The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-25
GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS.
Depression in Germany Caused by Failure
Crops and Heavy Taxation.

Depression In Germany Caused by Failure of
Crops and Heavy Taxation.
LONDON, March 24.-The situation in
Westphalia has not been exaggerated. The
scanty crops of last season have been ex-
hausted, and private advices represent the
distress there as being very great. The
government will be compelled to come to
the assistance of the most destitute, but
this relief can only be a temporary one and
the growing discomfort among the peasant
ry may be manifested In q disagreeable
manner. The outlook is hopeless while the
crushing armaments are sustained, taxes
increased, and the able-bOdied hy from the
country.
Eastern Prussia is still worse off, There
are no laborers for the fields, and a PROPOSE
tion has even been made to import Chinese
laborers to till the soil there. For it's sting
ing comments upon this improbable resort.
the latest number of the Paris Charivari
has been relentlessly confseated in Berlin
and other German cities, with the natural
effect of creating intense demand for 1T.
The Partisan sheet gives ideal illustrations
of the results of mingling the Mongolian
and Prussian races, and indulges in various
conjectures more lively than compliment
ary. as to the future career of the helmeted
pig-tails.
Newspaper Prosecutions in Germany.
LONDON, March 24.-It is now pretty well
understood in Berlin that the government
will not proceed with its prosecution of the
Volks Zeitung, owing to the fact that the
dowager Empress Augusta and the Duchess
of Baden have declined to take the neces-
sary initial steps. Nevertheless, the new
socialist law to be proposed in the Reichs-
tag will pretty effectually prevent any OBJ
lectionable publication in the future. The
law. which, it is said, has already been sub
fnI 30 AI,n II
that any journal. Socialist or otherwise,
publishing matter hostile to the govern
ment, its officials, or members of the i'm
perial. royal or ducal families, shall be pros
ecuted Hnder a code laid down in the act.
Some doubts are expressed as to the ability
of the govs rnment to pass the bill in the
shape indicated, but if it shall be passed
the last vestige of the freedom of the press
in Germany will be gone.
Germany's New Anti-Socialist BILL
BERLIN, March 24.-The new penal bill,
according to the newspapers. is much
briefer than the anti-Socialist law which it
replaces. 1t tends to remove the distinc-
tion hitherto held regarding Social Demo-
crafts provides for more stringent deal
ing with potlGhal, crimes and insults to the
pulsion by % mere police authority,
and provides for short or long expulsion
after trial. for attacks on the fundamental
basis of the state organization and the
monarchy, or on the sanctity of marriage.
The most important new provision author.
ICES the permanent interdiction of periodi-
calls and papers guilty of offenses against
the law and the dissolution of societies and
meetings. 1t is stated that the bill will be
discussed secretly by the Bundesrath, and
| that it will be submitted to the Reichstag
| before Easter.
Webster's Important Misstatement.
| LONDON, March 24.-Mr. Louis, solicitor
for the Parnellites, writes to call attention
to an amazing and important misstate
ment" with reference to Piggott which wal
made by Attorney general Webster, in tn,
| House of Commons. on Friday last. III,
says the letter referred to by Mr.. Webste
as having been placed in Sir Charles Rus
| sells hands five days before Piggotts ap
! pearance in the witness-box was lette
| from Mr.. Soames to Piggott, and two othe
letters from PiggOtt to Soames, in whicl
] Piggott admitted that he feared to underg
| a cross-examination, were withheld by tn
| Times lawyers. Mr.. Lewis says it is fac
that neither counsel nor the solicitor TO
the Parnellites had notice of the existenc
of these two letters until Piggott had de
camped.
| Ra.uIfs nf fha Conncr Coyauso