Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1881 — Kaiser Wilhelm as a Figurehead. [ARTICLE]

Kaiser Wilhelm as a Figurehead.

Personally the Emperor of Germany is a large-limbed, good-natured, not-too-quick-witted man, charming as a study of character. He is, in his warlike aspect, a little more real than our lamented King George, who had so often described the event that he died in the unshaken belief that he had led a charge of cavalry at the battle of Waterloo. The Emperor William has actually heard the distant roar of artillery, and has looked upon the smoke of battle when the firing had ceased. We all remember the pretty knack he had of riding up to the great battle-fields of 1870 just as all was over, and dating, from amidst the slain, blood-red telegrams to his “ dear Augusta,” praising God for this new victory. I don’t mean to say that he would not have joined in the fray had need been or etiquette permitted. He comes of a soldier family, and his sons showed during the same campaign the stuff' of which the old tree was made. But there being no need for him to draw his sword, he was kept out of the range of bullets, and his movements carefully timed, so that he might come in with the flourish of trumpets that announced a fresh and heavier defeat of the Erench. In war Von Moltke did the fight’ng and the Emperor wrote the telegrams from the battle-field. Similarly in politics Bismarck plots and schemes, ana often wins, and, when all is ready, the old Emperor is trotted out at “interviews ” which take place in the face of the world, and whereat the harmless old gentleman ponderously plays his puppetpart, and thinks he is moving the world. The real Emperor of Germany is the heavy-looking, burly man who not so many years ago, in despair of his future, declared that heaven had intended him to be a farmer, and that wliea he left his country home to dabble in politics he was flying in the face oi Providence. Bismarck has a profound and unfeigned reverence for his imperial master, as is frequently shown in the volume of his “ Early Letters,” which, with characteristic and amazing frankness, he half a dozen years ago permitted the world to read. But he plays with him with the skill and coolness that a marionette is handled by its proprietor. Probably the last man in tlie world to suspect the autocracy of Bismarck is the Emperor William. Yet every one else knows that in Germany the Emperor reigng and Bismarck governs.— Hard,iff Times ,