William the Second as seen in contemporary documents and judged on evidence of his own speeches

Hammer S. C. (Simon Christian) B. 1866

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III'?!iliiiiliiiii? »4?x-erial Chancellor received two several messages instructing him to hasten A few days later the Kaiser sent his famous telegram to the Grand Duke of Weimar. This is 6 66 SECONDWILLIAM THE also historical documents connectedone of the with Bismarck's resignation, and at the same time valuable document huniain, throwing a light ona —its Imperial author: " heart aches as though for the second timeMy I had lost my grandfather. But this trial has been sent me from God, and therefore I have to bear it even if I should be crushed by it. To me has fallen the post of officer of the watch upon the ship of State. We shall keep the old course and; " now—full steam ahead 1 — CHAPTER VI THE NEW MASTER thanMen would have to be less easily impressed themthey are if William II had not overwhelmed by breaking with Bismarck. His unsuspecting contemporaries who concerned themselves only with the purely external aspect of the event stood lost in admiration before such a powerful display of energy and will. There was something attractively bold in this young man who, after governing for twenty months, could dispense with kind guardianship, andevery of without hesitation take the helm of the State into his own hands, at the same moment that he in- vited the whole world to Berlin to solve the social enigma. When had any one seen a young Emperor so brave, so resolute, so dominated by great ideas?

Sujets

• William

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• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 9
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 11 Mo

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III'?!iliiiiliiiii?»4?x-<^
lAS.Er.LAURUTc^
^''OKTeRS^BOoiCSSECONDWILLIAM THE
AS SEEN IN CONTEMPORARY
DOCUMENTS AND ONJUDGED
HIS OWN SPEECHESEVIDENCE OF
BY
S. HAMMER, M.A.C.
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
1917CONTENTS
CHAPTKR PAGE
I. YOUTH ..... I
II. FATHER AND SON u
III. THE YOUNG RULER 28
IV. JOURNEYS AND INTRIGUES 42
V. THE BREACH WITH BISMARCK 53
VI. THE NEW MASTER 67
VII. AN ENLIGHTENED POLICY 81
VIII. POLITICAL CHESS 95
IX, 106THE JUBILEE YEAR
X. A FUTURE ON THE SEAS 120
XI. THE END OF THE FIRST TEN YEARS. »3i
XII. THEORY AND FACT H5
XIII. THE TRIUMPH OF C/ESARISM . »57
XIV. DISAPPOINTMENTS 173
XV. THE METEOR AND OTHERS X87
XVI. NERVOUS 201SYMPTOMS
XVII. AN INTERVIEW AND ITS CONSEQUENCES 215
XVIII. BEFORE THE GREAT WAR 328
XIX. WILLIAM THE PROBLEM 243
LITERATURE CONCERNING WILLIAM II. 263
INDEX ..... 265CHAPTER I
YOUTH
During the last days of great political1858
unrest, associated in a singular manner with
simple-hearted loyalty, was prevalent in Berlin and
throughout Prussia.
The rule of the childless Frederick William IV
had presented for many years an almost unique
picture of incapacity and wilfulness during; 1857
he had been obliged, on account of failing mental
powers, to relinquish all State business, and was
at the moment living in Italy, a chronic invalid.
His brother, Prince William, who acted as Regent,
was still a political novice, in spite of his sixty
odd years, and it was Bismarck who was destined
to place him amongst the historic figures of the
age. For the time being, however, he was pre-
eminently the Prince of the petite bourgeoisie, the
unpretentious ideal of the ordinary public who fre-
quented tea-gardens beerhouses while thoseand ;
in leading positions were recognize thatobliged to
he had neither much political capacity nor even
a strong personality.
With the dawn of the New Year fresh troubles
arose. At the Year's levee in the Tuileries,New
Napoleon III expressed his regret to the Austrian
22 WILLIAM THE SECOND
friendly relations longerAmbassador that no
existed between the French and Austrian Govern-
observation—made in thements, and this ominous
blazed likehearing of the whole Diplomatic Corps—
another.a beacon of war from one country to
theNowhere, with the exception of Vienna, was
Berlin,news received with more excitement than at
Govern-as indeed was only natural. The Prussian
fromment was subjected to violent pressure
Austria, both by means of diplomacy and through
the Press but in spite of every provocation, Berlin;
maintained an obstinate silence for several months,
evidently because the time was not considered
opportune for that national war that should end in
German unity. A policy of this kind is apt to
result in a condition of a public apprehension,
and it was therefore a kindly dispensation of Provi-
dence that a pleasing diversion from so much
anxiety shortly presented itself.
The Prince Regent's only son, Prince Frederick
William of Prussia, had married in the1857
Princess Royal of Great Britain, eldest daughter
of Queen Victoria. At first the alliance was not
very popular, either in England or in Prussia
;
but now, when announced thatit had been the
was child, all classes of societyPrincess expecting a
heartily wishes towards her.united in their good
toThe event, which was expected take place
arousedduring the latter half of January, extra-
centralordinary excitement. It became the point
in Church prayers, and was the main topic of
conversation both in family circles and at public
gatherings. As an official chronicler tells us :
" postponed in expecta-All social engagements were