Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-31
CAPRIVI WEAKENING.
The Kaiser's Education Bill Stirs Up
Dangerous Opposition.
TWILL PROBABLY BE MODIFIED.
Prince Bismarck Holds Els Tongue, but
Enjoys the situation.
A CABINET CRISIS SEEMS IMMINENT

!
the Prussian Diet to-day was conducted
with less acrimony on all sides than has
previously marked the discussions of the
measure. The debate was closed by agree
ing to refer the bill to committee of %.
| In the early stages of the discussion Herr
1 Richter and other Freisinnige leaders op-
! posed the remitting of the bill to the COM
mittee until the House. in plenary sit
| ting, either approved or rejected the lead
| ing clauses of the measure. The Freisinnige
leader had reason to fear that the bill, after
disappearing from the House. would be
| handled privately by prejudicad commit
tee and would be returned with its sub
stance unaltered.
The National Liberals shared the Freis-
innige leaders reluctance against allowing
the bill to go to the committee so long as
the Government appeared to be determined
upon agreeing to no compromise.
The Government Partly Backing Down
Chancellor Won Caprivi's speech on the
bill Yesterday showed no sign of any dis
position toward conciliation. Since then,
however, private negotiations, IN which
Herr MIGUEL, the Prussian Minister of Com
merce, Chancellor Won Caprivi and Herr
Won Bennigsen were concerned, have given
rise to the hope that the Government will
assent to so remodel the clauses as to divest
the measure of its most obnoxious features.
This departure is due to the Government
realizing the strength of the coalition of the
moderate Conservatives. National Liberals
and Freisinniges. The Chancellor calcu-
lated that out of the 42S members constitute
ing the House the bill would get the sup
port of 232, consisting of Centrists, Con-
servatives and several Independents. This
estimated majority has been reduced by the
threatened detection of a number of Con-
servativeS.
Doubtless the Government can still really
force the measure through with the de-
pleted majority, but it would result in a
rupture in the Ministry, the inevitable dis
solution of the Diet and the formation of a
strong and united Liberal party. backed by
popular agitation, which would eventually
overturn the Government and lead to re-
action against the Emperor's policy.
Caprivf Not So Defiant Now.
So to-day Chancellor Won Caprivi altered
his tone of defiant hostility toward the Ma
tional Liberals. Alter declaring that re-
ligion and education were inseparaole, he
denied desiring to domneer over the Lib
erals. 1t was the Liberal coalition, he
said, that aimed to domineer over the Gov
ernment. The National Liberals designed
to use the bill as lever in forming a great
Liberal party. But" he added, 81 ac-
cept the conciliatory attitude of to-dav's
party organs, and 1 now think the menace
TO create an opposing coalition only a soap
bubble that has already burst"
DR.. Friedburg, National Liberal reply
ipp m ha thot
against the Government was mere hypoth-
esis. 1t might happen if the defense of
religious liberty threw the parties together.
Herr Richter, the Freisinnige leader, de-
clared himself opposed to any compromise.
1t was impossible, he said, to alter the
measure so as to make it acceptable. IL
ever it became law it would prove useless
as a weapon against the social democracy.
1t would ruin education and would place
the schools under the rule OF ecclesiasts
who we're less concerned with genuine cul-
ture than with enforcing their belief in
dogmatic creeds.
The Freisinnige WIN Fight TO the End.
His party was ready to oppose the bill to
the bitter end. The Government, he de-
clared would find itself face to face with an
unceasng conflict with the best elements of
the nation, whose life depended on the
results of the struggle.
Chancellor Won Caprivi, npon the con-
clusion of Herr Richter's address, again
arose and commented on the opposition of
the National Liberals as implying only
three possible conditions. These conditions,
he said, were that either the Government
must enter into lasting compact with the
National Liberalism impossbility in
Prussia where the actions of the Govern
ment depended on the King-or the party
must take the Government in tow, a condi-
tion that the Government would oppose to
the last, or the party must allow itself to be
towed by the Government, an arrangement
he would not suggest to the National
Liberals. The whole tenor of the Chan
cellor's remarks indicated his desire to oayoid
a financial rupture with the National
Liberals
The House is now adjourned till Wednes-
day
Cabinet Crisis Imminent.
In the meantime the situation is one of q |
suspended crisis. Ministers Boettischer and |
Herr Furth will resign with Herr MIGUEL if |
the Emperor-King does not allow the Chan
cellor to assent to crucial amendments |
Minister Won Zedlitz alone in the Cabinet |
urges that no concessions be made. Asa
Minister after the Kings own heart, Won |
Zediitz has been decorated with the insignia |
of the Order of the Red Eagle Of the first
class.
Ii is probable the issue OF the struggle
will be to precipitate the general election,
which is due in the autumn. The Liberals
are confident that the bulk of the Prussian
electorate will vote against the Govern
ment.
Prince Bismarck declines to commit him
self for or against the hill. A correspon-
dent of National Liberal paper vainly |
tried to obtain an interview with him IN i
the subject. The Hamburger -Nachricate,,,
Prince Bismarck's organ, adopts an uncer-
tain tone. 1t twits Conservatives with be-
coming tools of the Government and with
ceasing to be a party having conscience
for the interests of the country.
The Man of Iron Well Pleased.
If the Hamburger Ndchrictten's article was
inspired by the Prince it is evident he
chiefly enjoys the struggle as likely to insure
disaster to the Government and render the
unpopular.
\ report which is credited by the court
circle is current to the effect that the Grand
Duke of Baden has written to the King on
the grave consequences of a popular up
rising against religious coercion. The Grand
Duke is man of liberal ideas akin to those
of his deceased brother-in-law, Emperor
Frederick. He has, however, small in
fluence with his nephew, Emperor William
The Vossiche Zeit,ntg publishes East Atri-
can advices under date of January s. show
ing that Emn .Pasha is making a victorious
march TO his old quarters in Equatorial s
After several battles with the natives of
Unycro he has arrived at Magungo, at the
northern bend of Albert Nyanza where he
vas welcomed by hundreds of his former
roops. The absence Of dates and details
hrows doubt on the reports