The senate and the _bourgeoisie_ of Hamburg had
made a gift of nearly 200,000 marks on behalf of the regiment of
Hanseatic infantry which fought at Loigny on December 2, and for
distressed veterans of that regiment.
Germany was in great need of something to distract her attention by a
stroke of exotic brilliancy and by the creation of some new object of
hatred. Enmity for ever directed against France, was beginning
somewhat to pall. This continually living on the strength of one's old
triumphs, made Germany to appear like some much-dyed old dandy, seeking
to gain recognition for past conquests by means of art and cosmetics.
The time had come to create a diversion. The German Emperor, King of
Prussia, has found it with his usual headlong impetuosity, the quality
which impels him always to seize things on the wing, to display
alternately the capacity of a genius, and that of a stupid
blunderer. . . .
March 1, 1896. [2]
German opinion persists in expressing its severe criticisms on the
subject of the Transvaal business and continues to display its sympathy
for the Boers. There is every reason to expect that German interests
will now be able to create for themselves numerous outlets in the
Transvaal.
William II has made another speech on the subject of the war of 1870;
in this he is like the tide, which the waves carry away only to bring
it back. Lord, Lord, deliver us from this torture! I, for one, can
bear it no longer.
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