The morning call., 1892-01-24
REFORMS IN GERMANY.
Opposition to the Compulsory Education
Bill.
a Cabinet Crisis Impending-The Ka!ser's
Birthday Fetes-The Gear and
the Dreibund.
Copyrighted, 1892, by the New York Associated
Press


BERLIN, Jan. 23.-The discussions be-
tween Herr Miguel, the Imperial Minister
of Finance, and Chancellor Won Caprivl In
relation to the sectarian education bill have
reached such an acute state that the resig-
nation Of the Finance Minister is looked
for. Miguel is not quite alone in the Minis
try In urging such notifications in the
measure as will enable the children Of pa
rents who are neither Catholics or orthodox
Lutherans to escape being subjected to COM
pulsory religious teaching. Ministers Furth
and Schelling, on the grounds of policy,
partly side with him, but if the crisis leads
TO a Cabinet rupture Miguel is certain TO
find himself alone in retiring Tie more the
bill gets known the fercer grows the oppo-
sitiOn from the National Liberal and Frei-
sinnige parties. The Conservatives also re-
gard the proposals with in" ing diSfavor.
The popular sense OF justice revolts against
a measure which Will force MethodstS, Old
Catholics, Unitarians and deists and free
thinkers generally to have their children
educated In some State-Tec0gnZed creed.
THE SELECTED sECTs.
The sects which the bill admits as duly
qualified as religious societies are the Mora
vians. Quakers, Greeks, Ansicans, Jews
and Old Lutherans. The pareats of neither
Catholics nor Lutherars can profess to be
adherents Of any one Of these seCts and have
their children educated in accordance there
with. But the Emperor whose pet ideas
are embodied in the proposals, means to
stamp out religious communities having a
liberal bias, aud will not surrender on a
single point Of the measure. The teachers
in the primary schools, between whom and
the Clerlcals profound anupathy often
exists, are dlSmayed at the prospect of be-
ing placed under the thumb of the priests.
Many Of them, suspected Of having broad
views, Will be cleared out as soon as the
law Is put in operation. 1t is doubtful
whether CaprVi himself approves Of the
bill. His speeches in its defense lack the
usual zest. but having accepted the position
Of the voice of the imperial will he must
carry the matter through. The Bundesrath
has finally approved of the suppression of
immortality bill. The measure provides
that all offenders embraced by the act
shall be placed in solitary confinement. sup
piled with only plank bed and bread and
water.
THE EMPEROR's ANNIVERSARY.
Emperor Williams thirty-third birthday
occurs on Wednesday next. The occasion
VIII be celebrated by court fetes, at which
the King aud Queen of Wurtembcrg, the
King of SaXony and a number of Princes
will be present.
A woman named Badmewaski was be-
headed yesterday by the Berlin eXecutiOuer
for having killed her husband She will, in
all probability, be the last criminal to be
dispatched in this manner, as the Emperor
is turning his attention to the methods Of
capital punishment. His Majesty has de-
cided against the present barbarous system.
lie hesltates between death by hanging and
electrocution. The use Of the guilotiue he
rejects entirely.
The retention at st. Petersburg OF Sir
Robert b. ID. MOrier, as British EmbasSador
TO Russia, is especially gratifying 10 the
Foreign Office here. Sir Robert is a steady
supporter of Emperor William aud Won
Caprivl In their efforts to diseugage the Car
from his alliance with the French Govern
ment Reports that the Dreibund is c.
operating with England in some grand
diplomatic movement are in circulation, but
nothing tangible can be learned.
Nine. Meta Heiber, a Californian by
birth, has just made a successful appear
ance at Munich as Margaret in BerlioZ'S
"DamnatlOn of Faust"