THE GERMAN EMPEROR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 5, 30 May 1890, Page 31

THE GERMAN EMPEROR.

I (Truth) never expected that the German Emperor and the German Chancellor would hit it off long together. The former is a Prussian Lieutenant, under the illusion that he is not oaly the Emperor of his country, but the ablest being within his own dominions. He ia by no means a fool, but lacks experience, as well as most other tbinga which, taken together, make a statesman. At the pre3ent moment his fad seems to be a desire to be a " father " to his people, and, like the first King of Prussia, he regards any one who ventures to differ from him as an enemy of all that is good. When tired of his woim, he will probably revert to soldiering, and seek to emulate the deeds of Frederick the Great. A more unsatisfactory yoang gentleman to have in his hands the destinieß of a great nation and the peace of Europe cannot well be conceived ; and that the Chancellor should have preferred retirement to making himself responsible for tha flighty politics of such a master can well be understood. Prince Bismarck nny fairly say of himself what Lord Grey said in 1834 :— " I have descended, not fallen, from power."

History repeats itself. The German youth who is now Emperor would di well to ponder over the following episode in the record of King Behoboam :—: —

"But he forsook the counsel of tho old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young mea that were grown up with bim.

•• 6o Israel rebelled against the Houße of David until thia day. . . . There was none that followed the Hoase of Divid but the tribe of Judah only."

For Reboboam read William, for David real Hohenzollern, for Israel read Germany, and for Judah read Prussia.