The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-24
A Ministerial Crisis in PRUSSIA.

| ID uON huOWu tldU LnO NtHclutuU oppOsiOioh
to the proposed School bill has forced the
| young Kaiser to accept the designations OF
| Count ZEDLrrz. Minister OF Education. and
OF Gen. Won CAPB1vI. Primo Minister OF
| Prussia. For the present CArRrvt remains
| Chancellor Of the German empire, but for
| reasons to be mentioned presently his ex-
cusion from the Prussian Government
must destroy his influence In the Relchstag.
| 1t will be convenient to consider separately
the important bearings Of these Incidents
on the Internal politics OF Prussia and on
the relations of the Kaiser toward the other
German States and foreign powers.
The recent crisis was provoked by VIII
LIAM II. himself. who. after lending the
whole weight OF his influence to the Educa-
ton bill, suddenly declared that he had
been misled by his Ministers with regard to
the purport OF the measure and to its recep-
ton by the Prussian people. In the face OF
this unexpected declaration, no course ex-
ccpt retirement from Office could be recon-
cied with self-respect on the part either Of
Count ZEDLIrz, who had framed tho repudi-
atcd bill. or OF Gen. Won CAPRIvI. who. in his
capacity Of Prussan Prime Minister. had
given the project unwavering support. The
effect of the designations made and accept
ed under such circumstances. will be that
the Education bill will either be withdrawn
altogether or passed In n modified form.
pruned Of the clauses obnoxious to the
Protestant and frcc-thinking inhabitants
OF Prussia. By this triumph the prestige
Of the parties most outspokcn in resistance
to the measure. viz. the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
the New German Liberals. and the Social
lists. will be signally increased. and the per-
sonal ascendancy OF the young Emperor
will be proportionately diminished. After
his repeated averments that he was the
State. and that the rulers will was the su-
premc law. WILLIAM II. has had to ac-
knowledge himself beaten in the first
pitched battlc with the peoples represent
atives. He has now made evident to oil
men. what was from the first suspected by
sensible observers. that his talk about
crushing those who thwarted his purposes
was tho empty boasting OF silly or de-
mented boy. Considered as personal fac
tor in Prussian domestic politics. WILLIAM
II. may be said to have cxtinguished him
self upon his first experiment. Hereafter
nobody will take him seriously, because it
has been demonstrated that he does not
know his own mind.
Ministers CAPRIvI and ZEDLITZ are not
the only victims OF readiness to accept
WILLIAM II. at his own valuation. The Ul-
tramontanes. who hold the balance Of power
in the Prussian Landtag as we'll as in the
Reichstag. will be exasperated and dis
mayed by the sovcreigns disavowal Of tho
especially coveted clauses OF the Education
bill. They will DO exasperated because they
4 &lo 81 To-,
advance by giving indispensable support to
several Government measures; and dis
mayed because they recognize the signs Of
a great popular reaction in favor OF the
Liberals who were responsible for the FALK
laws. Instead. moreover. OF awaiting with
confidence the next general elections In the
empire and in Prussia. they look forward to
them with dread. for they know that the
consolidation OF the various Liberal fac
tons will deprive the Clericals OF many
seats which they at present occupy. Hence
forth there will be war to the knife between
the Ultramontanes and the prcponderant
Liberals, to whom the sovereign has been
forced to bow: and it will be toward the
Clericals that the knifes edge will be
turned. for they have reason to fear that
not few Of the concessions made to them
In recent years may through the reilux OF
public opinion be retractcd.
Gen. Won CAPRIvI will att empt to play
what BISMARCK deemed an Impracticable
part, when he appears before the Reichstag
in the capacity Of imperial Chancellor. but
no longer invested with the powers of Prime
Minister Of Prussia. Inasmuch as Prussia
exceeds In area, population. and wealth all
&bnN tInr Stnt., 30 thn mi
put together. it Is obvious that the official
representative OF the Emperor-King in the
post of Prussian Prime Minister possesses
a much larger measure OF authority than
belongs to the carefully limited functions
delegated to the imperial Chancellor. OF
the many grounds for this assertion ono
will. no doubt. suffice. No bill introduced
in the German Parliament can become
q law unless it obtains the assent of the
upper House. tho Bundesrath or Federal
Council. Now, tho votes OF the Prussian
Delegates to the Federal Council will DO
cast according to tho directions of the King
OF Prussia. acting on the advice Of the
Prussan Prime Minister. That the oc-
cupant OF that Office would always take the
same view as the imperial Chancellor with
regard to particular measure. can by no
means be taken for granted. This was 80
clear to BISMARCK that he has repeatedly
declared that Chancellor who was not
also Prime Minister OF Prussia could not
hope to exercise any appreciable influence
in the Rechstag. For. instead of having
behind him the representatives OF the Prus-
sian nation. no would be backed by nothing
but the personal and perhaps fugitive goo d
will of the sovereign. Such is the situation
In which CAPRIvI will find himself when no
meets the Reichstag: and no ono believes
that he will find tho position tenable
The seemingly inevitable withdrawal OF
CAPRIvI from tho post of Chancellor will ex-
cite uneasincss among the constituent States
OF Germany and among tho Continental
powers. The unpopularity OF this states
man is entirely confined to Prussia, and is
wholly due to his countonance OF n measure
which. us he supposed. expressed his mas
ter's wishes. 1t Is no act OF his. but the
domineering behavior OF the Emperor him
self. which has caused irritation on the
part OF the rulers OF Bavaria. Mccklen-
Il (t,,I,, Lot, 90,