Show THE infallible KAISER y count ernest new book entitled the german emperor and the sycophants which will be pub bushed here at the end of tills week by J F lehmann is a fitting sequel to those astonishing revolutions of german coart life contained in the recently hohenlohe Hohen lohe memoirs the kaiser seen in the light ol 01 these Is no longer an heroic figure on the contrary one la impelled to regard him as a pathetic figure the victim of the unscrupulous sycophants who have gathered around his throne aad overwhelmed him with servile flattery in order to promote pro their own alms his majesty starts with a belief in the divine right of kings and the infallibility of mon archa and possesses a remarkable impressionable able mind these qualities make him peculiarly susceptible to servile flattery which has been cultivated as a high art at the german court the author gives an interesting explanation of the kai sers theory of the divine right of the kaiser does not believe in hs absolute infallibility but only in hs infallibility as compared with the faults of common mortals the kaiser himself admits that he commits indiscreet acts and in fact lies awake at night troubled by remorse for his In discretions of speech this is certainly a revelation of a new feature of the keisers kaisers kai sers character which is admirable and sympathetic but the keisers kaisers kai sers acknowledgment of his own fallibility is somewhat marred by his belief that ordinary mortals must continue to regard him as infallible ho himself may admit in his own mind that he has committed errors and may he awake sit night full of beorse for the mistakes but his subjects over whom he has been sent to rule by divine right must nevertheless regard him as infallible and above criticism the systematic sycophantism practiced in germany has strengthened tho keisers kaisers kai sers position as an absolute ruler when ho makes A speech there is a chorus of adulation vohen he travels sycophantic homage is paid to him on all sides his ministers are 1 sycophantic flatterers flatter ers afraid to tell him the truth about public affairs and his chosen companions are sycophantic satellites whose one aim is to curry favor by pandering to the monarchs susceptibility to flattery incidentally the author passes very severe criticism on the versatile interest which the kaiser manifests in so many subjects not directly connected with his duties ai a monarch the kaiser as la well known takes great interest in art literature theology invention ven tion commerce shipbuilding and many other divers subjects and count maintains that it Is impossible tor him to devote attention to so many matters and at the same time to discharge efficiently his administrative duties as ruling monarch the sycophant however carefully conceals from him the actual state of affairs the kaiser continues to live the belief that his methods of government are excellent and that his subjects are all delighted alth his rule baron speck von the german ambassador in washington is vigorously denounced as one of the most mischievous upholders of sycophantism ism and the german ambassador in london count von metter also receives his share of criticism london daily express |