The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-08-04
5 557 ,774 voted, the PARTITION of the popu
lar vote being as follows:

/
| The rem ainder of the votes were divided
among the candidates of the minor groups
above enumerated.
Precisely why the Government should
have forced dissolution by bringing down
two months ago the severely repressive
anti Socialist measures it has been hard
for many people Co understand. The at
tempted assassination of the Emperor had
compelled the Socialists to disavow con-
nection with the criminal or sympathy
with his aims and methods, but the mass
of the people held them virtually RESPONSE
BILE, and q strong reaction had set in against
their doctrines among the very classes
where the Socialist propasanda had pre-
viously been most successfully prosecuted.
When the Prussian Government brought
in its scheme for suppreSsipg obnoxious
associations and prints, it Immediately
checked the favorable reaction and turned
all the Liberal elements to regard and
dread the return of absolutism rather than
the approach of anarchy. The Feudalists
and not the Socialists became the objects
of apprehension. 1t is suggested as q
likely solution that the former really
thought it possible to force the bill through
during the excitement, and to complete
the success begun with the withdrawal
from the Cabinet of DR.. Falk and the Lib
erals. It was, on the other hand, charged
openly in debate that the Government had
introduced a bill that it knew could not
be passed so as to obtain a pretext for
dissolution. To our minds that would
seem at least as reasonable a hypothesis as
the other. The National Liberals had not
been 30 tractable as of yore; they had
defeated Prince Bismarck's pet scheme of
the tobacco monopoly and had refused to
ga notion the transfer of the railways to the
state, and he may have believed that he |
would make gain by an appeal to the |
country. AS against the Social Democrats |
he has certainly been helped by the second |
attempt upon the Enperor's life, and eus- |
picioDs exist amuug the National Liberals |
that he will weaken them by securing the |
substitution of more amenable men for |
some of their leaders. 1t certainly looked |
as If there were grounds for such q suspi-
cion when in SoDneberg SsuIfeld (Saxe
Prince Bismarck's SOD Herbert |
was found opposing the eminent National
Liberal leader, Herr Lasker, from whom
support was withdrawn, the name of Bis
narck being deemed such a tower of
strength that Count Herbert was preferred
20 the territorial lord and heir of the duke
1om. Later mail advices, however, declare
hat tie young man would seek q seat
been Cumming like q hive" what with
candidates and keen coutro-
7ersies. The Liberals of Kulmbac warn
ID Prince Hohenlohe, the Ambassador to
Paris, that they could no longer support
lis candidature because of his views on
he tobacco monopoly, the army budget
md the anti Socialist laws, but the Prince
insists on running and pledges his oat- and
'ut support to the Government. Herr
)elbrock is an Independent candidate for
lena. Prince William of Baden, brother
# the Grsud Duke. who in 1871 represent
d Bruchsal as q National Liberal ia now
he Conservative candidate. The Ultra
nontanes have instructed their frieDde to
'ote with the Conservatives in districts
vhere their own candidates cannot secure
beir return in Dortmund for instance,
saronGvon BOdelschwing, Conservative, is
by the centre. Naturally, on
be other side, the National Liberals and
be ProgreRsists have been forced nearer
ogetheT, and in SaxOny have concluded q
Ormal alliance. On the whole, even if it
J BOt likely that Prince Bismarck will
ONE out of the confessed contest strong
nough to dispense entirely with the Lib
raj National support which in times past
as so often proved invaluable TO him, ,
seems reasonably certain that he will
improve his position, and be able to secure
imself ultimately against the annoyances
9 has experienced during the past eigh- y
Sen months. I