The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-03
THE COMING GERMAN ELECTION.

Inc approaching 6Iectl00S IN germany
will put the empire on its trial. When the
constitution of 1871 was adopted Ameri-
can observers made the objection that the
power conferred upon the Emperor with
the assent of the Bundesratb or Senate to
declare war without the authority of the
ReichStag, or popular body, might lead to
trouble; and that is the danger now. In
presence of war party subsidies. If VIII
liam should choose to declare war on
France. with the approval of the Bundles
rath, which he has thus far controlled, the
opposition in the Reichstag wOuld vanish
into thin air, and the pure despotsm OF
William the First would be restored.
That is the contingency which Bebel and
Volmar fear; that is what William had
perhaps in mind when he made that ex-
traordina ry speech at Brandenburg.
The dissolution has thrown parties into
such confusion that it is hard to estimate
their coming strength. The Clericas, or
solid center. are split wide open by the
refusal of their leader, DR.. Lieber, to
accept the compromise on the army bill
offered by Freiherr Won Huene. If the
bulk stand by Lieber the Government will
probably be defeated; Lieber would rather
vote to disband than 10 increase the
army. If, on the other hand. Huene
should carry the party with him ne would
probably deliver votes enough to the Con-
servative5 to give the Emperor the victory.
In Germany it is taken for granted that
the socialists will make great gains at the
election. Twenty years ago they had nine
members in the Reichstag; in the last
Reichstag they had thrty-six; it is ex-
a in M "a
one-ffth of the whole. With the Liberals
or Freissinige they ought to command
working majority, but the Government is
working energetically to strengthen its
party. and it is difficult TO reckon in ad-
vance the probable strength of the Con-
servatives.
Of all the constitutional countries the
German empire is the most baekw in
its methods, which may be explained by
the fact that there was no substratum of
free Institutions to serve as a foundation
for the new regime. Bismarck had to
build from the ground up. The Kings OF
Prussia had treated their representative
bodies with contempt which was not
always undeserved. Hence. such obvi-
ously proper features of constitutional gov
eminent as the payment Of salaries TO men,
bers of the ReichStag and the prerogative
of the veto were omitted from the cOnsti-
tuition of Germany. and the Bundesrath.
which was to take the place of a Senate or
upper house, was so organized that it rer-
resented not States, but population. OF
its fifty-eight members thirty-one, or more
than a majority, are furnished BY the four
Kingdoms of Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony and
Wurtemberg.
The socialist organ at Berlin-the Vor-
tcdrtS-predicts confidently that the new
Reichstag will pass sentence of death Oh
militarism, and referring. to the Emperor's
Brandenburg speech observes Significantly
that coup d'etat is always possible, but
coup d'etat, while it may overthrow the
constitution. sewers the ties which bind the
citizen to it's support. 1t has in its eve an
uprising like that in 1S4S. 1t should re-
member how that uprising ended, and it
should never forget that in times of politi-
cal disorder the Prussian army has always
been faithful to the crown.
1t is evident from the comments of the
Continental journals outside of Germany
that the outcome of the elections is viewed
with uneasiness. Vienna is inclined to
lake the side of the German Emperor and
army; the Emperor Francis Joseph would
be well pleased to be placed in position
where he could be counted out of a coming
war. The French papers counsel calInness
and non-interference; they do not intend,
if they can prevent il, to repeat the blum
der of 1870, and furnish Germany with
preteXt for war. Perhaps the most sig
nificant utterance is that of the Noroe
Vremyd of 81. Petersburg, which warns
the French against permitting any "fron-
tier accidents which would give color to
Caprivi's demands" Russia, looking at
the situation from standpoint probably
different from that Of Austria, is opposed
to an increase in the German army.
Meanwhile, the real question at'issue in
the Reichstag is not whether the army
shall or shall not be increased. but whether
the German people shall in future take an
active part in the administration Of public
affairs in Germany. Germany is not
threatened by the foreigner, as the En-
per or would have his people believe; but
personal government in Germany is threat
ened, and if the Reichstag decides against
it, it will 90 down, either peacefully or in
blood, as the German army determines.