THE KAISER THROUGH GERMAN EYES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 177, 19 August 1909, Page 4

THE KAISER THROUGH GERMAN EYES.

One learns from a lijglily interesting article by Mr, Carlyle amytUc 111 tin* Sydney iUoniiiig ilerald that Uernuiu estimates of the Kaiser are almost as diverse as those formed in foreign countries. In one part of the Empire he is regarded as ail incorrigible person, wiiose only claim to genius is liis inexhaustible energy. In Hamburg, where he lias never been forgiven for his attitude towards Bismarck, he is held to | lack ''distinction," his boisterousness in intimate circles being contrasted uu- | favourably with the simplicity of the old Emperor's manners. In Bavaria, one frequently hears doubts expressed |as to his sanity. Even in Prussia he is the subject of a good deal of uritieisl.n. Many Prussians objifft to his literary ' and artistic intolerance, his pnssion for supervising detail, and his habit of making speeches 011 international affairs' without consulting his advisers. "But when all allowance is made for these Tninor and inherited defects, the Prussian estimate of the. Emperor is that he is the greatest personality modern (lermanv has known, and a strong iactor for the peace of the world." Prussians say that the Emperor keeps the peace bemuse he thinks it is in the interests of fjprmany to do so, and has more than once resisted efforts made by his entourage to bring about war with one of the Powers. Foreign critics nave | often explained his Majesty's cccen-1 tricHies by disease. A Beriin doctor told Mr. Smythc that there wis 110 foundation for these 'explanations. The only mental disease from which the j Kaiser suffered was that he h'ad mom brains than the average man. His t?•••-• . less energy is proof that 'there is 11 thing wrong "with him physically. A, much simpler and truer explanation is that h<* i.H a creature of impulse. R* is convinced that he holds the throne bv "Divine right, and in his role of "Divine deputy lie is subject to fits of inspiration, during which he is obliged to act and speak according to the impulse of the moment. "The Emperor is a man who may certainly err in his conclusions and his methods,"* says a Olerman critic, "but not in his motives. Each of his steps is measured with the idea of promoting the good of his people. The pitv is that from his exaggerated conception of majesty has sprung an exaggerated sense of duty, and instead of guarding and watching his people from the heights, he has descended to perform the commonest details,"