Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1892-11-24
The German Army Bill.

most attention in Continental Eu-
rope Just now is what will be che
fate of the new German army bill?
According to the present pro
giamme the issue is to he tried
this week, and there are not a few
who predict it will bring about a
ministerial crisis. The bill pre-
poses to raise the peace footing IT
the German army and increase 'he
number of annual recruits to 1885,
900 men. Thes,, however, VII
only serve two years. At frs
blush it would scetn that any re-
duction Of tn term OF service aud
consequent dimirn!ion OF the drain
on the producing power of the en-
,ire would lrove popular Bus
the new bill Involves an Increased
annual outlay of $16,5O0,OU0 and
a preliminary expenditure of $17,-
500 1000.
The question has therefore rer
solved itself into one of taxation,
and there's the rub. The Emperor
has given his assent to the biiI,and
it has already passcd the Bundles
rath, but !. is generally conceded
that it is exceedingly doubtful
whether he can consolidate enough
strength in the Rcich-tag 10 drive
it through that boly. Tnr polish
members OF the Reichstag, the
Freisinnige party, the Aieace-
L~orrainers, moet OF the National
Liberals, and the Socialists have
been outspcken from the f,s,
against the measure, and now the
the Centr:sta, upon whom, together
with the Conservatives, Cdpflvi
placed Ills main dependence, arc
changing fIHit,
The INST optimistic OF the Mn
isieiialists mn-t admit that on a
cold calculation of the reiatift.
strength in the RsichstaG of tn.
advocates and the opponents Of the
bill its fate Is nhqntstionahtr. And
in addition 10 tins, they must rere
ugf.jze that the time. has patrd
when the cry of"wol." wen i he
to any great degree potent iii ds-
i~ntegrafing tie opposition. Ti,a
Ger":an ;'eupte have made rapid
advances in the direction o. indies
pendent and individual thinking
since Bismarck. by i bust If pas
nio'ic clcqnence and By sounding
a note OF alarm that rang through
the empire, carried :i.e s.p!uuna'r
bill. Besides, Caprivi is not d
Bismarck, and tie Iron Prince
who IS still d trcu1e ilons power IL
the Fathcrland-is against the
measure. Tie fact that France
bias a larger militarysestabii-hme"t
than Germany aud reports OF a.
lance between the former power
and Russia have been shofn of their
force al agencies IN the matter Vi
raising taxes from the German
masses. We've their actuai danger
of the empires being invaded the
the people would cheer'nliy make
any sacrifice that would Eut the
army on a footing to reiael it, bat
the indications now are that until
that danger faces them it will be q
difficult matter 10 make them subs
NIT to any increased financial bur-
den.
The defeat Of The army bill
would, of course, carry wi h ii the
defeat Of Caprlvi, and there are
some who seem sanguine that in
that event Bismarck would be re
stored to power. This could hardl,
be expected iii the that the
cd Chancellor would be called To
take personal charge OF the minisr
terial helm, but there is good "a,
son to believe that Caprivi's over
throw would place him III an in~
f1uential position behind the
throne. It is TO secret that the
men most prominently spoken o:
as Caprivi's Successor have not
broken with Bismarck. In the
crisis young William might tnd an
opportunity to heal the breach bes
tween himself and his ggaudfat:,ef's
faithful friend and servant with-
ont compromising his own dignity
Or making the terms OF reconciiia
ton hard upon the Prince.-Rach
m0nd State.