The sun., 1891-05-02
Bismarck Elected to the Reichstax.

It will be remembered that at tho recent
by-election in tho Nineteenth or Geeste-
mlnde district of Hanover. Prince BISMARCK
received . plurality over his Socialist,
Freisinnige. and Guelph competitors. Ac-
cording to the German electoral law only
those two OF the four candidates that had
the largest number Of votes could take part
In the supplemental contest. Consequently.
in the second balloting. which took place on
Thursday Of this week. BIslIARcK was op-
posed by the nominee Of the Socialists alone.
Strange as 1t may seem, the latter has
had the strenuous and undisguisee support
OF the imperial Government during the last
fortnight; and 1t is even said that the Guelph
fund las the income Of the sequestered es-
tates Of the late King Of Hanover Is called)
has been used In his behalf Nevertheless,
20 many Of the Uitramontanes, and 30 many
members Of the Freislnnlge or Progressist
party. seem to have abstained from voting,
that although but fifty-fve out Of the ninety
six election precincts have. at the hour when
we write. been heard from, the return Of
Prince BISMARCK is already assured.
Owing to the course taken In this by-elec-
ton by tho Official representatives OF the Inn
perial Government BISMARCK will find him
self driven by the logic Of events into opposi-
ton 10 Kaiser WILLIAM II. on the one hand,
and to tho Socialists upon the other.
The young Emperor, under like pres
sure Of circumstances. will geo himself
impelled to draw more closely to the
> Socialist leaders, and to involve himself
moro deeply in their projects Of reform.
Tho Prussian Court. In other words, seems
In hQ HrffttpO fptn ipo0pDr,n,o
analogous 10 that formed by LOUIS XVI.
= when, In 1879. he yielded to the wishes Of the
French ref0rmers and consented to call TO-
getl'er the States General. Against tho po-
htical and social tendencies OF such q Co
slition will be arrayed not only the National
Liberals. but also the great body OF the
landowners who make up the two wings OF
tho Conservative party. Only those landed
proprictors who are In close attendance on
tho court. and who are willing to betray the
interests OF their order for the prizes OF
oiiclal life have ever proiessed to acquiesce
In tile utopian schemes Of the present
Kaiser. Consequently. q combination OF the
Conservative landowners with the National
Liberals, who represent the protected manu-
facturers. would be entirely feasible, and
BIsMARGK would be the natural head Of 1t.
Before. however. the impending recon-
struction OF parties In tho Reichstag can
take place. BISMARCK will doubtless find
or mako an opportunity OF discussing tho
foreign policy OF his successor In tho post of
Chancellor. To CAPRIv1. personally, Bis
HARcK is not supposed to feel any hostility;
but 1t IL. OF course. through him that the
discarded Minister can strike at the young
sovereign, who has been guilty OF ingrati-
tude. II BIsMARox could manage to elliott
from the Reichstag vote Of csnsure on tho
rssalts OF CApRIvI's foreign programme, he
would feed fat his grudge against the mon
arch who has subjected him to undeserved
indignitjes. Nor Is 1t at all improbable that
during the approaching summer such events
may occur on the Rhine. the Danube, or the
Vistuls as will expose CAPRIvI and the
young Emperor. whose mouthpieco he is,
to the severest reprobation. Indeed. It is
quite conceivable that before this year is
over, we may soc resnacted at Berlin the
memorable scene In BuLwKBs play OF
"Richelieu." where the wilful aud feeble
King. beholding France threatened at once
With invsAion and disruption. implores the