory telegrams and speeches-which evoked derision in some quarters, and caused intense irritation in others. During tho South African Boer War certain German steamers were seized for carrying 'contraband of war. "The evonts.of the last few days," said he, have convinced wider and wider circles that Germany's honour, as well as her interests, must'be protected' on distant seas. "Humiliate England to the Dust." In 1908 a striking episode of the year was the publication in the London "Daily Telegraph' in October of a remarkable interview, in which the Kaiser declared that it was one of his dearest wishes to live at peace with England, though the prevailing sentiment amongst largo, sections of the middle and lower classes of Germany was not friendly to England. Ho stated that when the Boer War was at its height Germany was invited by the French and Russian Governments to join in calling upon England to put an end to tho war, and so save tho Boer Republics and "humiliate England to the dust." He further said that ho had worked out a plan of campaign at the time of tho Black Week in December, 1898, and sent it to England, and it was now- among, the State papers at Windsor Castle. This interview, it appeared, had been submitted to the Emperor, and by him referred to Prince Bulow. It went to the Foreign Office for examination, and was returned without comment. The Prince never, read it himself until it appeared in print. Ho nevertheless tendered his resignation as Chancellor, bat the Kniser refused to accept it. The publication of the interview caused much irritation in Germany and criticisms of tho Emperor, while abroad the facts were strongly challenged, particularly in Franco and Russia.