The Standard quotes from a French paper, the Gil Bias,
a report of a recent conversation between the German Emperor and some person in Styria during the recent hunting, which, bad as the authority is, somehow looks true. The ideas are precisely those which no French paper would attribute to his Majesty. The Emperor spoke kindly of the Alsatians, as true Germans, whom he wished to entrust with the administration of their province, though, of course, it must remain German. The Empire would try to increase the material prosperity of the Reichsland, "for I do not think I am quits with it when I have increased its garrisons." The Triple Alliance was a League of Peace, and he perceived no sign of war in any direction. "I will launch into no adven- tures any more than my grandfather did." The "Socialists have been treated too long as savage enemies." "I shall force peace on the domestic foes of the Empire," but "if order is disturbed, my Army will do its duty." "I will complete my grandfather's work,—Germany united and Europe pacified." The Standard's correspondent who sends the story suggests that the words were really spoken, though not in Styria or to any Austrian. They certainly seem to express the Emperor's thoughts, and may have been uttered to one of the minor Princes, who repeated them.
