KING OF PRUSSIA.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2294, 13 September 1870, Page 2

KING OF PRUSSIA.

{From Men of the Time.)

William 1., son of Frederick William 111. and of Princess Louise of Meckleuburg-Stre-litz, and brother to the late king, born March 22, 1797, was educated as a soldier, and took part in the campaigns of 1813 and 1815 against France. In 1840 he was appointed Governor of Pomerania, which post he held till the revolution of 1848 broke out, when ho took refuge in England. He was elected a member of the C’onsti.uent Assembly in May, 1848, returned to Berlin, and took his seat in the Assembly June 8, 1848, and was made Commander-iu-Chief of the Prussian army acting against the revolutionary forces of Baden in June, 1849. When the mind of his brother gave way, in 1858, the Prince was created Regent, and he immediately dismissed the Krcuz or aristocratic party, and adopted a liberal policy. His brother, Frederick William IV., dying without issue, January 2, 1861, he succeeded, under the title of William 1., to the crown, which he placed upon his own head at Konigsberg, October 18, on which occasion he emphatically asserted the doctrine of the “right divine of kings.” The course of policy he has pursued since he became king has disappointed the hopes that were formed regarding him. No sooner was be seated on the throne than he began 4 contest with the Chamber of Deputies, which gradually became more critical, until, after Count-Bis-marck-Schoenhausen had been appointed his Prime Minister, in 1862, the feud threatened to end in revolution or civil war. Fortunately for him and his ministerial advisers, the aggressive war on Denmark waged by Austria and Prussia diverted the attention of the Prussian people from home affairs for a time ; and, since the close of that war of aggression the king has proved a pliant tool in the hands of his Prime Minister. Much against his inclination, he embarked on a still more ambitious scheme, and prepared to obtain supremacy in Germany by force of arms. For many years military preparations had been made, and early in 1866 the scheme was ripe for execution. A treaty of alliance was concluded with Italy, an ultimatum was forwarded to the smaller states in the north of Germany, and an immense army was set in motion. War was declared against Austria Juno 17 ; and, after a short campaign, in which Wil iam I, and the royal princes took part, Austria was compelled to make a humiliating peace. 4he terrible effects 6( the needle gim created quite a panic in the Austrian army, and her generals found it would be useless to prolong the struggle, fn spite of this triumph, the rule of William 1. and'of his despotic minister is by no means popular, and the German people do not find in this despotism the least approach to their dreams of a free and united fatherland,