JEALOUSY IN GERMANY

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 84, 17 April 1901, Page 3

JEALOUSY IN GERMANY

It is no use blinking the fact (writes the Berlin correspondent of the London Times) that the length of the Emperor’s sojourn in England, and some of the complimentary nets which ho porformd there, did not accord with the feelings of the vast majority of the German people. The Cologne Gazette may say what it likes. No one would dream of seeking in a journal of that sort a retlection of the opinions of the German people. The Rhenish organ is a useful barometer of official opinion ; but for most other purposes in the realm of foreign policy it is worthless. It is, in particular, the Emperor's message to Lord llobcrts and his amiable attentions to the hero of Kandahar and Pretoria that run counter to tho prevailing feelings of the German nation, from the extreme flight wing of tho Conservatives in Parliament and in tho country to the extreme Radical Left, and even to the ranks of the Social Democrats. This is the bare truth, and it is well that it should bo frankly uttered. The Krucz Zcitimg publishes a noteworthy article on “ The return of tho Emperor." It says that it has received a very large number of letters from persons representing the most loyal section of its readers—tho party that would give its heart's blood at any moment for " Throne and altar"— anil that the writers complain of the strain that is being put upon their traditional feelings by the recent 'proceedings in London. The hurried journey itself was understood, but not its sequel. The Krucz Zcitung comments as follows on these numerous expressions of influential opinion: " The German Emperor and King occupies a position of great power and might in JJrussia, and all his acts and words must therefore lay claim to high significance. It is precisely for this reason Unit we feel bound to speak when there are grounds for apprehending that the monarch and the nation do not understand each other. The apprehension that a misunderstanding of this nature may arise unfortunately becomes patently imminent when a profound opposition between the feelings of tho people and the acts of the monarch can be discerned. We say this with perfect frankness, but in saying it we arc actuated by the feeling that what is in question is the maintenance of that reciprocal confidence between sovereign and people which alone furnishes tho guarantee of the permanent and unimpaired preservation of tho Royal power in Prussia. . . . Now that our Im-

perial and Royal Lord is once more in German lands, we greet him with a joyful shout of welcome. Our loyalty to him is unchangeable, and remains so when we declare with'Prussian frankness and with perfect homage that one or other of his actions lays a load on our heart." The Kreuz Zcitung is not an obscure antiSemitic sheet. It is the organ of that “ small but mighty party" without whose approval it lias so often been found impossible to govern Prussia or Germany with success. It is, above all, the organ of the landed classes in whose interest Coiirit'von Bulow is about to undo the work of Count von Caprivi, and to rinse tho duties on foreign grain. Addressing the members of the Agricultural Council, the Imperial Chancellor elicited cheers, which were renewed again and again, by explaining how entirely he identified himself with- their interest. “To care for agriculture,” said the Chancellor,’ “ is not only the duty of my office ; it is the dictate of my heart. ■ You may rest assured that my heart will always be in the cause of agriculture. My name furnishes ' a guarantee for that, since those who have borne it have for centuries cultivated the German soil.” Count von Bulow will not underestimate -the importance of the sentiments entertained by the “ small but Plighty party " in Prussia.