The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-13
Tho Political situation in Germany.

| The Political Situation In Germany.
Although reports from Berlin have for
| some time been vague and to some extent
| conflicting, 1t Is at last possible to form
| some notion OF the programme which the
Government will try to carry Out. and OF
| the Parliamentary forces or which 1t will
rely. 1t is believed that the military bill
| will retain tho system OF three years SER
| vice in principle, while reducing the period
| Of training to two years In practice. To
obtain the assent OF the Reichstag to this
measure. Chancellor CAPR1vI must depend
on n combination OF the U~ltramontanes
with the extreme Conservatives. strength
ened by rs many scattering votes as lie
may be able to pick up.
II the proposal were confined to a reduc-
| ton of the term of service from three years
| to two. II would be opposed by the extreme
! Conservatives. who denounce any weaken
Ing of the army but it would be welcomed
by the Freisinnige or Radical party. by the
NATIONAL Liberals. and by the Socialists.
BY the mass Of the German population the
three years spent under the colors are re-
Cardcd as q grievous curtailment OF a mans
active life; but they think they would
havo more to lose than win by a provision
that conscripts should be kept In training
only for two years. because this concession
would be coupled with an arrangement for
calling out a much larger number OF con-
scripts each year and for materially In
creasing the cost OF the standing army. At
present, the sum appropriated In Germany
for military purposes Is about $lOo.OOO.0W.
and it is said that $40. 900. 900 will be added
by tho new bill. To obtain the revenue
no ,dcd to meet this augmented outlay
will require the imposition OF taxes on
spirits and tobacco, the nero rumor OF
which has excited widespread irritation
and dismay.
1t is we'll understood that Chancellor
CAPRIvI must lave promised fresh conces-
sions to the Ultramontanes to induce them
to vote for the bills increasing the annual
number Of conscripts and aggravating the
present fiscal burdens. 1t Is hard to soc
what form such concessions can take ex-
cept that OF a measure substantially idcnti-
cal with tho School bill. which provoked
vehement r~emonstrance on the part of the
Protcstants OF Prussia. and which was con-
seuuently abandoned. 1t is not the custom
OF the Prussian Clcricals to give anything
for nothing. or to make payment in ad-
ulN vi pioiiIl'No "
claimed. They are perfectly aware that
without their help the projected Army bill
cannot be passed. and they will undoubt-
eddy insist upon the Prussian Governments
committing itself to a compliance with
their local demands in the Landtag before
they vote in the Reichstng for its military
measure affecting the empire as a whole.
Tho moment. however. the conditions Of
Chancellor CAPRIvI's compact with the u
tramontnnes are made known. Prince Bis
MARcK will have. and. perhaps. will seize.
his opportunity. He is a member Of the
Reichstag. but has not yet taken his seat.
having waited for ar occasion when he
could come forward with effect. His own
position. however. in reference to the ques-
tions now before the country is peculiar.
On the one hand. he has set his face against
any further concessions to the Catholics in
Prussia. and especially to giving them the
considerable degree Of control over primary
education which the School bill seemed to
grant. but. on the other hand. he is pretm-
inently associated in the public mind with
the maintenance Of the army in the
highest efficiency. 1t was he. in
deed. who managed. though not with
out the utmost difficulty. to carry
through the Septennate. or septennial mil
itary appropriation. which will expire next
year. With regard to the particular pro-
posals OF CApRIvI's Army bill the cx-Chan-
cellor has as yet refrained from expressing
any opinions for the reason that they have
not been officially published. But he is
expected to declare that it would be better
to renew the existing Septennate than to
secure changes in the military system at
the price Of permitting the Catholic Church
to exercise any authority over the public
schools Of Prussia.
II is certain that the coming session OF
the RcichstaS will DO the most interesting
that has been witnessed since BIsMARCK's
dismissal from Office. Few believe that
Count Won CAPRIvI will be able to pass his
Army bill and the financial measure which
is its inseparable adjunct. and. il he fails.
he will have to resign the post OF Chancel-
lor. Who will be his successor. tho Prus-
sian Prime Minister. Count EULENBURG. or
Herr MIGUEL the Finance Minister. or
Count o WALDERsEE? 1t Is probable that
not even the young Emperor himself could
as yet answer the question.