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strike the attention of the world seem the result of impulse；
but； as a rule； it will be found that beneath these impulses is a
calm judgment。 Even when this seems not to be the case； they are
likely to appeal all the more strongly to humanity at large。
Typical was his impulsive proposal to make up to the Regent of
Bavaria the art appropriation denied by sundry unpatriotic
bigots。 Its immediate result was a temporary triumph for the
common enemy； but it certainly drew to the Emperor the hearts of
an immense number of people； not only inside； but outside his
empire； and； in the long run； it will doubtless be found to have
wrought powerfully for right reason。 As an example of an
utterance of his which to many might seem to be the result of a
momentary impulse； but which reveals sober contemplation of
problems looming large before the United States as well as
Germany； I might cite a remark made last year to an American
eminent in public affairs。 He said； 〃You in America may do what
you please； but I will not suffer capitalists in Germany to suck
the life out of the workingmen and then fling them like squeezed
lemon…skins into the gutter。〃
Any one who runs through the printed volume of his speeches will
see that he is fertile in ideas on many subjects； and knows how
to impress them upon his audiences。 His voice and manner are
good； and at times there are evidences of deep feeling； showing
the man beneath the garb of the sovereign。 This was especially
the case in his speech at the coming of age of his son。 The
audience was noteworthy； there being present the Austrian
Emperor； members of all the great ruling houses of Europe the
foremost men in contemporary German history； and the diplomatic
representatives of foreign powersan audience representing wide
differences in points of view and in lines of thought； yet no one
of them could fail to be impressed by sundry references to the
significance of the occasion。
Even the most rapid sketch of the Emperor would be inadequate
without some reference to his religious views。 It is curious to
note that while Frederick the Great is one of the gods of his
idolatry； the two monarchs are separated by a whole orb of
thought in their religious theories and feelings。 While a
philosophical observer may see in this the result of careful
training in view of the evident interests of the monarchy in
these days； he must none the less acknowledge the reality and
depth of those feelings in the present sovereign。 No one who has
observed his conduct and utterances； and especially no one who
has read his sermon and prayer on the deck of one of his
war…ships just at the beginning of the Chinese war； can doubt
that there is in his thinking a genuine substratum of religious
feeling。 It is true that at times one is reminded of the remark
made to an American ecclesiastic by an eminent German theological
professor regarding that tough old monarch； Frederick William I；
namely； that while he was deeply religious； his religion was 〃of
an Old Testament type。〃 Of course； the religion of the present
Emperor is of a type vastly higher than that of his ancestor；
whose harshness to the youth who afterward became the great
Frederick has been depicted in the 〃Memoirs〃 of the Margravine of
Bayreuth； but there remains clearly in the religion of the
present Emperor a certain 〃Old Testament〃 charactera feeling of
direct reliance upon the Almighty； a consciousness of his own
part in guiding a chosen people； and a readiness； if need be； to
smite the Philistines。 One phase of this feeling appears in the
music at the great anniversaries； when the leading men of the
empire are brought together beneath the dome of the Palace
Church。 The anthems executed by the bands and choirs； and the
great chorals sung by the congregation； breathe anything but the
spirit of the Sermon on the Mount； they seem rather to echo the
grim old battle…hymns of the Thirty Years' War and the war in the
Netherlands。
And yet it must be said that there goes with this a remarkable
feeling of justice to his subjects of other confessions than his
own； and a still more remarkable breadth of view as regards the
relations of modern science to what is generally held as orthodox
theology。 The fearlessness with which he recently summoned
Professor Delitzsch to unfold to him and to his family and court
the newly revealed relations of Assyrian research to biblical
study； which gave such alarm in highly orthodox circles； and his
fairness in estimating these researches； certainly revealed
breadth of mind as well as trust in what he considered the
fundamental verities of religion。
A good example of the curious union； in his mind； of religious
feeling； tolerance； and shrewd policy is shown in various
dealings with his Roman Catholic subjects。
Of course he is not ignorant that his very existence as King of
Prussia and German Emperor is a thorn in the side of the Roman
Curia； he knows； as every thinking German knows； that； with the
possible exception of the British monarchy； no other is so hated
by the Vatican monsignori as his own。 He is perfectly aware of
the part taken in that quarter against his country and dynasty at
all times； and especially during the recent wars； and yet all
this seems not to influence him in the slightest as regards
justice to his Roman Catholic subjects。 He does indeed； resist
the return of the Jesuits into the empire；his keen insight
forbids him to imitate the policy of Frederick the Great in this
respect；but his dealings with the Roman Catholic Church at
large show not merely wisdom but kindliness。 If he felt bound to
resist； and did successfully resist； the efforts of Cardinal
Rampolla to undermine German rule and influence in Alsace and
Lorraine； there was a quiet fairness and justice in his action
which showed a vast deal of tolerant wisdom。 His visits to the
old Abbey of Laach； his former relations with its young abbot；
his settlement of a vexed question by the transfer of the abbot
to the bishopric of Metz； his bringing of a loyal German into
episcopal power at Strasburg； his recent treatment of the prince
bishop of Breslau and the archbishop of Cologne； all show a wise
breadth of view。 Perhaps one of the brightest diplomatic strokes
in his career was his dealing with a Vatican question during his
journey in the East。 For years there had been growing up in world
politics the theory that France； no matter how she may deal with
monks and nuns and ultramontane efforts within her own immedi