New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-01
THE GERMAN ELECTIONS.

The results Gf the German elections are indie
cisive. Second ballots will be required in as
many as a hundred districts, and until these are
taken the relative strength of the political fac
lions in the new Rcichstag cannot be asccr-
tanned. The Conservatives, who had II voting
force Of 10 in the recent Parliament, have
been defeated in many Of their strongholds,
and now muster only 60 members. The
Liberal factions have 80 in place of 125
seats, but are likely to improve their position
when the second ballots are completed. The Cen.
tire, or Catholic party, shows the greatest degree
of stcadincss, having secured 50 of the
1913 seats formerly held, with only tW0-thirds
of the Rcichstag actually chosen. At the same
time their natural allies, the Poles, Secession
lists, Protesters AMI Particularists, already
nave G3 supporters, whereas their com
bined force did not exceed 80 during
the recent session. The Socialists have not
reelected their nine representatives, but they
expect TO do so, and possibly to gain several
seats in the final ballots. The group winch
has Enthusiastically strengthened its position
Is the party Of Progress, a section Of Advanced
Liberals which has frequently carried its
radicalism so far to harass the Government
with Parliamentary opposition even when the
National Liberals were in majority. The Pro-
gressists have already reelected their dele
CATION in the last Parliament, and when the
second ballots occur they will undoubtedly
carry several closely contested seats.
The political condition of Bismarck Empire
has never been more unstable than nj present.
The National Liberals who once had compact
organization and clear majority over all fac
tions in the Rcichstag, are now reduced III
number and hopelcssly divided. The Pro-
gressists have become a powerful body of ir-
recOLcilable radicals, with their strongest con-
stituencies in the capital of the Empire. The
Conservatives have supported the Government
so submissively that they have aicnated the
sympathics of classes which have been alarmed
by the religious concessions made To- the Cntho-
lies for political reasons. Rome and Berlin
have made terms with each other, but the in
huence OF the Centre survives the aban-
donment OF the culturkampf. Under the
leadership Of Windhorst it remains the most
compact political organization in the Empirc.
and while it is the strongest and best disci-
pllned of the parties in the Reichstag. il i, tbc
most unmanageable. The other factions. Pro-
testers, Poles, Particuarists, Secessionists
after retaining their forces undiminish,d cleo
ton alter election, have now recruited their
forces from disallectcd classes, and are sfrouoer
than ever before. The parties in the Rcicbsfoc
cannot leglslate satisfactorily or give the Gov
eminent permanent support when they are all
pulling in different directions, and are liable 70
break mp into fragments whenever any mes
ton Of supreme interest is brought TO an issue.
The National Liberal and Conservative parties
have been the most homogeneous in the past.
and now that they are less cohesive than tbcy
were, the general confusion has become worse
cOnfoundcd.
The Chancellor will devise some way Of ret
ting on. He Is never at his wits end in
dealing with political factions, and. ~ he has
grimy summarized his Parliamentary cypcri-
ence, any stick is good enough to beat doc
with. lie will form some fantastic alliance and
by diyerting public attention with novel lecis-
lation will get on in one way or another. lie re-
CARDS il as The main business of a Chancellor IN
manage the factions in that general debating
society, the National Parliament, and he con-
trivos TO do this even when his followers are
defeated at the polling places and his enemies
returned in triumph. There is scarcely class in
the Fatherland that is not disconnected with
the conditions of public lile-that does not want
a change Of some kind in the social, economic
ecclesiastical OF political systems: and tic only