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water； altogether he seemed to be broad…minded； alert； with a
quick sense of humor； and yet with a certain solidity of judgment
beneath it all。
After my departure from Berlin there flitted over to America
conflicting accounts of him； and during the short reign of his
father there was considerable growth of myth and legend to his
disadvantage。 Any attempt to distil the truth from it all would
be futile； suffice it that both in Germany and Great Britain
careful statements by excellent authorities on both sides have
convinced me that in all that trying crisis the young man's
course was dictated by a manly sense of duty。
The first thing after his accession which really struck me as a
revelation of his character was his dismissal of Bismarck。 By
vast numbers of people this was thought the act of an exultant
young ruler eager to escape all restraint； and this opinion was
considerably promoted in English…speaking countries by an
ephemeral cause： Tenniel's cartoon in 〃Punch〃 entitled 〃Dropping
the Pilot。〃 As most people who read this will remember； the iron
chancellor was therein represented as an old； weatherbeaten
pilot； in storm…coat and sou'wester； plodding heavily down the
gangway at the side of a great ship； while far above him； leaning
over the bulwarks； was the young Emperor； jaunty； with a
satisfied smirk； and wearing his crown。 There was in that little
drawing a spark of genius； and it sped far； probably no other
cartoon in 〃Punch〃 ever produced so deep an effect； save；
possibly； that which appeared during the Crimean War with the
legend 〃General February turned Traitor〃； it went everywhere；
appealing to deep sentiment in human hearts。
And yet； to meadmiring Bismarck as the greatest German since
Luther； but reflecting upon the vast interests involvedthis act
was a proof that the young monarch was a stronger man than any
one had supposed him to be。 Certainly this dismissal must have
caused him much regret； all his previous life had shown that he
admired Bismarckalmost adored him。 It gave evidence of a deep
purpose and a strong will。 Louis XIV had gained great credit
after the death of Mazarin by declaring his intention of ruling
aloneof taking into his own hands the vast work begun by
Richelieu； but that was the merest nothing compared to this。 This
was； apparently； as if Louis XIII； immediately after the triumphs
of Richelieu； had dismissed him and declared his purpose of
henceforth being his own prime minister。 The young Emperor had
found himself at the parting of the ways； and had deliberately
chosen the right path； and this in spite of almost universal
outcries at home and abroad。 The OLD Emperor William could let
Bismarck have his way to any extent： when his chancellor sulked
he could drive to the palace in the Wilhelmstrasse； pat his old
servant on the back； chaff him； scold him； laugh at him； and set
him going again； and no one thought less of the old monarch on
that account。 But for the YOUNG Emperor William to do this would
be fatal； it would class him at once among the rois
fatneantsthe mere figureheads〃the solemnly constituted
impostors；〃 and in this lay not merely dangers to the young
monarch； but to his dynasty and to the empire。
His recognition of this fact was； and is； to me a proof that the
favorable judgments of him which I had heard expressed in Berlin
were well founded。
But this decision did much to render him unpopular in the United
States； and various other reports which flitted over increased
the unfavorable feeling。 There came reports of his speeches to
young recruits； in which； to put it mildly； there was preached a
very high theory of the royal and imperial prerogative； and a
very exacting theory of the duty of the subject。 Little account
was taken by distant observers of the fundamental facts in the
case； namely； that Germany； being a nation with no natural
frontiers； with hostile military nations on all sides； and with
serious intestine tendencies to anarchy； must； if she is to live；
have the best possible military organization and a central power
strong to curb all the forces of the empire； and quick to hurl
them。 Moreover； these speeches； which seemed so absurd to the
average American； hardly astonished any one who had lived long in
Germany； and especially in Prussia。 The doctrines laid down by
the young monarch to the recruits were； after all； only what they
had heard a thousand times from pulpit and school desk； and are a
logical result of Prussian history and geography。 Something； too；
must be allowed to a young man gifted； energetic； suddenly
brought into so responsible a position； looking into and beyond
his empire； seeing hostile nations north； south； east； and west；
with elements of unreason fermenting within its own borders； and
feeling that the only reliance of his country is in the good
right arms of its people； in their power of striking heavily and
quickly； and in unquestioning obedience to authority。
In the history of American opinion at this time there was one
comical episode。 The strongholds of opinion among us friendly to
Germany have been； for the last sixty years； our universities and
colleges； in so many of which are professors and tutors who；
having studied in Germany； have brought back a certain love for
the German fatherland。 To them there came in those days a curious
tractate by a little…known German professorone of the most
curious satires in human history。 To all appearance it was simply
a biographical study of the young Roman emperor Caligula。 It
displayed the advantages he had derived from a brave and pious
imperial ancestry； and especially from his devout and gifted
father； it showed his natural gifts and acquired graces； his
versatility； his growing restlessness； his manifold ambitions；
his contempt of wise counsel； the dismissal of his most eminent
minister； his carelessness of thoughtful opinion； his meddling in
anything and everything； his displays in the theater and in the
temples of the gods； his growthuntil the world recognized him
simply as a beast of prey； a monster。 The whole narrative was so
managed that the young prince who had just come to the German
throne seemed the exact counterpart of the youthful Roman
monarchdown to the cruel stage of his career； THAT was left to
anticipation。 The parallels and resemblances between the two were
arranged with consummate skill； and whenever there was a passage
which seemed to present an exact chronicle of some well…known
saying or doing of the modern