The Emperor has, of course, not given titles to his speeches, and the headings have been assigned by the compiler. It has been his aim to explain the circumstances under which each address was delivered and to make plain the references to events embodied therein. Questions which have had a continuous interest, or which have had some lasting effect on Germany's policy, such as the attitude toward Alsace-Lorraine, the Social Democratic party, the retirement of Bismarck, the development of the navy, the Morocco question, have been treated at greater length on the first fitting occasion. For the introductions, therefore, the compiler assumes responsibility. In preparing them he has had recourse to many incidental sources of information, and in many cases the true inwardness of certain situations is still as much a matter of controversy as the causes of the present war. For his facts generally, he has followed where possible, besides such incidental and contemporary sources, Bruno Gebhardt's "Handbuch der Deutschen Geschichte" (1913), the "Cambridge Modern History--The Latest Age," volume XII (1910), and the volumes of the "Statesman's Yearbook." In addition, for information concerning the internal development of Germany he has consulted and drawn upon the literature of this subject which has appeared in the last decade, but is more particularly indebted to Doctor Paul Liman's "Der Kaiser," Dawson's "The Evolution of Modern Germany," Barker's "Modern Germany," Price Collier's "Germany and the Germans," Forbes's "William of Germany," Gibbons's "The New Map of Europe," and the "_Reichsgesetzblatt_." As the Emperor has spoken upon almost every phase of German political life, with the editorial introductions which aim to set forth briefly the occasion and causes of each address, it is hoped that altogether the volume will offer a fairly accurate picture of the trend of German affairs for the last twenty-five years. For help in the preparation of this volume, the writer is much indebted to his wife, whose assistance has amounted to collaboration. PRINCETON, N. J. _December 20, 1914_. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE v I THE HOHENZOLLERN TRADITION 1 II PRELIMINARIES 25 June 15, 1888--October 30, 1889. The First Official Act of the Emperor 25 Schloss Friedrichskron, June 15, 1888. To My People 28 Potsdam, June 18, 1888. First Declaration of Policy 31 Berlin, June 25, 1888. Opening of the Reichstag 39 November 22, 1888. The Emperor and the Striking Miners 45 May 14, 1889.