Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-19
CRISIS IN GERMANY
Caprivi and Zedlitz Give Up
Their Portfolios.
TROUBLE OVER CHURCH AND STATE

Control of the Schools the DificuIty-
The Kaiser Not En- Rapport with the
Measure Tathered by the Ministers
The Embarrassing Fills the Social
lists with Joy, While Emperor wilhelm
Hesitates to Part with His Chancellor
-Riotous Doings ut Berlin.
BERLIN, March 19.-The primary educa-
tion bill which has been a bone of conten-
tion ID the Prussian landtag for some time
has resulted in ministerial crisis.
Caprivi, who was pledged to the bill, has
followed Count Won Zedlitz- -Truetzechler
who was also a champion of the meas
ure-and resigned his portfolio. The en-
peror, who is strong friend of Caprivi,
but an opponent-or at any rate luke
warm advocate-of the educational bill, is
thinking over some plan by which Caprivi
can be retained. There is also a move
ment on foot to get Zedlitz back in har-
ness. At the cabinet council Yesterday
afternoon much pressure was brought to
bear on the count to induce him to recon-
slider his resignation.
Stands by the Original Programme.
He is said to have answered all argu-
ments with the statement that any varia-
tIon from the original programme for the
school bill rendered it impossible for him
to retain office. He was appointed to Of
nee to frame and put through the landtag
such bill after Minister Won Gossler his
predecessor, had failed, and he therefore
could not, with justice to himself, remain
in office wien the government contem-
plated withdrawing any of its support.
His resignation therefore must stand,
If the emperor would accept it. 1t is re-
ported that Count Caprivi also declines to
withdraw his resignation.
Many Wild Rumors Prevail.
The greatest excitement prevails here
and wild rumors are started hourly as to
the progress of affairs between emperor
and cabinet. 1t was said last night that
the emperor will probably let Count Zed-
litz go but will make every effort to retain
Caprivi. Among the Ultramontanes con-
sternation is manifested at the sudden
turn of affairs, and they threaten that,
should Caprivi fall on account OF his ad-
herence 10 the bill, they will bolt the gov
ernment coalition in both landtag and
reichstag.
Social Democrat Jubilant.
The Independents, National Liberals
and Social Democrats are jubilant over the
embarrassment of the government, and
predict that the emperor will be thrown
for legislative support ont heir parliament
ary representatives. Such an event would
necessitate a complete change of pro-
gramme, an abandonment of the present
reactionary tendency, and the undeing of
much paternal legislation of the last two
sessions of the reichstag and landtag.
The Men and the Trouble.
Cap-ivi is the imperial chancellor of
Germany and also a member of the Prus-
sian government. Zedlitz is Prussian
minister of ecclesiastical affairs This bill
over which the trouble arose is one that
tries to arrange matters between church
and state in regard to the schools, and the
emperor thought it gave too much power
the Roman Catholic ecclesiastics. The
two ministers, however, We're firm in their
support of the bill-hence the difficulty
Although Chancellor Won Caprivi modi-
fed his utterances lately little as re-
CARDS the school bill, he has not discldim-
ed the spirit of it.
The Emperor Going to Recuperate.
Capriyi, it is hoped, will consider him
self not only as Prussian minister but as
also imperial chancellor lie would make
a strange impression if he resigned on ac-
count of such purely Prussian matter as
their school question. The emperor has
the alternative of letting zeilitz alone go
and keeping both. The emperor has been
so fatigued by the excitement of the last
TWO days and by the malady from which
he suffers that when the crisis shall
have passed he will go to the country to
recuperatc
n