New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-26
TALK OF THE CONTINENT
AFFAIRS OF INTEREST IN GERMANY AND
FRANCE.
CHRISTMAS IN A ROYAL HoUsEHoLD-PR1NCE
BIsMARCK's ACTIvITY-A STRONG Aces
SION TO BoULANGERs RANKs-ToUGH
PROBLEMS FOR THE FRENCH GOV.
ERNMENT-THE PANAMA coll
LAPSE AS AN ELEC

| PROBLEMS FOR THE FRENCH GOV
ERNMENT-THE PANAMA coll
LAPSE AS AN ELEC-
ToRAL FAVOR
| Berlin, Dec. o5.-The Empress has been actively
engaged In buying Christmas presents for the Court
and the Royal family. Last evening, after the I'M
peria dinner at the palace the gifts were distributed
The household officials of the Empress and the
| Dowager Empress Augusta made unusually largo
| purchases for distribution among the poor Yester-
day the Emperor, accompanied by Princes William
and Frederick, visited the Empress and Dowager-Em
press and then Joined the chidren's party at the
| schloss. where, among other presents, was re-
splendcnt Christmas tree from Empress Frederick
THE EMPEROR uoNoRED By sHIPBUILDERs
| When the Emperor visited the Vulcan shpbuldinr
| Works at Bredow. on Saturday, he was greeted by
3OOO workmen who lined the approach TO the works
crown OF laurels was offered 10 His Majesty, who in
accepting It said al thank YOU These are the first
laurels that have been offered to am happy 10
think that they are the laurels Of peace
LIEUTENANT wIssMAN's PLANS.
When Lieutenant wissman returns from visiting
friends at Lauterburg the staff appointments for the
Emin relief expedition will be made. Tho prepare
lions for the expedition will be necessarily DELAYED
until the Government plans assume moro definite
shape In connection with the report that the Gov
TO the colonial force, Lieutenant Wissman IS already
named as the probable appointee. Count Pfen, the
agent OF the East African Company, is mentioned as
the probable Governor OF the territory.
Lieutenant Wissman's appointment as an Official
Of the foreign service is confirmed.
PRINCE BISMARCK CONCENTRATES lord SAILS
BURY.
Prince Bismarcks illness which has given rise to
alarmist rumors in the Progressist press and the
| Lt.Aor d rrrE
Chancellor He has sent by telegraph his congrati-
Iations TO Lord Salisbury regarding the English VIC
tory at suaRinl
THE CHANCELLOR AND SIR T. D. MoRIER
Prince Blsmack Ignores the appeal Of SIR r. D.
Morer the British Ambassador at ST. Petersburg, 10
authorize an official contradiction of the charges re-
Gently made by "The Cologne Gazette" OF his having
anti-German leaninrs and Of having, while at Darn
stadt IN 1870 cent the first Of the advance OF
the Germans the Moselle to london whence
the news reached Bazaine. The English Embassy do
not expect that Prince Bismarck will direct the semi
official press to adopt more moderate tone on the
contrary they think that unless the objects of the
attack are attained. he may give orders that more
aggressive attitude be a NImed
OPPONENTS OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.
Paris. Dec. o5-Gcneral Boulanger's cause has
ceived an immense accession in the candidature OF
General Montauban for seat In the Chamber OF
Deputies. His appearance as candidate in the DC
partment of the somme, coDjoined with General Bou-
LANCER, opens favorably for the Boulangists a most
momentous election campaign. The Ministers feel
the danger acutey, and to-day they held council at
the Elysee to consider how to face the situation.
General Montauban gives his cachet to the armys
support Of BOulangcr. He says Since Gravelotte'
when he held in check the attack Of Won stenmetzs
corps on the left of the French lines, his name has
been cherished by the Army. During the five years
of his command Of the Second Army Corps he added to
| his popularity
General Montauban's election address is frank
espousal Of the Boulanger programme. He denounces
the Chamber Of Deputies as being poweriess Tor gooo
as offending the National conscience and as compro-
missing the interests of the country. He demands
the summoning Of a Constituent Assembly as alone
competent 10 express the National will He In
vokes his own past showing that hitherto be was
a stranger to personal party Quarrels, and that he
is now actuated solely by motives OF patriotism
General Montauban appears as Conservative His
return TO the Chamber is certain
The assaants Of the Government now comprise
Conservatives wanting revision Bonapartists and
Boulangst Radicals In the Government ranks tho
Opportunists and Moderatcs have strong personal
element. MN. Floquet, Clemenceau, Ferry Lacour,
Remeh and other leaders divided on the question
of the necessity of revision of the constitution, but
are united against Boulanglsm.
NJ FIoquet dominates now and appears TO be de-
leagues to draw away Conservative support from
Boulangcr by profferng revision bill, accompanied
by a scrutin Acknowledgement measure, or one man,
one vote SYSTEM and then dissolve the Chamber
THE PANAMA COLLAPSE AND THE ELECTION.
The influence of the Panama Canal collapse on
the electorate depends upon variety Of chances, IN
Guiding the time al which the election Is held. II
the peasant shareholders, who are now unable TO
realize that their savings have been swamped, get
time 10 connect their ruin with the present form OF
the Republic, General Boulanger viii triumph. Meet
ings of Panama shareholders in provincial certres con-
unue 10 pass resolutions in support OF NJ dc Lesseps,
and TO sign engagements binding them TO forego the
payment Of interest by the company. This action,
however does not affect the general belief that the
company has collapsed At meeting at bordeaux
on Sunday 200 shareholders signed an agreement to
forego the payment OF interest and at Anglers yes
terday several hundred signatures were obtained to
similar agreement.