New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-30
WHY THE ELECTIONS WE'RE ORDERED,

STRENGTH OF FACTIONS IN THE LAST REiCHsTAG-
GROWTH OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY.
General elections for the German Rechstag
or Parliament viii take place to-day. The number OF
members Is 397. Whenever there Is contest IL IL
Tor one OF the candidates 10 obtain more than
half the total number Of votes polled. A single
vote In excess Of the half is enough to rem
der tho election valid At the last general
elections in 1877 decisive result secured at once
I'm 327 cases. with tho following party distribution; Ma
tiona Liberals, 1O2; Centre, 90 Conservatives "a
Uuionists or members Of the German Imperial party,
80; Progressists 20; Poles, 10; socialDemocras, 10
The remaining 20 places had TO abide the result Of a
second or restricted" election In which tho choice OF
the electors confined TO the two candidates who had
received the highest number OF votes at the first
election. In January, 1877, there were III Ger
many 02s persons the electoral lists as entitled
70 vote at the elections for the Rechstag or these
5557774 persons actually voted; 15G043l votes were
given TO the National Liberal candidates. 43229l TO the
Progressst candidates; 1923 TO candidates OF
the other Liberal denominations; 1O026i4 TO the
candidates OF the Ceutro Ultramontale party; 540
lO3 TO the Conservatives; 437 663 TO UnOnist cand
dares while the Social Democrat votes numbered 49,
OOs or nearly tenth part Of the whole number OF votes
polled.
At the first general elections 10 tho RechstaR In 1871
there were l23,975 votes recorded for Socialist cand
dates At the second general elections in 1874 the total
l,Zl
million votes If the elections had been conducted on
the English pnncipe OF relative majority, at
least thrty-hve Socialists would have been re-
turned, and as II was, twenty-four candidates
stood at the head OF the poll, and twelve were
eventually admitted 10 seats. In the present campaign
they have been concentrating their forces upon such dis
res as have offered fair prospects OF success and have
spared no efforts gaining their object The compost
ton of the Rechsag will undoubtedly undergo great
change II is expected that the Conservatives VIII
gain thirty at the expense OF the National Liberals
The Conservatives have put forth an appeal 10 the cleo
tors pedgng themselves In advance To any measures
which the Government may deem it to adopt against
the Socialists. There will be i'm all probability strong
section Of the Natono Liberals that will unite with
them.
The last Diet was the first that had been dissolved by
the Government before its term-three years-expired.
When the wires conveyed 20 the Chancellor tdings OF
H6deps attempt F" Rs sSsssna Measures AGAINST
the Socialists" and two days afterward a bill
was approved by the Cabinet and 70 inc Fed
elastic It's scope that II would have enabled the GOV
ernment to suppress any free uter c OF
was sent up from the Liberal camp. Inc right
wing Of the NATIONAL Liberals wavePea fr 70
vote for the bill. Gnest proposed an amend an mo
me t pS Sational Liberals who decide the question
when 1t 20 vote threw out the bl The social
Democrats stated that II was incomDatble with their
dignity 70 take part the discussion The Ultramon-
tame speakers, stated plainly that the Government
might count on the support OF the Church OF Rome
an lis war against the Social Democrats II II would
do away with the May Falck laws. The Conservative
sneal4eis defended the measure Herr Won Bennlgsen
leader of the National Liberals opposed the Dill IN ayO-
lent speech. The amendment OF Herr Gnelst,
Which proposed that the liberty OF the press
and OF meetings should De suspended dur
ing the recess, and that a Penal CODE
amendment Bill should be introduced in the next ses-
t Was rejected by 240 against 60 votes, and finally
tbe entire bill by PSI against 81 votes When tue seI9hu
,,emut was made assasslnate the Emperor tue Par-
lament was dissolved land new elections we're ordered