The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, November 17, 1887. THE GERMAN THRONE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 68, 17 November 1887, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Thursday, November 17, 1887. THE GERMAN THRONE.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’*

For weeks past the most conflicting reports have been received of the health of the royal household in Germany, and the position of affairs is sufficiently grave to cause deep interest in the present uncertain state of affairs, With all the medical skill that has been employed, there is the nearest approach to a certainty that the Crown Prince must soon succumb tfl the terrible disease with which he is afflicted. He had himself resolved to submit to the fatal consequences rather than undergo any more operations, but his love for his family induced him to forego this resolution and again place himself in the hands of the doctors. The Prince is one of those few representatives of monarchial institutions who can command respect from the high standing of his private character and all classes can sympathise with him in his misfortunes.

But of course the position must be viewed from a more interested point. The Emperor, we know, has well nigh reached the ordinary span of life, and his successor may be called upon at very short notice to take the seat of the veteran ruler. In the event of the Crown Prince’s death, the Regency is to be assumed by Prince William. If anticipations so far are realised, and the belief is not at all unreasonable, it will be still difficult to give an accurate forecast of future events. The line of policy laid down by the next German ruler might have a great effect for good or bad on the relations between the Powers,

The Crown Prince has always shown a desire to follow in the footsteps of his father, his actions have been characteristic with those of the Emperor, and his accession to power would mean no deviation from the course that has been held throughout. The accession of Prince William would, on the other hand, give cause for anxiety. He is twenty-nine years of age, but he is far short of the experience and in other ways lacks the calibre of his father.

As matters stand at present there is absolute need for a clear head and firm hand if Germany is to maintain peaceably 7 that status which she has won in late years. Prince William would be under the complete control of Bismarck. That astute statesman has so well served his country that Germans will

feel perfectly reliant, but that same feeling will not be held •by the nations generally. The fluctuations on the money market are a sure indication that the prospect is one that will cause anxiety for some time to come.