The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-02-17
The Talk About Prince Bismarck Re-
signing Fails to Alarm Anybody,
And His Newspaper Organs Declare There Was
No Foundation for the Report Except the
Desires of the Great Mans Enemies.
There Are Indications, However, of I'm.
pOrtant Changes in the Government.
Arbitrary and Aggressive Action of Germans
Toward Americans and Englishmen in
the Samoan Islands-Other Cable News.


CHANGES IN GERMANY.
Other Changes Are Imminent.
Copyright 1882 by the New York Associated Pressl
BERLIN, Feb. 16.--The semi-oficial press,
after initiating and fomenting excitement
over the rumored intention of Prince Bis
marck to retire from public life, now turn
round and declare that the agitation has a
purely artificial origin. The hints thrown
out regarding his successor were obviously
designed to influence the Nationalists to
return to that absolute submission to the
Chancellor against which, recently, they
have been inclined to rebel. But, apart
from the allusions of the semi-official press,
several coincident facts have pointed to
coming eventful changes in the govern
ment. The public discussion of the prob
able results of a diminution of Prince
Bismarck's functions has not pro-
duced that general alarm which it was
hoped it wOuld create, so instructions
appear to have been given to the Chancel-
lor's organs to minimize the Importance of
the current report. There is nothing in it
at all, says the Cologne Gazette; at the best
it is mere "bier- book gesprachen-pot-house
chatter. The Prince is well and possesses
the fullest confidence of the Kaiser. No
one in the country, except perhaps, Herr
Richter, thinks it will either displace or
overthrow him. No earnest political party
would disturb itself by debating the chances
of the Chaneellor's retirement.
The North German Gazette, to-day, takes
less scornful tone. 1t refers to the all
absorbing interest of the topic and finds an
explanation for the ferment of the press il
the supposed semi official origin of the ar
ticle published in the Hamburg y Nachrichten,
and quoted thence by the North German
Gazette, which gave unwonted prominence
to said article. The paper now declares
that it was not written, as was surmised,
by any one in Prince Bismarck's encourage.
Its suggestions that Count Waldersee would
be the Chancellors successor in no
wise emanated from the Wilhelmstrasse.
The conclusion drawn from these
contradictions is that Prince Bismarck,
no matter what momentary inclination he
may have had to withdraw from the wor-
ries of official life, now means to cling to
every post he holds. The discussion has
had an all-important result in revealing the
expectations of the imperial circle regard
ing the government after the departure of
Bismarck. The Emperor has not concealed
from his intimate circle his conviction that
Bismarck cannot be displaced. When he
chooses to retire the Emperor will not ap-
point another bs The
the functions of Chancellor, with soldier
statesman as adlatus. The reference to a
soldier-statesman points to Count Walder-
see, concerning whom Bismarck's organs
continue to advise the Nationalists to culti-
vate distrust.
The Trau Schau Wen proyerb is thrust
word Herr Fischer, a Nationalist Deputy
and the burgomaster Of Augsburg, has
xbendpost Asdp Explaining % 'f What tsSSfdd Yncifed
| Prince Bifmarck to warn the Notion
alists. The Nationalist committee recently
| addressed to number of members OF the
reserve in their attitude toward the inter
nal policy of the Chancellor, whose declin-
| ing powers, said the letter. become more
and more apparent. Bismarck got hold of
a copy of the letter and raised hurricane
treachery. He would have disrupted the
committee, but he finally selected line of
action aiming to show the party that his
powers were unshaken and that the couu-
try could not do without him.
An open collision between Bismarck and
| Waldersee is anticipated over the artillery
credits during the debate in the Reichstag,
early in March, The report of Waldersee,
| now before the Bundesrath, demands large
extra credit. Bismarck opposes the demand,
and Schellendorf sides with the Chancellor,
denying that there is any necessity for the
amount Waldersee recommends. The En-
peror is undecided but he shows a tendency
| in favor of Waldersee. Whether the in
ternal crisis bursts into an open rupture or
not, the fact is certain that the influence of
| Count Waldersee over the Emperor grows,
while that of Prince Bismarck wanes.
| Count Won Schellendorfs long-pending
| withdrawal from the War Office will be
| hastened by the dispute. The Waldersee
| circle announces that his successor Will be
| General Kaltenb9n-Staehan.
The resignation of DR.. Won Schilling,
| nent. He has compromised his position by
| an imprudent speech in the Landtag and
| by want of judgment. In responding for
| the members of the Reichstag, when chal-
| lenged by the Progressist Hermes in the
| Unterhaus, regarding the Celtic ken docu-
ments. DIR. Won Schilling had the impru-
| dence to question the right of the Landtae
| to interfere, and referred them to his state,
ments in the Reichstag Progressist Nun.
/ kel had the House with him in vindicatiOn
| of the right of the Landtag to demand al
/ fhe position of Herr Won Scholtz, Minis
| ter of Finance, is also shaken on account OF
/ the taxation proposals, which caused dis
| satisfaction to both the agrarian and in
| dust-ial parties. The Tageblatt mentions
Herr Misquel as likely to be appointed
Financial Minister.