WILLIAM 



6293 



WILLIAM I 



saying at one time that had they done what 

 was expected of them they would have taught 

 against socialistic doctrines. Because of the 

 growing power of this group of his subjects he 

 resolutely refused to entertain propositions 

 looking to reform in the elections to the 

 Reichstag. When the War of the Nations be- 

 gan in 1914 the Socialists supported the govern- 

 ment for nearly three years without division, 

 but in 1917 they forced the resignation of 

 Chancellor Michaelis because he failed to re- 

 spond to their peace proposals of "no indemni- 

 ties and no annexations." 



Attitude towards Foreign Affairs. When the 

 German Empire was formed Germany held lit- 

 tle foreign territory. It was the desire of 

 William II to win "a place in the sun" for his 

 country, therefore he encouraged a vast co- 

 lonial policy. Near home he secured closer 

 relations with Turkey, with prospects through 

 such cooperation of Germanizing parts of Asia 

 Minor and gradually extending German influ- 

 ence southeastward through the continent. As 

 early as 1890 he had secured title to German 

 Southwest Africa, a country as large as the 

 entire old Northwest Territory of the United 

 States and the state of Minnesota. Later 

 diplomacy gave him a foothold in China and 

 in the Pacific Islands many advantageous 

 points for coaling and supply stations. He 

 endeavored to purchase the Danish West Indies 

 from Denmark, but the United States suc- 

 ceeded in keeping them out of his hands. They 

 are now the Virgin Islands of the United States. 



The colonial empire was extinguished, for 

 the time being, at least, by Germany's enemies 

 in the War of the Nations. 



Growth of Militarism. Vast colonial posses- 

 sions cannot be protected without a navy. 

 Emperor William showed great energy in or- 

 ganizing a naval program, which resulted in 

 twenty years in building up the most powerful 

 navy in tin world excepting that of Great Brit- 

 ain. On land he gave as careful attention to 

 the military arm of his government, and for 

 years it was well understood that the armies of 

 Germany were more powerful than those of 

 any other nation. The exact extent of the mili- 

 tary resources at t! ors command was 

 littlr guessed until the summer of 1914. 



His Accomplishments. William II was a ver- 

 satile monarch. Before he suffered an affliction 

 uliirh \\itin n (1 one arm he was a pianist of no 

 mean order, and he composed considerable 

 music. He posed as an artist; he can make a 

 good speech when occasion requires. Religion is 



deeply impressed upon his life, and he made 

 frequent reference to his working with God ; he 

 claimed not to be bigoted in his beliefs, but to 

 hold a notable tolerance for other religions, 

 which have always been well represented in the 

 country. 



In 1881 William II, then crown prince, mar- 

 ried Princess August e Victoria, of Schleswig- 

 Holstein. Six sons and one daughter have been 

 born to them. The eldest was the crown prince, 

 Frederick William (born 1882) ; his glory ended 

 with Germany's defeat. The other sons are 

 Eitel Frederick (1883), Adalbert (1884), August 

 Wilhelm (1887), Oscar (1888) and Joachim 

 (1890). The daughter is Victoria Luise (bora 

 1892). 



William's mother was Victoria, princess royal 

 of Great Britain, hence he is a cousin of King 

 George V of England, and he was also a cousin 

 of the former Czar Nicholas of Russia. 



The military power of Germany was broken 

 in 1918, and its creator was shorn of power. On 

 November 10 he sought refuge in Holland, and 

 on November 28 he renounced the throne for- 

 ever. EJ>.F. 



Related Subject*. In connection with this 

 discussion the reader may refer to the following 

 articles in these volumes : 

 Bethmann-Hollweg, Germany, subhead The 



Theobald Theodore Reign of Willia m 11 



von Socialism 



Bismarck-Schttnhausen War of the Nations 



WILLIAM I, PRINCE OF ORANGE, COUNT OF 

 NASSAU (1533-1584), also popularly known as 

 WILLIAM THE SILENT, is the best-loved char- 

 acter in Dutch history. His parents were 

 Lutherans, but he was brought up a Roman 

 Catholic at the court of Emperor Charles V. 

 When very young he inspired such affectionate 

 trust in the emperor that he was put in com- 

 mand of the army of the Netherlands and was 

 charged with delicate diplomatic errands; and 

 although always frank and charming, ho was 

 so discreet that he earned th<> ntl. of tho Si- 

 lent. Charles recommended William earnestly 

 to his son and successor, Philip II, but from 

 first the two were antagonistic. William re- 

 turned to Lutheranism, but preserved an un- 

 swerving tolerance, astounding in those days 

 of cruelty and religious persecution. Philip, on 

 the contrary, waa a devoted but intolerant 

 Catholic. William fought the Inquisition in 

 Holland, refused to appear in the council f 

 tli. I>i;k. . ; \l i nd defied Spain by in va 

 Brabant. In 1576 he persuaded the Northern 

 and Southern provinces to unifr and expel tin- 

 Spaniards, and although the Southern provinces 



