IS THE KAISER LIKED?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1832, 19 August 1913, Page 6

IS THE KAISER LIKED?

RESPECTED BUT NOT LOVED,

"Is the Kaiser really liked by his people?" is a poser regularly fired by visitors at the German native or those whom duty or choice gives a more or less permanent dwelling-place among the German population.- 'fho Berlin correspondent of the London "Observer" declares that nobody who wants to be strictly within tho-" truth can answer it affirmatively. Neither can he, of course, reply to it wholly in the negative. He will tell you that the Kaiser is admired and respected by hia people rather than liked or beloved.

,The Emperor has notoriously never claimed that whole-hearted affection which King Edward, for example, enjoyed among all classes of the British race. Germans are proud of William 11, believe they have the most picturesque monarch astride a throne, think that he acceded to power at the psychological moment -for The development and economic rise of Germany, look upon him as in-

tensely patriotic and loyal to tho high obligations of his estate, and feel, on tho whole, that they would hunt in vain for his like—yet, I do not think they love him. At the moment his son and heir,, the Crown Prince, is undoubtedly much more popular with the broad masses of the nation. Is William iI "Up to Date"? The wide world is fond of describing tho Kaiser as the. most modern and progressive of present rulers. Does the world know that many very eminent Germans call this conception of William II ludicrous to a degree? Plenty of men of affairs, who profoundly admire the Emperor's many tine traits, will tell you that, instead of being up to date, he is in counties? Tespects hopelessly out of date. His tastes in art and music, for example, are portrayed as stubbornly mediaeval. Bankers' and manufacturers claim that he is sometimes as hard to win for a new idea in economic progress as. the man in "Milestones" who frowns so stubbornly on iron ships. The Kaiser gets credit for thinking a generation ahead of his people, and actually thinks, one is assured, a generation behind them.

These are the sentiments of men and patriots who claim to know. But it should bo borne in mind that the German is the world's most inveterate critic. He criticises for the sheer, satisfaction of being in opposition.- In his heart ho thinks better of the imperial Jubiiar who is commemorating twent.v-five great years of sovereignty 11 urn he is willing to admit for publication.