THE EMPEROR’S EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5058, 9 June 1877, Page 3

THE EMPEROR’S EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY.

(From tlic Kijlnhrjic Zcitany —Cologne, March 22.) The Emperor AVilliam to-day completes his eightieth year, an age attained by no previous German Emperor. Long life is no great boon in itself ; but a glorious old age, which can only be the fruit of a glorious life, is a heavenly gift. Hardly ever lias mortal entered the ninth decade of life iu such full possession of all the gifts that this world can bestow as the founder of the new German Empire, the first Imperial Hohenzoller. The hearts of forty mii lions of Gormans swell with pride at the sound of his name ; and to find his equal amongst generals and State founders one must back to Frederick Barbarossa and Charles the Great. He is a man of mark in the world’s liistory; and even foreign nations agree that our Emperor William is the first aud greatest of his contemporaries. Yet even his life has not been one of nnmixed joy. His career was proverbially fruitful of those small misfortunes which no mortal escape ; and even the assassin’s bullet once grazed this best of kings, because, as the halfwitted criminal said, he did not do enough for Germany. And twice in his life he has experienced and bitterly lamented the sore misfortune and profound humiliation of his fatherland. First, in his early youth, when almost the whole territory of Prussia was occupied by the French invader. Secondly, on the occasioa of the defeat at Olmutz, when Prussia remained in possession of her territory, and was only deficient in manly courage, of which our Emperor, then the Crown Prince of Prussia, had a superabundant store. If anything can console us for tfie part played by Prussia at that time, it is the recollection that we had then fallen asleep on the laurels of the war of liberty, as we had before done on those of

Frederick the Great, and that eur army, perhaps, was not in such a condition as to render victory possible. From that time on the thoughts of the Prince of Prussia were directed to the reorganization _of the army, and he began to carry his ideas into effect as soon as the fate of Prussia was committed into his hands by his royal brother’s illness. From natural affection, our Emperor always speaks in the most respectful terms of Frederick William IV.; but if our late King still reigned we should never have vanquished Austria and France, and the German Empire would not be in existence. . . . Ever since our present Emperor received his baptism of fire iu France iu 1814, and became an active member of the army, he devoted himself to the duties of his calling, and gained such ft knowledge of all the details of the service that hardly anyone equalled him iu that respect. As Regent aud King he pressed on the reorganisation of the army, which, uowithstandiug the modesty of his nature, he can proudly call his owu particular work. In effecting his purpose, he no doubt fell into long and bitter quarrels with his people, and especially with their representatives ; hut he lias since been so completely and handsomely reconciled with his people, that no unpleasant memories of the quarrels survive. It may be said that both sides were in the right. The representatives of the people may be blamed for not having understood the necessity of a reorganisation 5 of the army; and they can say in selfdefence that they would willingly have granted all that was asked, if the Government had explained to them its great aims iu the future. The Government could not do that; and many thought that King William, like Frederick the Great, only wished for a tine aud numerous army, and for that they considered the sacrifices that were demanded too great. Even the victory over Denmark did not conciliate the people ; but when the war with Austria broke out, and great deeds were done iu Bohemia, which cast into the shade even the victories of Frederick the Great, the jubilant people of Prussia recognised that their King been in the right, aud had seen further than their most eloquent representatives. The King on his side—to his credit be it said—admitted that the representatives of the people had been technically right, and thus all hearts were reconciled. We cannot now follow King William further on his path, which led him to Versailles, where, in the inmost sanctuary of French glory, he was proclaimed German Emperor on the 18th of January, 1871. The history of ids life has been the history of his State and of his nation.

(National Zcitany —Berlin, March 22.) However prominently our Emperor’s figure may stand out in the future, aud whatever place he may occupy iu history, it will be difficult, nay impossible, for the future historian to express in words even approximately the feelings which moved us, his contemporaries, at the sight of this man. The prince is honored, the victor admired, and the just man beloved; that ever has been and ever will be the case. But how far removed these sentiments are from that indescribable feeling with which we regard our Emperor. No name we could bestow upon him would express our sensations. For us he is the symbol of our new Empire, the hero of fairy tale who has awakened the virgin Germania from her enchanted sleep of centuries. He has realised the fond longings of us all. The efforts, the wishes, and the labors of a whole nation have found iu him and through him their goal aud conclusion, as it were He is the head of the Empire and the bearer of power, but from him to us proceeds the pressing stream of an unconscious sentiment that he could only with us, and we could only with him, have gained such victories and founded this unity. Posterity will not be able to share with us this feeling which constitutes the fundamental harmony iu to-day’s song of joy. Blessings upon his honored head ! tills is the heartfelt prayer of the people, whether spoken or unexpressed. Our old men have traversed with liirn a long road full of troubles aud vicissitudes, under his eyes our young men fought their way up the heights of Koniggratz and Sedan, to our children we point him out as a man whose like they can hardly see in their future life. Three generations stand around his throne ; for one he has surpassed all that they expected from their leader given by God and chosen by the people ; for the others he has opened up the immeasurable future of German glory aud greatness ; all, high and low, first and last, unite to-day in crying : Health and long life to the Emperor and the Empire 1 (Vossische Zcitany —Berlin, (March 22.) The Emperor’s birthday draws together most Germans in the Empire and throughout the wide world to rejoice at the thought of the Empire that has risen afresh from its ashes ; and to the young pride of satisfied national feeling they add gratitude to the leader in war and peace who has achieved such things for them. In all places where German men-of-war and mercantile ships are stationed, in all places where Germany is represented by consulates or political missions, the German colors float to-day in more solemn splendor and remind other nations that the Germans have been able to do more than dream of a national Empire. Wherever there are Germans in distant lands, they meet together and devote this day to memories of home, and drink to the health of the Emperor who has made them great, and realised the desires of their youth.