The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-19
THE GER MAN ELECTIONS.
POLITICiL COMPLEXION OF THE
REICHSTIG STILL IN DOUBE

t0n OF MI the Government Parties In the
Bye.Eicctions-Eugrn Richtcr's Threat.
BERLIN. June 1S-The elections are three
days old. and most OF the returns have been
received. yet the political complexion OF the
next ReichstaE is rs much in doubt as in the
hour or the dissolution. Positive results are
lacking in more than half tho constituencies,
and the leaders for tho second ballots are In
almost utter ignorance OF what tho event will
be. Both sides ilnl crumbs Of comfort in the
reports already received Tho Conservatives
and Free Conservatives who. whatever
their temporary incinations may be. are
bound to support tho Government at
tho decisive moment. havo gained sew.
cral seats, and together will probably come
back to Berlin with almost many votes
as the Clcricals. the most powerful OF the
Parliamentary parties. The National Liberals,
despite tho fact that they sacrificed SOW
crul candidates To elect Conservatives in pref
crcnco to giving ia, opposition a chance in
second ballots have held their ground. They
and the two groups Of Conservatives will be
virtually the Government cartel. Together
they are sure to have hardly fewer than $50
votes at the opening of the kcichstag.
The Anti-Scmitos and Conservative ANTI
Scmitcs havo gained several seats. Tho Radi.
cal Unionists have three seats and are confident
OF gaining several more. Tho Poles. as in the
last R"ichStaE. will add sixteen or seventeen
more to the Government coalition. The Inde-
pendent Clcrcals arc an uncertain factor. The
majority of them. however. will vote with tho
Government.
Among tho opposition parties. the OPPOSE
ton Clcricals alone arc likely to como back
from the field virtually rs they entered it The
independent movement under Hueno and
Schorlemer-Ast has flzzlcd. and will be able
to cut tho Leber faction little, il any. below
100. Tho Social Democrats will have added
nj out 20 more votes to the list OH the Extreme
Left They will be obliged. however. to close
up shoulder to shoulder with the Clericala to
I'll tho gap left in tho opposition ranks by the
humiliation OF tho old vanguard OF the oppo-
siion. Eugen Richter's Radicals The South
German Democrats. n group hardly 80 consd-
crable as tho Poles. will enter the ReichstaR
with a slight accession OF strength gained
through tho support Of Richters men. These
arc the probabilities as far as they can be es.
timated. while detailed returns from most Of
the uncertain constituencies are lacking.
The Government PROCESSES to feel no dis
couragcment in consequence Of the Social
Democratic gains. In most official quarters
the Government is cxpec: ed to enter tho next
Reichstag much stronger than it was at tho
time OF the dissolution. The high officers OF
State have thrown off the apathy which they
affected during tho campaign and already are
working necessarily for a combination OF all
Government parties ut the bye- elections. The
two specific objects OF this coalition would be to
crush Eugen Rchtcr's last hope OF saving
moro than q dozen seats from the Radical
wreck and to prevent the Social Democrats
from continuing their extraordinary gains.
There is every prospect now that Chancellor
Won Caprivi will be able to bring tho Govern
ment parties together at tho next polls. The
official press has caught the note OF encour-
agemcnt and has replaced its pessimistio
prophecies OF a constitutional conflict pub
lished Just after tho first returns came In.
with statements that the result OF tho election
is as much in doubt as ever. and that all re-
mains to be decided on the second ballot.
Tho whole Conservative party. including
Free Conservatives. AGrarans. and anti
Scmites. has indicated to Chancellor Won
CapriN willingness to unto forces against
Rlchterists and Socialists The National Lib