New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-27
THE ELECTIONS IN PRUSSIA.
A FIGHT BETWEEN LIBERALS AND ULTRA
MC,NTANES.

a LARGE 11BEpAI MAJORITY ItElOhNhN
LOWER EoUsE OF THE LANDIAS-So~N
RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS. |
fFRoN TIE ApaIrI.AR CORRESPONDENT OF The rilp"'l
BEp1IS Nov 6-The members OF the Lower
Touse az the Prussian Landtag are chosen oy M in
vote Universal suffrage Is recoghiLeu III
che 1ootors are divided into three classes
va,ltn the first class being the richest but nunerea
,1 smallest the second including the smah pFope'o''
- nsrsons of moderate fortunes and the thru oeiuh
n,de mn of the great body of the unendoWeo' ha0"
Of these classes chooses an equal NUMBER OF eoc"S
tWaAlradnnerl aud these meet In common anu eeo' "o
parliamentary delegates The wealthy class 'hus na'
marked preponderance under this system IL does not
however that there much cashing between he
orsnrs OF that the will Of the numerical majority IN
district is often defeated by the combined power OF inc
soh But system is terrible obstacle 10 prompt
simate OF the result. Indeed, the final distribution oi
eneers be known until tho second stage OF tne
rocess pasedthat is to until the electors meet
AN event which generally takes place about week
sitter tho primary election. In the recent eecuohs Tue
liberals have chosen great majority OF these o'u
TORS and this assures them the preservation OF t"en
present strength IN the House. Berlin mas long oeeu
held by the Fortschridpariei the Radicals ana hee
Be no surprise caused by their triumph on the 2Sh
q of october.
The German radicals are not exactly repupHoaDS'
They profess no intention OF oyerthrowing inc SYSTEM
of monarchy or OF dividing the crown estates up a""E
the vorbngmen But they defend certain advanced
doctrines in regard the separation OF Chureh anu
State the supremacy OF the civil over the mhi1lry
mower etc. for which Germany is not yet ripe, ana loI
the early defense Of which the radicals are regnou
with horror by the sober champions OF throhe ana aa
1t natural that disconnected and awess IN inc
,arge cities should attach themselves to this party as
the most pronounced ia its hostility TO much III the eA
Eating order Of things But suspect that society is moi
an great danger from faction which Is ed oy sone %
che most able scholarly, and unsehsh men ID germany
and which, in 1885, furnished America such men as carr
schurz and Friedrich Hecker. The ForiSehrHsepdret
not only maintained its hold Berlin but 1t made note
worthy gains other parts of Prussia IL might nave
dono better 1t had not in many cases supported LID
eral candidates with view to combining all forces
against the UtramOntanes, and thus suffered as hIno
70 drop out Of the returns from some OF the more closely
noptested districts. The moderate Liberals also It,
oeiyed many accessons from Conservative sources
There ia q faction known Free Conservatives
faction with which some of the Ministers ST.; and when
vaciaes between tho other parties without rising 10
che dignity OF programme OF its own There Is mere no
issue over the OF government so the analogy Is not
complete; but their tactics the Free conservatives
resemble that group in the French Assembly when Vi
nates veen the two Ceners without exactly ident
fying itself with either.
There are good many Liberals In Prussia who shrink
from the II is not popular at court ana Is mo oo
feet OF much social dscouesy on 1.-THE part OF the ans
tocracy This year the Free Conservatives" as wei
as many not heretofore asserted the same de-
gree of independence, effected practical alliance with
the Liberals for the purpose Of joint resistance 10 the
IJltramontane intngues. The result shows ltset IN
great augmentation OF the Liberal HahImd"heT' Ih!s
rs the case especially in the Rhine country ana the
Province of POsen, where the IlramontdneS were al
once active. more numerous and more confident
The elections have Just passed through their second
and final stage. Tho WahtodnnerIhaye met and chosen
che deputies. The electoral art is not sufficiently
advanced in Prussia render exact estimates possible
directly after the preliminary poll. In the first place.
fi,a1 "a
The rural districts that local feelings rather
than national issues divide the people, and
the returns have mo public significance in the second
place, the WGirndiHer, instead OF having ther hands
tied Presidential electors in America, are accorded
An practice as well theory, certain freedom OF ac-
ton They meet not simply to register apredetermined
rsult bur TO discuss the merits Of candidates. and TO
choose OF the word the poll or the
ash of October served therefore, only to foreshadow
seu which the subsequent proceedings on the ih INST
made actual and precise.
That transformation OF parties, which have
steadily predicted Of the most striking issues OF
the struggle. The smaller fractions IN the House
disappear; the two representative parties both gaiD
This the substance of the returns and in view OF the
peculiar nature Of the contest and Of the circumstances
sn which il was fought out. feel that careful
account will be Of TO ali students Of current poll
tcs. Such performance will at any rate make
many q patriotic German breast swell with
pride and qualification. The press and the poll
q
attention Is paid by the outside world TO the
domestic affairs Of the Fatherand and especially that
scholars and thinkers abroad seem 10 look with such in
difference the mighty combat with the Holy See
There Justice in these structures. wish could
make every earnest American feel, keeny as 1 feel
that days Germany fighting for the civilized
world the battle OF against superstition; fight
ing not always from the best motives in the best
way but earnestly, thoroughly, and courageousy, the
cause OF intellectual freedom and progress.
The Pruss!an election was one battle Of this
great war. In summing up the results
II Is necessary 20 recolect that this is the first time that
The people Of Prussia have had opportunity speak
Oh the eccesiastca policy Of the Government The last
House was chosen In 1870 while all eyes directed
toward the terrible struggle which raging
The Rhine and before the Of the State in regard
10 the new dogma OF infa0ilty had been announced.
The subsequent legislation therefore obnoxious
the charge that 1t had been passed by Parliament
chosen for other purposes and other issues. This
raised that iTrepressble question, whether
Assembly has moral right 10 enter OF legls
iatiOn involving matters Of principle which have
peyer been submitted TO the people. This ques-
Hon was agitated in America at the tmo Of
the adoption OF the last amendment 10 the
Constitution. 1t is thrown to-day in the face of the
French Legislators at Versailles. But IN Prussia the
experiment Of popular institutions Is 80 novel, and the
direct power Of the Crown yet great, that such fine
constitutional distinctions not found very effective
ana tbcJ ulu not oetsr frnce BISMARCK from ask
arg the old LaDdtsg TO iDdorse bis policy and sup
ply him with the means Of carrying out. These as
you know, promptly accorded The clerical bills
were passed, and they enforced with all the
vigor the Government can command. The Utra
ontanes protested through their clergy and threatened
through their deputies but at last thrown back
the polls as the final court OF appeal.
There parliamentary factions. On the side Of
che Government, general sense, stand the National
Liberals had in the last house some ll5 seats the