The morning news., 1888-08-19
rupture their alliance with the
conservatives, are replaced by
Semi-Officsa1 ststeynap4s that the

rupture their alliance with the
semi-oficsal statements that the
cartel viii be maintained in full. This
change Of front, cOincident with the Ben
ningsen- Bismarck interview, is a plain
declaration that Prince Bismarck does not
see any way to dispense with the existing
coalition of the government parties.
A CHANGE OF FRONT.
The North German Gazette, which has
hitherto supported the nationals, Is taking
an independent attitude, and having
changed its tune, advocates continuance
or the cartel, but warns the conservatives
against agitating, in conjunction with the
clerlcals. on the question of increased grants
to the schools, with increased privileges to
the clergy for controlling them
The Kreus Zeitung attributes the change
to the influence of the emperor, whose SYM
pathy with the conservatives remains strong.
AS long as the maintenance of the cartel
remained uncertain the overtures of the
national-liberals to the progressists for con-
certed action with Herr Richter and the
other leaders of the progressists were de-
clined
RICHTER's DECLARATION.
Herr Richter declared that the party
would not be mixed up in electoral
intrigues, but would act upon the
basis of its well known princi-
pies, believing that it would thereby
best preserve both its interests and its
honor. The irreconcilable attitude of the
progressists at the same time checked the
approaches OF the leaders of the center
who, while coquetting with the ultra con-
ServatlyeS, were throwing out feelerS to-
ward the progresses. The sum of the
position is tnat the electors will proceed
upon the same basis as the last election.
THE SAME RELATIVE STRENGTH.
The national liberals will be slightly
strengthened but practically the balance of
the parties will remain unchanged.
Herr Liebknecht's return to the reichstag
from the Sixth district of Berlin is fully as
sured. The efforts Cf the government
agents to obtain candidate supported by
coalition vote of the national liberals and
progressists are increasing, but their chance
of success is slight. The socialists are
hopeful of an increase of 5000 votes. The
anti-semites promote the candidature of q
man with christian-Socialistic views. The
election will be watched with intense inter
est everywhere, as test of the growth or
decline of socialism.
GERMAN CATHOLICS.
A congress of German Catholics will
meet at Fribourg, in Breisgan, in Septem-
Der. The two leading questions to be dis
cussed are the religious orders and the
regulation of the schools. DR.. Windthorst
is still in feeble health, but he promises to
animate the proceedings Of the congress by
his presence. His utterances, in view of
the landtag elections, will be tantamount to
a declaration of the platform of his
party, and will disclose what
tactics they are likely to follow.
Seeing the isolation of the clericals under
the renewal of the national-liberal conserva-
tive alliance, the leaders of the party are
now more in touch with the vatican.
THE PoPE's LETTER.
The pope's letter will be read to the con-
gress. In it he congratulates the centrists
for maintaining the rights of the church,
and shows that the vatican is glad the CEN
trists did not accept Prince Bismarck's
promise on the eve of the September strug-
gle 80 implicitly as the pope then desired.
The growing discomfort between the vatican
and Berlin will find frank voice in the con-
greSS