THE Thames Advertiser. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1888.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XX, Issue 6232, 20 October 1888, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1888.

The German. Emperor, Kaiser William, would appear to be endeavouring to " run with the hare and hunt with the hounds"—at least his remarkable actions during the past few weeks strongly indicates that this is the case. That these actions have been in a degree impolitic there is no doubt—and it is to be feared that his impetuous conduct will lead to the European equilibrium being seriously disturbed. That he has been guilty of most glaring acts of inconsistency, anyone who has carefully persued the cable messages from Europe regarding his proceedings, will not be disposed to admit. Lest there should be any doubt on the point, let us take a short glance at the circumstances. It is not very long since the youthful and impetuous Emperor paid a visit to the Czar of Russia, and it is recorded that the two Emperors embraced, and declared eternal friendship for one another—and pledged themselves to maintain their amicable relations in overflowing bowls of sparkling wine. It is not for us to say, whether the enthusiasm then displayed was, a direct result of their liabation poured out on the altar of Bacchus, though there is a faint suspicion that those feelings of goodfellowship, said to be engendered by the use of the fermented juice of the grape, were to some extent the cause of the declaration of love made by these two rulers of mighty nations. But, however much reason there is to adopt this view, it is certain that the Emperor William, in declaring such a regard for the Czar, only pursued a course that was to be reasonably expected, as his inclinations have always been friendly towards Russia, and his extraordinary regard for everything Russian is well known. Therefore there is nothing strange in his declaration of loye for his friend the Czar.

What, however, is a great surprise is that after declaring eternal friendship for Russia, he has recently enunciated the same sentiments towards the King of Italy. Not only this, but he has expressed a fervent hope that the duration of the Central Alliance should be permanent, and not transient. Surely His Imperial Majesty must have been aware, at the very time that he expressed this hope, that the Central Alliance was regarded with especial detestation by the Czar? But King Humbert and Kaiser William, even supposing that the latter was aware of the impolicy of his action, did not allow the knowledge that Russia detested the Central Alliance with disfavour to interfere with their convivial meetings. They toasted the Italian and German armies; and the Italian Premier was decorated with the German Black Eagle, and altogether the Russian festivities, magnificent as they were, have been completely eclipsed by these latter brilliant ceremonies in Rome.

The Russians appear to_ be thoroughly incensed at the extraordinary proceedings of the German Emperor— and no wonder—considering that ho has exhibited such duplicity. Indeed, so wrath are the Russians at the conduct of Kaiser William that there is most grave reason to apprehend, that the relations between Germany aud Russia will become so strained as to be unbearable, and that at the iirst favourable opportunity—war will break out between the two nations,

The German Emperor does not appear to entertain the same high regard for the Papal See as the great Tron Chancellor, Prince Bismarck. The 1 latter . has always pursued a policy of conciliation towards the Vatican, no doubt with the view of retaining the loyal adherence to the State of the large number of Catholic subjects in Germany. The Emperor, however, was not actuated by such considerations, and at his interview with Pope Leo XIII gave the Holy Father a piece of advice in regard to the latter'a pretentions to the temporal power, which was equivalent to saying, "Your Holiness must be content with the Spiritual power, and had better refrain from interfering with my beloved friend Humbert in any way!" The new Kaiser, is evidently determined to have his, own way, and that Bismarck is unable to control him, is tolerably plain. That the Kaiser is likely to get himself into a difficulty that may result in hundreds of thousands of human beings being slaughtered, will be patent to every thoughtful person, and unless he abandons his thoughtless conduct, and endeavours to follow in the footsteps of his noble father Frederick—there can be no doubt that sooner or later his proceedings will so enrage the nations of Europe, as to be the. cause of a general, terrible, and sanguinary war.