Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
BlSMARCKS' COURSE.
His Attitude on German Affairs CannOtS
Yet be Definitely Deter
mined.
He Will Adhere to the Policy Upheld
by Him When in
Office.
The Catholics and Freisinnige Not
Pleased with the Old Man
Other News.

BERLIN, May 2.-Prospects of Bis
marck S early temperance In the eich-
stag has given an impetus to the govern
ment's plans for the Cancellation of the
various parties, so, as to render them
ready to coalesce In the governments in
terest. The centre and freisinnige parties
and the guelphs and poles in turn, receive
the government inducements recently
developed. The tendencies of the govern
ment towards the Cancellation of the
Poles ought justly to be ascribed in part
to the quickened sense of justice in dealing
with them. Whatever mixed motives may
animate the government the Poles Of
western Prussia and Posen have been favor
ably influenced by the freer use of the ma
tional language in schools, by the greater
facilities afforded them for the acquire
ment and sale of land and by increased
courtesy accorded by officers to Polish
families.
Today's debate in the lower house diet
on the budget for the commission for the
German coIonizing of western Prussia oc-
casioned remarks touching the govern
ments policy in Posen and provoked
Chancellor Won Caprivi to explain. He
denied that the government had conceded
to the Poles anything beyond
what came within the scope of the settle
ment law 1t had met the wishes
of the Poles as regards both schools and
church. The Poles on their part had
manifested a desire to bring themselves
into closer accord with the government.
This the chancellor said, was indeed a
pleasant and surprising change. IL the
Poles would take the lead upon the path of
reconciliation, the government and the
Germans were ready to follow.
The Victory Modified.
Bismarck's victory is modified by the
fact that he poled 1000 fewer votes than
did his national liberal predecessor The
socialist ballot was reinforced BY over a
thousand guelphists, the freisinnige
voters, whose hatred Of the prince ex-
ceeded their dislike OF the socialists The
prince, in an interview on the eve Of the
re-ballot, declared that if he went to the
Reichstag he would never attack
any policy directly initiated
by the emperor and that his line of con-
duct woald be the same as that followed
by him since he left Berlin. He was con-
WINGED that the greatest danger to the
fatherland was not from without but with
in. He would not refrain from exposing
it, but he certainly would never say any
thlng 10 give his opponents reasons TO
charge him with attacking the emperor
from personal motives.
This sort of assurances promises lively
times in the reichstag. The Hamburger
Nachrichten holds that the death of Won
Moltke adds to the desire of Germany to
see Bismarck in the forefront of politics.
"a sentiment of disquiet" says the
Nachrichten, fills the empire. The future
is uncertain. The new men into whose
hands has been confded the destini es of
the fatherIand cannot reassure the
country" The freisinnige and centrist
press is indignant at this language.
Treaty of Commerce
Austro-German plenipotentiaries will
sign treaty of commerce at Vienna to-
morrow.
The American department of The inter
national art exhibition is thorough sue
cess.
The appointment of Lieut.. Clarke of the
United States cavalry, to cerve with the
Dusseldorf hussars has evoked approving
comments from the press. The Vossiche
Zeitung says it is the first case of the kind
and ought to be recognized by America as
proof and pledge of warm feelings which
those In the highest station in the Ger
man empire entertain towards the great
commonwealth.