The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-21
Bismarck and the German Parliament.

cold as q sh's.
Bismarck and the German Parliament.
remarkable change has come over tho
political aspect OF Germany since the Open
ing OF the present session OF the Reichstag
The Chancellor has made direct assault
upon parliamentary privilege without wait
ing for the passage of his so-called Dis
ciplinary bill. The strenuous resistance
which he has thus far encountered is as
gratifying as 1t is unexpected, but the fact
that collision should be provoked at this
Juncture lends color TO the report that BIS
MARcK seeks pretext for dissolving the
Parliament. 1t is vain 20 deny, In view OF
the means of coercion rashly intrustcd to tho
Government by the anti-Socalist laws. that
a dissolution under existing circumstances
would be iraught with serious peril to the
cause OF representative institutions.
1t Is not to be forgotten that the political
character OF the present Parliament, elected
last September, was grave disappointment
to BISMARCK, who had counted on a Conserv-
alive majority. The necessity of repressing
the Socialist agitation was seized upon as
preJence for new appeal to the
NN"ANA hhthEh ltullbFt uIIT Iut
second attempt on the Kaiser's life.
the Natlonal-Liberal members OF the
former Reichstag showed themselves
ready to endorse n precautionary pol
icy Of extreme rigor. But the Chancel-
lor's reasons for dissolution were quite
as much OF financial as a disciplinary
sort Under q fiscal strlngency that was
sensibly gripping the resources OF the
empire, he was anxious not only to
control the voice, but the pocket OF
the people. The September elections.
however made no decisive change In
the relative strength of parties. The
thoroughgoing friends OF the Prime Minis
ter gained thirty-seven seats and the Lib
erals lost twenty-seyen; but the latter, in
conjunction with their natural allies, and in
presence Of Ultramontane neutrality, could
still control the Legislature. Accordingly.
very little was said about BISMARCK
financial projects during the first session.
and. indeed, nothing of Importance except
the Socialist bill was passed 1t was clear
that without q compromise with the Cath
olics State monopoly Of tobacco could
never secure the sanction Of the new Par
lament. and it remained to be seen. during
S'A' iNNNNag NASAHtA a ldiAu ItIllOutlltu on
protectionlst principles had more likelihood
OF success.
The recess has come and gone, and q
vigorous protectionist propaganda has
seemingly failed to scduce any considerable
proportion OF the National Liberals from
their habtual allegiance TO frce-trudo doe
trines. Experience has shown them that
the Chancellor may be trusted only so long
ms they retain the means OF self-defcnce, and
they shrink from violating the one principle
still held in common with the party OF
Progress, on whose aid they must rely in
critical emergencies. Such cooperation
was Indispensable for instance, In the cleo
toral contest Of last September when the
whole power OF BISMARCK was arrayed
against them. On the other hand, the ncgo-
tiatons between Germany and the Vatican
seem TO have borne no fruit, for, as the
events Of the past week have proved Herr
WINDHoRsT's hundred followers must still
be reckoned opponents OF the Government.
These facts must have been well known be-
fore the Rechstag resumed its sittings, and
the high.handed measures forthwith taken
by the Ministry can hardly be referred any
other motive than Il deliberate intention To
IiNNiilNNNS Il lhpNul's INcu llt SDeccu from
the throne was couched in an uiAyonted die
tatorlal spirit, and the peremptory refer
ence 10 protectonist legislation was nat
urally construed as an arrogant encroach-
ment on the freedom OF debate. But this
was nothing To the subsequent demand that
Parliament should approve tho arrest and
Imprisonment OF two Of its own mem
bers, who would thus be disqualified
from fulfilling their constitutional du-
ties. No wonder that the Liberals, finding
weapon OF their own forging turned
against the most inviolable privilege Of leg
islators, protested against such an appllca-
ton OF the ant-SOcialist regulations They
now find, as Herr LAsKER fOretold last au-
tumn. that the cause Of Herr FRITzsCHE
and Herr HAssELMANN was their own, and
that they cannot sacrifice the free exercise
OF electoral functions without SCATTERING the
groundwork OF parliamentary liberties. If,
under the working Of the October laws, the
person OF Socialist member is not safe to-
day, that Of Liberal may we'll be placed
in jeopardy tomorrow. Such prece-
dent once established, the German Parlia-
ment would cease to be an independent as
sembly for discussion and decision, aud
would sink into board like the Corps L.
gislatQ under tho Second Empire, an instru-
ment OF speechless and slavlsh registration.
But the Chancellor has not exhausted
the potent leverage supplied by the popular