New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-07
4 GERMAN ELECTION PROGRAMME.
necessity

|
| GERMAN ELECTION PROGRAMME
The most influential political organization in
Germany is striving to reinvigOrate itself by
adopting popular programme on the eve of
| the general elections The National Liberals
In appealing to the country, favor a reduction
of the term of active military service from
| three to two years. The numerical strength
of this party in the Reichstag declined from
| $50 in February, 1874, to 1875 in March,
1877, and 80 in September, 1873. From the
establishment of the Empire to his first frantic
appeal for the passage Of force bill against
the Socialists it had given the Chancellor an
almost unbrOken support, aiming to make
| the Empire strong without and compact
within, to provide 1t with comprehensive
civil and penal codes and to restrict
| the privileges of the separate States and
| the influence of the ecclesiastical Offices.
1t had voted for all the great measures pro-
| posed by the Chancellor, for the organization
of the military system. the Falk laws and the
| Civil Marriage bill, without being represented
| in the Ministry or forming Government
| party. Yet after the second attempt upon the
EmperOr's life it's leaders were vehemently
| attacked and the pressure of the Government
was brought to bear against it in the general
| election, so that its losses, combined with
those of the advanced Liberals, amounted to
fOrtysiX seats. The moral of defeat was taken
to heart so directly that those who in MAY had
pronounced the proposed law tyrannical came
to regard it in October not only as necessary
but as patriotic by this abrupt change of
front their influence with the country was seri-
Ously impaired.
The reconciliation did not last long. The
Chancellor had marked ont for the Rcichstag
course of legislation which required new 30.
litical combination. He could not expect the
National Liberals to rcnounce Free Trade for
Protection suddenly and intentionally as
he himself had shifted his ground. With them
an economic theory political principle,
and they could not face about at moments
notice. With him it was only a legislative ex-
pertinent, and as he suspected that it
was not working well he was in hot
haste to try something else. So he
dropped his old allies, and after re-
| opening negotiations with the Nuncio
| Masea at Kssngcn arranged with the Ccri-
| calls the terms which an economic rcvolu-
ton could be brought about. The National
| Liberals found themselves in minority when
the Protective Tariff and Corn Law were
| voted, and when at later period the Minis
| try was empowered by the Prussan Landtag
| laws. Unable to thwart the Chancellor's will
| in measures of supreme Importance, such as
| the tariff, the increase of the army and the
ecclesiastical and anti socialist laws they have
| cOntrivcd, with the aid of the Clcricals, to
harass him continually in minor matters
! such az the absorption of Hamburg in the
Customs Union, Tobacco Monopoly, the Eco
| nomcal Council and WOrkingmen's Insurance
These successes may have retarded rather
| than promoted the reorganization of the party
| Political independence has been evinccd but
| resistance has been offered to n series of
| schemes nominally designed for the benefit
| of the disaflectcd classes of the Fatherland.
The Insurance bill, for example, az it was
originally framed, opened an Imperial Office in
which workingmen could be protected against
| accident largely at the expense of employers and
the State but, ~ it was finally passed. every
State was to have its own separate agency
| and the cmploye was not to receive any
special bounty from his employer or the public
! treasury. The amendments may have been
wise, but they have not tended 10 increase the
popularity of the party with the masses.
The Chancellor has decided advantages of
position over the National Liberals IN the ap-
preaching elections. by stamping out an or
ganizcd revolt against the Imperial system he
German society, and ut the same time by re-
vcrsinS the economic policy, and tlns giving
| the people something new to think about. and
by cspousing the cause of the working classes
and bringing forward several snowy schemes
OF state socialism, he has done something to
quiet Il social rcstlessncss which at one time
mrnaccd the Fatherand with Russian disor
ganization. He can appeal to the people with
the air of Il benevolent Minister who has had the
welfare of his masters subjects at heart and lis
tened atcntivcly to the popular demands. but
who has been constantly thwartcd by doctrinairc
leaders and factous parties in the Rcchstag.
and never allowed to have his own way The
National Liberals realize that it will not be n
sufficient answer to this charge to impute
purely political motives to the Chancellor in
Introducing these fantastic measures If they
are to retain their influence over the masses
they must have something to offer in their
turn-sOmcthing that the people really want
something that is easily understood. Accord
ingly they ground their election programme
upon reduction of the term of military ser
vice.
TIE LUNACY or EGOISM
Ia.