MEN WHO MAKE PUBLIC OPINION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2541, 26 November 1902, Page 65

MEN WHO MAKE PUBLIC OPINION.

THE GERMAN EMPEROR. It is difficult to think of the German Emperor save as a dragoon, but he is a dragoon of a very noble sort. He is an artist in autocracy, and carries l'is belief in himself and the wisdom of his purpose to the extreme, which mu«t characterise any monarch who does nqt doubt the divine right ofkings. For an Emperor, he takes a somewhat theatrical view of affairs. There is nothing common-place about either his doings or his utterances, and the way in which he has astonished the world from time to time is proof of a certain originality of mind arid independence of character. If he had been a painter of pictures or a writer of books by profession, it is easy to conceive that he woud have delighted' his supporters, and given the critics occasion for much head-shaking. When he was in Posen a week or two ago, he treated his subjects to a little lecture such as a father, with a severe sense of duty, might deliver to obstreperous children. In 1902 Poland was to him apparently pretty much what the royal nursery at "Potsdam was in 1889, when a little story was told of his overhearing a disturbance among the young princes. As he entered the nursery, the Crown Prince and Prince Eitel drew themselves up and saluted their father in the military fashion. "What is all this noise about"/" asked the Emperor. "A slight dispute, sire," said his eldest son, "and I was obliged to let my brother know who is Crown Prince in this establishment." "Good," said his Majesty, " I see what you mean, and now I think it will be as well if I let you know in the same way who is Emperor in this particular family !" The Crown Prince was probably not less convinced than was Poland that William n can be both father and Emperor at the same time.

The keynote to the Emperor's character is to be found in emotion, which may take the form at one moment of pathos, at another of indignation. When he came of age, in 1877, the Order of the Black Eagle was bestowed upon him. Each knight must swear "to lead a virtuous Christian life, agreeable to God and men of honour, and to encourage others to lead the same, to maintain at all times and places the true Christian religion ; to protect the poor and forsaken, widows and orphans, and all who suffer violence and injustice ; to defend the royal family and royal prerogative ; and to preserve everywhere peace, unity, and good morals." Taking the book of statutes in his hand, the lad said, with a solemnity which has marked all his actions, "Yes ; I swear it !" Emotion accounts for a good many of the things he has done which ai'e most vivid in the public memory. His telegram to President Kruger, after the Jameson raid, was prompted by the heart of tbe man rather than the head. The head was called into play when the British Flying Squadron sprang into existence almost as by magic. No one to-day believes that the Emperor either intended to insult England, or imagined that his words would be regarded as an affront on this side of the North Sea. What Germany would have done if she had had to deal with the Transvaal we may learn from the summary measures, at once theatrical and thorough, adopted against China and Hayti. Kiauchau and the "Crete a Pierrot" are incidents which must be expected when emotion is supplemented by the Mailed Fist.

W'lliam 11, aa German Emperor, has disappointed expectation. When he came to the throne Europe stood aghast at the possibilities of the situation. Europe was a veritable powder magazine ; the new German Emperor was a firebrand, and appalling picture, were conjured up of an overbearing youth of 30 applying the match to the explosive. Never were quidnuncs made to look more foolish than during the 18 months following th Emperor Frederick's death. The young Kaiser's true character asserted itself almost immediately. Its excitable side appeared in various proclamations to the Fatherlandand hi 3 army. He gave othe." nations to understand from the first- that th's army was ready, if wanted, and that he was at its head. But he insis-ted on the blessings of peace, and, believing that quarrels ariseas often as not from mere ignorance, proceeded to pay visits to the European courts, to learn in their homes the views of the rulers and people with whom Germany had to treat. His words and his actions were noted with suspicious concern. Everyone blest fed the restraining

and guiding influence of Prince Bismarcfe» which alone, it was felt, prevented the very heavens from falling.. Probably the ona thing nobody expected was that William II would dare, at an early date, to dispense Vib v that restraining influence by getting rid of the statesman who had ruled Germany with a rod of iron and overawed Europe. Even now, after the lapse of 10 years, it is more like romance than reality to contemplate the uprising of this young monarch to face and dismiss from power not only the strongest statesman of the age, but one -who had been a master builder of the fortunes of tihe Fatherland, and in Waom the Emperor was believed to repose the utmost confidence. If the German Empire to-day does not overawe Europe quite in the way it seemed to do in 1890, the explanation possibly is that its "methods are a little less unscrupulous, and that the" ' Emperor has missed no opportunity of showing how strenuously he believes in peace whilst preparing for war. He has permitted France to escape from the isolation in which she was kept by the ingenious Bismarckian dovetailing of secret and open alliances, and he has given cvi* " dence of goodwill towards France which has not been without beneficial results. ' Whether Germany is not a more formidable, rival of Great Britain to-day than she was" ' 10 or 15 years ago is another matter. Prince Bismarck said the elephant could not fight the- whale. T<he German navy, which the Emperor has fostered, will not for many a long day attain the proportions of the whale, but it has become a very respectable shark.

The Emperor has apparently outgrown hia early dislike of England, but he probably finds as much to admire in Frederick the Great on the military side as he ever did. The whole world has been duly impressed: from time to time with his soldierly qualities, and we have all been properly thrilled by the manoeuvres in which his Majesty, sword- in air. led that gallant, if bloodless, cavalry charge against the Red Army recently. To appreciate fully what the Emperor ihas done and -does as a soldier, .we have to remember that from his birth he was hampered by the uselessness of his left arm. The manner in which he eet himself to conquer the difficulties imposed on him by the infirmity speaks for the stuff of which he is made. Iv those who have known him personally he has often compelled enthusiastic admiration by his ability to do single-handed all that others more fortunately placed can do. Self-Tielp has had many glorious exponents, but none more inspiring tfhan th« - young German Emperor. Descriptions art not wanting of the way in, which he < handles his combined knife and fork at table, of hig deadly command of the rifle, . of his splendid seat in the saddle, and 01 many things whkh might seem impossible to a practically one-armed man. If Wil- . liam H had been a sor of humble parents • the authorities would have exempted him '. from service in the ranks, and there could ' be do greater tribute to his triumph than. , the circumstance that in all the essentials of military life he is equal to the best of his officers.