The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-15
nismnrck,s Rebuff.

Blsm0fCh'S htcDNHs
Since tho present sossiun Of the Relchstng
opened the German Chancellor has suffered
a series OF alIronts, which. IN the Judgment
OF his partlsans might Justify a summary
dissolution It has beoono doubtful, how
ever. whether that arbitrary measure would
avail TO strengthen his hands. SO united
| and strenuous has been the resistance to hls
proposed interference with tho freedom Of
debate in the Bciehstag, that tho pub
| lie opinion OF all parties not openly
| pledged to rogistor tho DEGREES Of BTs-
MARCK, seems 70 be heartily enlisted on
the side OF his antagonists. Moreover, IL
is reported that tho next election will wit
ness the creation Of a now and formidable
liberal party, embracing all the vital Gle
ments Of opposition, and taking rank forth
with among the powers Of the State. II Is
this result OF the attempt to muzzlc the Ger
man Legislature which invests its recent
proceedings with peculiar interest.
There is no doubt that the resoluto attl-
tude OF the Relchstag was, on the whole, q
surprise to BISMARCK. II is truo that the
Progressist party In the Bavarian Lower
House, and tho Ultramontanes everywhere,
had denounced the Disciplinary bill, and
had sought TO assure it's rejection by the
Federal Council. On tho other hand, the
Nationals in the Prussian Lower Chamber
had seemed to play once more into the
hands Of the Government, their leader, Herr
Won BENNIGsES, having protested his ina
bility 10 protect outsiders from the insults
Of members in that assembly. This enun-
citation was exultinRly proclaimed by tho
official organs TO be tantamount TO a decla-
ration OF bankruptcy in the disciplinary
powers OF Parliament Thereupon il was
boldly asserted that the mere fact of tho
Emperor summoning the Reichstag could
not be construed as involving n suspension
of a decree against those Deputies expelled
from Berlin under the Socialist law.
Herr FRITZsCHE and Herr HAssELMs Nm,
however, having returned to fulfil tho peo-
pies mandate, the Chancellor introduces n
motion that the Legislature should consent
to tho criminal prosecution and impriSsn-
ment of its delinquent members. But on the
10th OF February, after a superb defence OF
parliamentary freedom on the part Of Herl
LAsKER, it was all but unanimously rs
solved to refuse to tho Government the de-
eired permission to arrest theso Deputies. \
I Il was furthermore declared tarly the so
called Conservatives and Imperiflists with
holding their votes on the occssionl that 1t
had not been contemplated fore moment,
in framing the October laws. the n legis-
lator might be prevented by police order
OF expulsion from taking his due share In
the proceedings OF Parliament. Accord
ingly,i Just as PYM and HAMPDEN kept their
seats in spite OF STAMFORD, 10 4ho two
Socialist agitators continue to defy tie Ger
man Chancellor from the benches Of the
ReichstaC.
Not only was the so-called Parliamentary
Discpline'till, or muzzle measure, reisated.
bat the debate was marked by the most
dauntless and vehement language ia many
quarters. Speaking Tor the solid phalanx OF
the Catholic members, Herr WISDHoRsT
charged the Chancellor with Attempting 70
crush the Socialists with one hand and to
persec1te the Church with the other. Re-
minding him that under the system OF com
pulsory service the German army was moth
ing more or less than the German people,
he warned BISMARCK that main force would
prove utterly powerless to stine the re-
formers. The speaker added that he topped
no might not live 10 see the terrific ex-
plosion which must follow repressivo meas
ures. Herr LAsKER, as the spokesman Of
the worthiest Nationals, declared that Ia
Prince BIsMARCK's unwarrantcd aggression,
and nowhere else, would be found the true
element OF disorder In the debates, and he
went on TO hint that the first aim OF gag
law should be TO regulate the language OF
the Government. We are not surprised 10
learn that tho Chancellor ostentatiously
quilted the House on more than one oc-
cason to avoid the grievous necessity OF
answering or listening to such remarks.
On the whole 1t seems TO be the convic-
tion Of the German press that dissolution
OF the Reichstag is imminent, although, on
some accounts, the Government might pre-
fer 10 appeal to the rural population at
later season Of the year 1t is certain that
the Federal Council, where BISMARCK is all
powerful, would not scruple TO sanction
such course But the intentions OF Herr
LAsKER and other prominent members Of
the old National party are no secret. They
propose it seems 10 secede from that dis
credited organization, and thoy would I'M
doubtedly carry with them most OF its ear
nest, able, and popular members. After such
a schism, the Nationalist would be hope
lessly ruined in public esteem, while Herr
LAsKER and his coadj tutors, coalescing with
the party OF progress, would develop very
radical opposition, already strongly III
trenched in the Rcichstag and which would
daily grow in strength throughout the
country.
Alliances with the Nobility.