The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-22

The German SoeihliStic Trouble
Chicago T1ibuns.
TEo'hard:blows have been dsalt'at'sO
ciAlism in Germany,-the opelby..ne'
combinations Of political parties conse
quent upon Bismarok's discardiDg Of thl
ultra Liberals,and the second by Bismarcl
himself In the submission TO the Fedora
Council, preparatory to It's introduction
in the Rsichstsg,:.of an unusually sever
bill for iu suppression. The effect Of th'
latter remains to be seen, but we can al
ready appreciate the full force Of the for
mer. II will be remembered that aitel
the frst attempt on the life OF the En-
peror the Government prepared u bill
Tor the suppression Of Socialism which
was 70 sweeping in its measures that The
Liberals, although they have always been
opponents OF the Socialists, at once desert
ed the Government and declared their
hostility TO the bill because It took The
punishment Of ofienses away from the
jurisdiction OF the tribunals where 1t be.
ionged and submitted 1t absolutely TO the
Administration. This vas the frat break
in the elements Of his old majority
When the second attempt was made tc
kill the Emperor, Bismarck seized upon
Il at once as n lever 10 use for his politi.
cal advantage. The Ultramontanes had
already agreed to support the Govern,
ment In any meWures Il might adopt
asainst Socialism, provided the Govern.
ment would make certain concessions rel.
alive 10 the Falck laws and other restrict.
i've Legislation against the Church, With
the Ultramontanes for the nucleus Of his
new party, and with the increased major
ity the Conservatives were likely 10 Sc
cure, there was every probability that
the little groups would add sufficient
strength 70 turn the scales in favor Of re-
action. He dissolved the Parliament,
and a new election was ordered upon the
ground that some new legislation wa nee
essary to protect the lie Of the Emperor,
or at least this was the only pretext that
appeared upon the surface. By this ell.
ection the Liberals, though still strong,
have lost seats, while the Ultramontanes
and Conservatives have made a consider
able gain. The weight Of the blow how.
ever, 80 far as representation in the
Reichstag Is concerned, has fallen upon
Socialists. While the total Socialist pop.
ular vote was largely increased over for
yeara, reaching some 100000 In the
Empire, Il was by no means effective In
seating candidates, owing to the new com.
binations Of other parties. For instance,
in Berlinit pollei $1,000 votes against
81, 900 last year, but 1t lost its. two mem.
bers from the city; and similar results
happened In all the large cities Of the
Empire, so that its array Of votes in the
Reichstag Is reduced from fourteen TO a
mere handful OF half a dozen. 10 Ber-
lini II improved the gift OF universal SUI
frage which Bismarck himself made to 1t
to the very utmost and gathered about
1t all the workmen out Of employment
and the large class Of people who had be.
disseminated with the existing state
Of things. From one point OF view 1t
was successful, and yet, while 1t is nu-
~merically stronger than ever before, 1t Is
at the same time relatively weaker.
In this anomalous condition, Bismarck
is preparing 70 strike the second blow at
II, and, il tie blow succeeds, it must be a
crushing one. The bill for the preyen-
ton Of its spread, which las taken the
usual course Of going to the Federal
Council for ita approval before submits
sion to the Reichstag, Is very sweeping In
It's character. 1t prohibits all aseocia:
lions, meetings, or publications in aid Of
Communicate or socialistic objects, allows
authorities Of cities and towns TO expel
sgents, and forbid them 10
pursue their trades as printers, booksel:
iers, or innkeepers, prohibits the sale oil
interdicted printed matter on the streets,
restricts the use and possession OF arms,
and invests the authorities with power 10
expel all unemployed persons from the
towns. The enforcement OF the law Is
taken out Of the jurisdiction Of the
ordinary tribunals, the central authori:
ties OF the Federal States being declared
TO be competent 10 deal with sll uGsnPe
against the law. Any appeal from their
decision must be made to an Imperial
Bureau created for the purpose, which, OF
course, would only be aiout OF The frying.
pan into the fire" As the principal
for the new election was tue
prevention Of Socialism, the Federal
Council will undoubtedly psss favorably
upon the bill, which will bring 1t before
the Reichstag, and thus give the first
indication Of Bismarck's strength. The
Conservatives OF all grades, Of course,
will 20 with him. and, with the Ultramon.
,anes added to them, he would have a
force probably 10 carry his
point, since he is q master who can &C.
a great deal with a very small
following. From the very bold manner
in which he has submitted his bill, with.
out in the least modifying its harsh terms,
It Ia evident that his recent dallYing with
the Papal Nuncio at Kissingen has been
to some purpose, and that he counts upon
a majority sufficient to carry out his pur.
pose to put down Socialism with the
strong hand Of force.