Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-20
Tho German Army Bin.


III. orast,on that is attracting most at
tent,on in Continental Europe Just no" Is
what will be the fate Of the new German
army hill? According to the present pro
g,amme the issue is TO be tried tnr
week and there are not few who predict
IL will bring abont a ministerial crisis. Ing
bill proposes to raise the peace iootipg OIL
the German army and increase the NUMBER
Of annual recruits 10 235.0OO men. lhese'
however. will only serve two years, Az
fret blush il would seem that any reouc-
tion OF the term OF service and consequent
diminution of the drain on the producing
mower of the empire would prove popular
But the new bill involves an increased an
mail outlay of $40 0OO. GOO and pre!imi-
nary expenditure of S17,JOO,OO0.
The question has therefore resolved II
self into one of taxation, and there's the
rub. The Emperor has given his assent to
the bill. and it has already passed the
Bundesrath, but IL Is generally conceded
that il ia exceedingly doubtful whether he
can consolidate enough strength in the
Reichstag to drive 1t through that body.
The Polish members of the Relchstag, the
Freisinnige party, the Asace-Lorrainers,
most of the National Liberals. and the So
cialists have been outspoken from the FIRST
against the measure, and now the Cen
trsts, upon whom, together with the Con-
servatives. CAPRIyI placed bis main de-
pendence. ere changing front.
The most optimistic of the Ministerial
lists must admit that on cold calculation
Of the relative strength in the Reichstag
of the advocates and the opponents OF the
bill its fate is questionable. And in addi-
ton to this, they must recognize that the
time has passed when the cry OF wolf
would be to any great degree potent in dis
migrating the opposition. The German
people have made rapid advances IN the
direction of Independent and individual
thinking since BISMARCK, by q burst OF
patriotic eloquence aud by sounding note
of alarm that rang through the empire
carried the septennate bill. BESIDES
CApKrv1 is not BIsMARcI. and
the Iron Prince-who Is still ire
mendous power in the Fatherland-ls
against the measure. The fact that
France has larger military establishment
than Germany and reports of alliance be-
tween the former power and Russia have
been shorn Of their force as agencies in the
matter of raising taxes from the German
masses. Were there actual danger OF the
empires being invaded the people would
cheerfully make any sacrifice that would
put the army on footing to repel it, but
the indications now are that until thai
danger faces them it will be difficult mat
ter to make them submit to any increased
financial burden.
The defeat of the army bill would, o.
course, carry with 1t the defeat of CAPBIvI
and there are some who seem sanguint
that in that event BISMARCK would be re
stored to power. This could hardly be ex
peeted in the sense that the old Chancellor
would be called to take personal charge o
the ministerial helm. but there is goo,
reason to believe that CAPRIyI's overthrow
would place him in an influential position
behind the throne. 1t is no secret that tbs
men most prominently spoken of as Ca
pEIyIs successor have not broken with BIS
MAEcK. In the crisis young WILLIAM nigh
find an opportunity to heal the breach be
tween himself and his grandfather's faith
| full friend and servant without compro
| missing his own dignity or making thu
terms of reconciliation hard upon The
| Prince.